‘”There’s no way I was going to miss the playoff game, especially after watching Week 17,” Beasley said Monday over a video call with reporters.’
BillsBeat - January 26, 2021
Buffalo Bills fans, former players looking back and ahead
‘”The defense. The Chiefs, I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “Go Bills. Hopefully next year everything will fly by night.”‘
Bills Mafia welcomes team home at the airport
‘The fans cheered as the team walked down the stairs of the plane. The players remained distant, walking into a nearby building. Chants of “M.V.P…. M.V.P.” could be heard as quarterback Josh Allen came into view. The QB was mostly hanging his head, but looked up to acknowledge the crowd a few times before he left their sight.’
Bills fans continue the legacy of Pancho Billa, donating more than $9,000 to The Teacher's Desk
‘”I’m getting emotional it’s amazing I seriously love this city, the city of givers, the city of love,” said Veronica Borjon, Pancho’s girlfriend.’
Bills begin their offseason and the quest to take down the Chiefs
‘“If we want to get to where we want to go, that’s the team we’re going to have to beat. That’s the standard,” said cornerback Tre White. “They’ve got the quarterback, they got the weapons, too and the offense. As far as the Buffalo Bills wanting to be Super Bowl champions, we’re going to have to go through that group.”’
Bills fans disappointed, but optimistic about team: ‘It’s going to happen soon, I can feel it’
‘“I grew up as a Bills fan and it’s all the heartbreak,” said Bills fan Joe Jachlewski. “You know, I was 10-years-old when that field goal didn’t go through. That’s where it started for me, and my whole life it’s been fighting tooth and nail to get back there and ultimately win one. And it’s going to happen soon — I can feel it.”’
Bills fans return home empty handed
‘“It was kind of sad,” said James Cook, a Bills fan that had just come back from Jacksonville, Florida. “I had high hopes after the first drive when they went down and put points on the board, but after that, it just went downhill.”’
Local Bills fan drove solo to Kansas City for AFC Championship
‘It’s about a 15-hour journey to Kansas City from Rochester.’
Bills McDermott lacked faith in Allen, trusted defense & cost team
‘Of course you know what happened the rest of the way. McDermott drives kept ending in kicks too, but they were extra points. Allen began pressing and making mistakes with his margin of error reduced to so razor thin than he played like a guy trying to score 14 points on every attempt. A week before his mentor, Andy Reid, facing a 4th and 1 with his backup QB on the field did not flinch. He went for it. He threw it. He won. McDermott watched that game but did not learn. He complimented Reid and said that’s Andy, but the Bills head coach failed to follow the leader. It’s a learning experience for the entire franchise, but no one more than the Bills coach and the QB. Allen has a lot to learn and he did that after his failing last year in Houston. But he’s not going to get there if his coach does not give him the chance. And Sean McDermott took that away on Sunday night in Kansas City.’
Beasley played through a broken fibula in the playoffs
‘”You take a few meds and suck it up,” said the toughest guy I’ve ever known.’
Allen vows the Bills 'will be back'
‘”It’s going to fuel us. I have no doubt in my mind we will be back,” said Josh Allen. “We’re young and we’re only going to get better.”‘
Fans welcome Bills team back at Buffalo airport
‘Showing up to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, fans held signs and voiced their support for the team that brought home its first division title in 25 years.’
Bills fall one game short of the Super Bowl, but say they'll be back
‘They exposed the Bills’ weaknesses and the tape might not be fun to watch, but there is no doubt that this will be a growing experience for the Bills, just like last year’s loss to the Texans’ was.’
Bills fans still going strong, despite loss
‘As is now a tradition, some Bills fans greeted the team as they get off the plane from Kansas City to Buffalo early Monday morning. You could hear, among the many chants, fans screaming “MVP” for quarterback Josh Allen.’
The beginning of a journey | Josh Allen, Bills look ahead after memorable season
‘”Moving forward from here, if you don’t win the whole thing, you’re gonna have these sorts of feelings and these types of emotions,” Allen said. “A lot to learn from; a lot to grow from. As a team we’ll use it the right way. I got no doubt in that and the guys in this locker room.”‘
'We will be back' | Bills players react to loss in AFC Championship game
‘”You can always talk about the season that we had, winning the division, making it to the AFC championship game,” safety Micah Hyde said. “I think that was good for a lot of people, but everybody in this locker room wanted more. Unfortunately, we got beat tonight. No other way to put it.”‘
Bills to pick 30th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft
‘This is the lowest spot the Bills have picked in the first round of the draft. Their previous lowest pick in the first round was 28th. Buffalo has picked at that spot three different times drafting center Eric Wood in 2009, defensive back Thomas Smith in 1993 and running back Booker Moore in 1981.’
Bills Today | Tyler Bass earns Special Teams Player of the Week honor
‘Capped a strong rookie year with a strong title game. He opened the scoring at Kansas City with a 51-yard field goal. He closed the scoring with a 51-yard field goal. And he executed a successful onside kick late in the game, the first in an NFL playoff game since 2014.’
BillsBeat - January 25, 2021
Vic Carucci: Even after AFC title game loss, Bills’ future remains bright
‘”Oh, for sure, for sure,” safety Micah Hyde, who has been with the team since 2017, told reporters. “I’m proud of what we accomplished this year. I’m proud of the guys in this locker room. The ups and downs of the season, not to mention Covid, just threw a wrench in everything.”‘
Jason Wolf: Allen reflects on game that got away: 'No doubt in my mind that we will be back'
‘“It’s going to fuel us,” Allen said, echoing his comments after last year’s wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans. “I’ve got no doubt in my mind that we will be back. This is a team that fought hard till the end, a team that loves each other. We’re still young. We’re only going to get better. That’s one takeaway I’ve got from this. We’re close. And the results weren’t good tonight, but I’m super proud of how our team fought the entire season and how we bonded together.”’
Analysis: Chiefs use their world-class speed to burn Bills with big plays
‘Kansas City burned the Bills with deception on a 50-yard end around by Hardman early in the second quarter.’
Could AFC title game have been defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier's last with Bills?
‘The Houston Texans are expected to request second interviews with Frazier and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, ESPN reported. If Frazier lands the job, it would be his second head coaching stint in the NFL. He was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2013.’
10 observations: Conservative coaching, maddening defensive effort doom Bills in AFC championship loss
‘The Bills got away from what got them to the AFC championship game in the first place, playing a maddening brand of conservative football that was doomed to fail against the high-powered Chiefs. That’s exactly what happened, as the Chiefs took advantage of soft defense by the Bills and baffling decisions by McDermott to settle for field goals. That’s a losing recipe, and it resulted in the Bills’ season coming to a close with a 38-24 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.’
Quarter by quarter: Bills' offense can't keep pace with potent Chiefs
‘Through three quarters, Travis Kelce had 11 catches for 101 yards and a TD, which made it 31-15. Kelce moved up to No. 2 on the NFL list for most receptions and TDs in the postseason by a tight end.’
Report Card: Sean McDermott got schooled by his mentor in Bills' loss
‘Let’s call it like it is: Bills coach Sean McDermott was absolutely schooled by his mentor, Andy Reid.’
There was no doubt about it; Chiefs outclassed Bills in AFC title game
‘The Patriots are old news now, there’s a new standard being set by the Kansas City Chiefs, and if the Bills hope to do anything special in, oh, maybe the next decade or so, it’s Patrick Mahomes who will be the Empire State Building-sized obstacle they’ll have to clear, and that’s not going to be easy.’
Bills report card: Buffalo's coaching staff has worst performance of year against Chiefs
‘I’m not sure what he was trying to accomplish, especially having seen how futile his defense had been trying to stop Mahomes. Frazier just never dialed up pressure and he allowed Mahomes to play pitch and catch, and just as frustrating was the constant cushions he was allowing the Chiefs receivers.’
Slaughter: Super Bowl so close, yet so far for Bills
‘Coach Sean McDermott’s Bills, however, seemingly reverted to the Bills of yesteryear. You know, the pre-Stefon Diggs offense that used every ounce of energy to score 17 points.’
Observations on Bills’ tough loss against Chiefs
‘And, one thing’s certain, if the Bills hope to get past the AFC Championship Game, they had best find a running game and fast … it’s not fair that Allen has to do both.’
Bass’ 51-yarders Bills’ bright spot
‘Bills rookie kicker Tyler Bass hit two 51-yard field goals, the longest in Arrowhead Stadium’s playoff history. That broke the record of 50 yards by current Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker set a week earlier. Oddly, Bass missed his first extra point attempt, hitting the upright, his third miss in 65 tries this season.’
Bills go conservative in AFC title game; Chiefs win big to advance to Super Bowl (Observations)
‘We’ll cover the red zone issues in a bit, but the conservative approach when a scoring chance presented itself really cost the Bills in this game. They were forced to play from behind after Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defense got things going and faced two fourth and goals deep in KC territory. Bills coach Sean McDermott elected to kick field goals in both instances and Buffalo went into halftime facing a 21-12 deficit with the Chiefs getting the ball to start the second half. The only team to beat the Chiefs this season when they were playing their starters was the Las Vegas Raiders, and they scored 40 points. It was always going to take a lot of points to win this game. Playing it safe was the wrong call, especially considering what this offense has been able to do all season.’
Sean McDermott: Bills will do everything in offseason knowing Chiefs are ‘measuring stick’
‘The Chiefs potent offense was explosive and unstoppable through all four quarters. Kansas City scored on six of their seven possessions in the game (not counting kneel down at end of first half and game), and its defense continued to have answers for Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense, dominating the matchup for the second time this season.’
Bills’ Stefon Diggs stays on field after AFC Championship loss until Sean McDermott comes back for No. 1 receiver
‘After the clock hit zero, Diggs decided to stay on the field postgame to watch the Chiefs celebrate their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.’
Refs miss Chiefs’ Chris Jones punching Bills OL Jon Feliciano
‘At the end of a play in the second quarter, the Chiefs’ star defensive lineman was caught throwing a punch at offensive lineman Jon Feliciano. Had it been caught by the officials, Jones would have been ejected from the game.’
Gabriel Davis active for Bills in AFC Championship game; Sammy Watkins out for Chiefs
‘Davis is active and will play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game tonight. Defensive tackle Vernon Butler is also active after he dealt with a quad injury all week, missing a few practices before being limited on Friday. He went through a pregame workout and looks to be good to go.’
Five takeaways: Bills, Allen outclassed by Mahomes, Chiefs
‘As poor as the offense performed, the real disappointment of the Bills’ first loss since Week 10 was the demise of the defense that had, in recent weeks, shown shades of its past greatness. It was a significant setback for a group that had come a long way this season.’
From this Buffalo Bills fan to the team: We needed this. Thank you.
‘For the first time in a long time, I didn’t sit down to watch a Bills game and fear that they would lose. I was eager to see how they would compete against the NFL’s best. I didn’t feel any anxiety as they cruised to a 13-3 record. I expected them to make the playoffs and that’s when, I thought, the real stress would begin. When the infamous “Hail Murray” happened, I shrugged my shoulders, said “[poop] happens” and brushed it off.’
Mahomes-led Chiefs outclass Bills, return to Super Bowl
‘If you don’t have a defence that can force them to punt — even just occasionally — then you’d sure better have an offence that can keep pace for more than just a quarter or two.’
The Buffalo Bills’ offence goes cold in the red zone, and a dream season ends in K.C.
‘This is going to drive the Buffalo Bills crazy for a long, long time.’
Monday's Kansas City Coverage
Chiefs return to the Super Bowl after beating the Buffalo Bills. Next: Tom Brady’s Bucs (Kansas City Star)
Get used to this, KC: Patrick Mahomes leads Chiefs to another Super Bowl (Kansas City Star)
Forget about red-zone defensive woes, at least for now. Defense helped Chiefs top Bills (Kansas City Star)
The sudden inevitability of the Kansas City Chiefs and a run back to the Super Bowl (Kansas City Star)
Super again, Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes makes agony of postseasons past a fading memory (Kansas City Star)
Here’s the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game report card (welcome back, dominant offense) (Kansas City Star)
Photo gallery (Kansas City Star)
Patrick Mahomes returns from injury with precision in AFC Championship win (Saint Joseph News Press)
Chiefs defeat Bills 38-24 to advance to Super Bowl LV (Saint Joseph News Press)
Chiefs fans in St. Joe react to back to back trips to the Super Bowl (Saint Joseph News Press)
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs’ scorching offense set up dream Super Bowl LV showdown with Tom Brady (New York Daily News)
Mecole Hardman made up for ‘dumb’ Chiefs mistake (New York Post)
The magic of Patrick Mahomes should worry Tom Brady (New York Post)
Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes dominate Bills and will defend Super Bowl title against Tom Brady and the Bucs (Newsday)
Kansas City Chiefs, Tyreek Hill returning to Super Bowl (Birmingham News)
Opinion: Patrick Mahomes leads Chiefs to another Super Bowl with plenty of grit to go with his sizzle (USA Today)
Patrick Mahomes’ top targets — Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce — beleaguer Bills and put Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 (USA Today)
Chiefs Toughen Up On Defense, Punch Ticket To Super Bowl (AP)
Chiefs Have Edwards-Helaire, No Bell, Watkins Vs Bills (AP)
Patrick Mahomes leads defending champion Kansas City Chiefs back to Super Bowl (ESPN)
Chiefs and Mecole Hardman strike back to take lead (ESPN)
Tyreek Hill’s catch-and-run for Chiefs travels a total distance of 102.5 yards (ESPN)
Chiefs’ Eric Fisher suffers Achilles injury in AFC Championship Game, Super Bowl availability in question (CBS Sports)
Bills-Chiefs Ends in Dramatic Fashion With Late-Game Scuffle (SI)
Patrick Mahomes Looks Ready to Rip the Passer’s Torch From Tom Brady (SI)
Final: Chiefs take AFC; bound for Super Bowl (KSHB-TV)
Exclusive: Chiefs’ Hardman makes most of second chance (KSHB-TV)
Chiefs AFC title win comes with several injuries (KSHB-TV)
Photo gallery (KSHB-TV)
Kansas City Chiefs fans in Power & Light District take celebration to the streets (KSHB-TV)
Fans pour into stores to buy Chiefs AFC Championship gear (KSHB-TV)
Chiefs handle the Bills, heading to second-straight Super Bowl (WDAF-TV)
Super Bowl bound again, Chiefs defeat Bills 38-24 to win AFC Championship (WDAF-TV)
Travis Kelce “just loves this team,” says Chiefs belong in Super Bowl this year (WDAF-TV)
The mentality that sets Patrick Mahomes apart from the rest (WDAF-TV)
Mahomes’ turf toe may take weeks to heal, local doctor says (WDAF-TV)
Andy Reid on Eric Fisher’s injury: “It doesn’t look too good” (WDAF-TV)
Emotions run high at end of AFC Championship Game (WDAF-TV)
Chiefs, Bills fans exchange words in the stands, through signs (WDAF-TV)
Chiefs fans celebrate second trip to Super Bowl in two years (WDAF-TV)
Rally House open until midnight selling Chiefs AFC Championship merchandise (WDAF-TV)
Chiefs Kingdom grows as ‘Arrowheads Abroad’ adopt team (WDAF-TV)
One more! Chiefs repeat as AFC champions, await Brady’s Bucs in Super Bowl 55 (KCTV-TV)
Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher leaves game with achilles injury (KCTV-TV)
Photo gallery (KCTV-TV)
Bills Mafia gathers prior to game at Parkville bar (KCTV-TV)
Chiefs Defeat Bills, 38-24, to Punch Their Ticket to Super Bowl LV (Chiefs.com)
AFC Championship Inactives | Chiefs vs. Bills (Chiefs.com)
Photo gallery 1 (Chiefs.com)
Photo gallery 2 (Chiefs.com)
Photo gallery 1 (BuffaloBills.com)
Photo gallery 2 (BuffaloBills.com)
Photo gallery 1 (Buffalo News)
Photo gallery 2 (Buffalo News)
Photo gallery (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)