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The Buffalo Payments got here up just a few factors shy of reserving their ticket to Tremendous Bowl LIX in a loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. That AFC Championship matchup wasn’t determined till the ultimate minutes of play.
Trailing 32-29 on their remaining offensive drive, the Payments did their finest to both take the lead or ship the sport to time beyond regulation. Josh Allen and Co. got here up simply brief.
Buffalo started that possession with about three-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. They began at their very own 30-yard line earlier than transferring their approach in the direction of midfield.
Dealing with a vital fourth-and-five, the offense wanted to maneuver the chains as a way to hold these Tremendous Bowl desires alive. Sadly, they’d be unable to take action.
Allen acquired stress instantly after taking the snap. He heaved a prayer to tight finish Dalton Kincaid, which slipped by means of his fingers to successfully finish the sport.
GRAPHIC: Payments followers don’t watch this pic.twitter.com/CFpzVOgWFT
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 27, 2025
The Chiefs would be capable of run out the clock upon getting the ball again to win. The Payments at the moment are left with, ‘what if?’
The ultimate play has been a speaking level for just a few completely different causes. A lot of that speak centered on Kincaid’s incapacity to haul within the move as he dove to the bottom. It was a tricky catch, however one that might’ve been made. A brand new dialogue has been began within the days following the loss, nonetheless.
Benjamin Solak is an NFL analyst at ESPN. He broke down the failed fourth-down try after the very fact. Solak means that Josh Allen made the mistaken resolution. Somewhat than throw to the center of the sector, he ought to’ve swung a move out large to the flats.
Khalil Shakir ran a swing route on that final play, however because of Kansas Metropolis’s defensive alignment, he wasn’t Allen’s prime choice. Shakir is seen motioning within the backfield earlier than splitting out after the snap.
That movement helped Buffalo decipher whether or not the Chiefs have been taking part in man or zone protection. Had they performed man, Shakir would possibly’ve been the primary look. They performed zone, main Allen to look elsewhere after the snap.
Solak notes that the Payments have used this play design up to now. In every occasion talked about, the protection was in man-to-man protection.
Making issues worse, Josh Allen was met with instant stress from a Kansas Metropolis blitz. With little time to throw, the quarterback did his finest to seek out an open goal. He got here shut, however the play in the end resulted in a turnover on downs.
Solak’s suggesting that Shakir ought to’ve been the focused receiver was met with a lot criticism from NFL gamers. Former Buffalo Payments QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was one of many loudest critics.
I really actually like your ardour and information for the sport however sitting in your snug swivel chair with the heater on in the home and a clicker in hand makes the sport very straightforward
Having two unblocked, unimpeded defenders imagine it or not is fairly tough to…
— Ryan Fitzpatrick (@FitzMagic_14) January 27, 2025
Fitzpatrick defended Allen’s resolution making, crediting the protection with a wonderfully timed name. The Payments have been admittedly fooled on the play.
Offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence commented on the conversion try after the sport. He mentioned the Chiefs had proven a very completely different tendency all through nearly all of the sport.
“They set it up. It was like they have been ready to get in that scenario all sport to convey out that one stress.”
-O’Cyrus Torrence
Typically, you simply should tip your cap. Even with that drawback, Josh Allen nonetheless gave his staff an opportunity to maneuver the chains. It didn’t work out, and he’ll now have to look at Kansas Metropolis play for one more Tremendous Bowl.
