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The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 17-13 in a wild game on Sunday afternoon. The win moves the Chiefs to 6-3 on the season, solidifying their spot in the AFC playoff picture.
The Chiefs were dominated for most of the game by the Bills defensive line, who consistently pressured Alex Smith. It was 13-3 at one point and it looked as if the Chiefs had no shot. But the Chiefs had a number of breaks (caused by good hustle on their part) that helped them win the game. The game was highlighted by Ron Parker's best game of his career.
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Final stats are here. Let's review the Chiefs victory.
The plays that won the game for the Chiefs
Ron Parker's strip. Parker, who was covering Sammy Watkins much of the day, had a great, great play for the Chiefs that came at the perfect time. Bills RB Bryce Brown was running to the end zone just a couple of yards away from crossing the goal line. Parker came behind Brown and tomahawk stripped the ball which fumbled into the end zone and eventually out of the end zone. That made it a touchback and the Chiefs got the ball back. That was a 7-point play by Parker.
Buffalo Bills fail. https://t.co/e9nzPDDZfB
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) November 9, 2014
Andy Reid's fourth down play call. It's the fourth quarter and the Chiefs are down 13-3. They need something, anything to keep the game within reach. It's fourth and inches. Andy Reid decides to go for it. Alex Smith snaps the ball and the entire defense crashes down on the middle of the line. Smith fakes the inside handoff and pitches it to Jamaal Charles to the left. All Charles does it take 41 yards to the house, giving the Chiefs a touchdown and new life in the game. That was a great decision to go for it, a great play call by Andy Reid and a great run by Charles that came at the perfect time.
Ouch! Jamaal Charles 39-yard rushing TD #KCvsBUF https://t.co/GwGIbqCpmX
— Todd Clausen (@ToddJClausen) November 9, 2014
The fumble on the punt. The Chiefs punted the ball from near the own end zone with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Bills return man took it and then FUMBLED the ball. Anthony Sherman recovered. This was obviously a huge play for the Chiefs, especially considering their offense hasn't been able to move the ball.
Ron Parker's stand. The Bills had a first down in the red zone with under three minutes remaining. Kyle Orton went to Ron Parker's man three times and Parker batted away all three balls. What a defensive stand by Parker, who had his best game of the season.
Alex Smith's TD run might be my favorite play this year
The Chiefs were on the 8-yard line and called up a read option. Smith read the defensive end and decided to keep it. He ran to his left to the goal line, lowered his shoulder and dove into the end zone, which gave the Chiefs the 17-13 lead.
Smith's reaction is probably my favorite part because he is so animated there. You don't see Smith with this much emotion but it was awesome to see his reaction. That reaction tells you how freakin' huge this play was.
VINE - Alex Smith 8 Yard Rushing TD #KCvsBUF https://t.co/RtGoEGHXOq
— FanSided GIF (@FanSidedGIF) November 9, 2014
Chiefs o-line was dominated
The Chiefs offensive line looked like this much of the day: a dumpster fire.
Chiefs offensive line today, basically. pic.twitter.com/JHxqO7pDAh
— Andrew Curtis (@AndrewCurtis24) November 9, 2014
Jamaal Charles' first three rushing plays were all shut down in the back field. Charles had five rushes for zero yards to start the game. Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus manhandled Mike McGlynn and Zach Fulton throughout the game. The Bills weren't even consistently blitzing. Their front four was able to regularly create pressure on Alex Smith. The Chiefs just had no answer for the Bills pass rush, which was dominating all game long.
The offensive line is no different than it was on camp. The coaching staff was able to scheme around it. They ran into a powerful front.
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) November 9, 2014
Kansas City ended up countering it with some nice comeback passes to Dwayne Bowe and a couple of big Jamaal Charles runs.
Dwayne Bowe had his best game of the season
Bowe had eight catches for 93 yards on the day. He was pretty much the only option on offense. No one else could do anything. The Bills were bottling up Jamaal Charles. Travis Kelce wasn't involved. It was all D-Bowe and he delivered with catch after catch. Smith and Bowe are getting very good at that back shoulder throw that is pretty much impossible to defend.
One big play from Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce had one catch for six yards as the fourth quarter was winding down but he saved his biggest play for the end. Facing a third down with just over two minutes left and needing to nurse a lead, Smith found Kelce for a first down that ended up running more time off the clock.
I am guessing Kelce didn't play much in this game because of the Bills terrific pass rush but he needs to be on the field more.
Knile Davis fumble issues pop back up
Davis took the handoff and was hit in the backfield like almost all the Chiefs running backs were on this day. It didn't look like a particularly big hit but it was in the perfect spot. Davis fumbled the ball and the Bills recovered at the Chiefs 30-yard line. The Bills went down and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive.
A knock on Davis coming into the NFL was his fumbling issues, which have cropped up now and again but it hasn't been a major issue with the Chiefs.
Rough start for Chris Owens
The Chiefs nickel CB has not played since injuring his knee in Week 5. He returned this week and had a rough start. He missed this third down tackle where Bills RB Fred Jackson ankle checked him.
@ArrowheadPride Ankle check. pic.twitter.com/2r7lryxvlV
— The Pit Boss (@ib6ft9) November 9, 2014
The next play Owens gave up a 25-yard touchdown reception to the Bills Chris Hogan. The good news is that the Chiefs defense really settled in after that drive.
AJ Jenkins gets hit in the ... well, take a look
@ArrowheadPride This is why. #cupcheck pic.twitter.com/iZqbzRBGWt
— Brad Mealy (@brad1787) November 9, 2014
Listen to the postgame show
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