NFL

2025 AFC Championship Game: Best Reactions From The Kansas City Chiefs Win vs. Buffalo Bills

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Sports Editor

Published26 Jan 2025

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Kansas City Chiefs referees

Some NFL fans voiced their displeasure on social media over how the Kansas City Chiefs earned a 32-29 victory Sunday night in the AFC Championship Game, but regardless of the help they may have received, they are on a path to create league history. 

After receiving favorable officiating calls on two controversial plays, quarterback Patrick Mahomes again outdueled Josh Allen to qualify for Super Bowl LIX. The two-time defending champions will face the Philadelphia Eagles for a chance to become the NFL’s first franchise to capture three consecutive titles. 

“I’m just so proud of my teammates,” Mahomes told CBS in a post-game interview. “I’m lost for words.” 

So were a lot of fans. 

The Chiefs, who will appear in their fifth Super Bowl over the past six seasons, captured their 17th one-possession contest, a league-high. 

Mahomes registered his fourth consecutive playoff win over Allen, the most for any QB over any peer in playoff history. The Chiefs’ signal caller also claimed his 17th postseason win, passing Hall of Famer Joe Montana for second all-time. Tom Brady is first with 35 playoff wins. 

X (Twitter) users responded to Mahomes and the Chiefs winning again. Was it clean? … 

Mahomes took the field Sunday night for his seventh straight AFC Championship Game appearance. He left the field with a 5-2 mark with 16 touchdown passes and two interceptions … 

Bills Mafia cheered from afar … 

Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt capped a nine-play, 90-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. For the Bills, it was the third time in three playoff outings the defense yielded a TD on the opening possession … 

Trailing 7-3, Bills running back James Cook lifted the Bills to their first lead with a 6-yard scoring dash, taking advantage of a Chiefs turnover. It was Cook’s 18th rushing TD this season, tying him with Allen for the most in franchise history … 

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy stretched out for a second-quarter score, hauling in an 11-yard reception with 4:13 left in the first half … 

Was this a catch? The NFL said it was. Most everyone who’s not a Chiefs fan did not agree …  

Aided by the controversial call on Worthy, Mahomes converted on a 1-yard run for his 50th career postseason TD. He ranks second in NFL history behind Brady’s 95 … 

With the Chiefs scheduled to receive the second-half kickoff, the Allen urgently engineered a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive in 1:32. Allen connected with wide receiver Mack Hollins on a 36-yard TD reception. The 2-point conversion failed as the Bills pulled to within 21-16. Hollins made quite the entry … 

After only producing 43 first-half rushing yards, the Bills, after forcing the Chiefs to punt on their opening second-half drive, moved 80 yards on 12 plays – 11 rushes – to claim a 22-21 lead after the 2-pointer failed. The Bills amassed 73 rushing yards and was capped by a highlight-reel effort by the record-setting Cook … 

The NFL again sided with the Chiefs on this crucial fourth-and-one, fourth-quarter decision. What’s your call? … 

Mahomes again and with the 2-point conversion, the Chiefs benefitted from the fourth-down review to take a 29-22 advantage with 10:14 remaining …  

Undaunted, Allen guided the Bills to a game-tying TD, capped by a 4-yard toss to Curtis Samuel. The throw came on fourth down … 

The Chiefs reclaimed the lead on their next drive. It stalled in the red zone, but kicker Harrison Butker hit a 35-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining. Allen looked ready for his Super Bowl opportunity … 

Allen may have appeared ready and made an athletic throw under pressure on fourth down, but Dalton Kincaid couldn’t coral the Bills’ last chance. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions became the first squad to qualify for the Super Bowl with a chance to win three straight rings …

Final score: Chiefs 32, Bills 29 …

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Jeff Hawkins
Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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