Fourth time’s a charm Buffalo Bills?
Well, that wasn’t the case in the Super Bowl in the 1990s. But maybe it will be Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills and Chiefs are set to face off in the AFC Championship Game, the fourth time in the last five seasons that the two teams will meet in the playoffs.
In each of the previous three matchups, the Chiefs ended the Bills’ season.
Buffalo’s road to the Super Bowl, a game they haven’t played in since the 1993 season when they lost their fourth straight game, once again passes through Kansas City.
The Chiefs are looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. The Bills are looking for their first in franchise history. Each will try to stop the other from making history in what could be the most anticipated game of the NFL season.
Here’s a look back at their previous clashes between Josh Allen’s Bills and Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs.
2020 AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Buffalo Bills 24
In the first playoff game between Allen and Mahomes, the Bills took a 9-0 lead in the first quarter. The Chiefs then scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and held a two-possession lead from that point on.
Josh Allen: 28 for 48 with 287 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 88 rushing yards on seven carries.
Patrick Mahomes: 29 for 38 with 325 passing yards and three touchdowns. Five rushing yards on five carries.
2021 AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs 42, Buffalo Bills 36 (OT)
The rematch was one of the best NFL playoff games of all time.
The Bills-Chiefs ending in the 2021 divisional round will never get old. #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/U54yNhMtmN
– NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2025
There were three touchdowns scored in the final two minutes of regulation for the first time in NFL history, with Allen and Gabe Davis connecting for their fourth touchdown of the day to give the Bills a 36-33 lead 13 seconds from the end. That was enough time for Mahomes to set up a game-tying 49-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired to send the game into overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss and Mahomes found Travis Kelce for an eight-yard touchdown to win the game and break the collective hearts of the Bills Mafia.
Josh Allen: 27 for 37 with 329 passing yards and four touchdowns. 68 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Patrick Mahomes: 33 for 44 with 378 passing yards and three touchdowns. 69 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
2023 AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24
The third time was not a charm for the Bills as Tyler Bass missed a potential game-tying field goal from 44 yards out. Buffalo took a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter after Allen’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Shakir. The Chiefs got back in front early in the fourth game on Isiah Pacheco’s four-yard touchdown run for a 27-24 advantage.
Josh Allen: 26 for 39 with 186 passing yards and a touchdown. 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Patrick Mahomes: 17 for 23 with 215 passing yards and two touchdowns. 19 rushing yards on six carries.
How many times have the Bills and Chiefs been to the AFC Championship Game?
This will be the third time overall that the Bills and Chiefs have met in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs beat the Bills 38-24 in the 2020 title game and the Bills dominated the Chiefs 30-13 in 1993 en route to their last Super Bowl appearance.
The two teams also met in the 1966 AFL Championship Game, with the Chiefs defeating the Bills to advance to the first ever Super Bowl.
How many times have the Bills and Chiefs played in the playoffs?
Overall, the Bills and Chiefs have met six times in the playoffs, with the Chiefs going 4-2.
Here is every playoff game between the two teams:
- 2023 AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24
- 2021 AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs 42, Buffalo Bills 36 (OT)
- 2020 AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Buffalo Bills 24
- 1993 AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 13
- 1991 AFC Divisional Round: Buffalo Bills 37, Kansas City Chiefs 14
- 1966 AFL Championship Match: Kansas City Chiefs 31, Buffalo Bills 7
What is Josh Allen’s record against Patrick Mahomes?
Josh Allen is 4-1 against Mahomes and the Chiefs in the regular season, but went 0-3 against them in the playoffs. Is the fourth time a charm?
Before the teams are even decided, fans are paying top dollar to be at the Superdome on Super Bowl Sunday.
