It doesn’t matter if the Kansas City Chiefs were right about the officiating drama at the end of Sunday’s game, or that the Chiefs appear weaker than they have in recent seasons.
The Buffalo Bills went into Kansas City and came away with what feels like a season-saving 20-17 win. Buffalo won thanks to some clutch moments from quarterback Josh Allen and the most important game of running back James Cook’s career, but holding Patrick Mahomes to three scores in 10 drives is a testament to how well the defense played.
Two turnovers made the difference on Sunday. Defensive lineman A.J. Epensea caught a tipped pass to end the Chiefs’ first drive, and nickel corner Taron Johnson recovered a key fumble late in the third quarter.
Johnson has made a name for himself for his ability to make plays when they’re needed most. He did so again on Sunday and reacted to his defense’s performance after the Week 14 win.
“You gotta take the ball away against Kansas City, they’re a really good team, obviously got one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Johnson said. “So, just making sure when we have opportunities to take the ball away, we do it.”
The Bills won by a single possession and won the turnover battle by the same amount. In a rivalry that has gotten used to fireworks, both quarterbacks posted negative expected points and completion percentage over expected marks.
The victory puts Buffalo at 7-6 and firmly in the conversation for a playoff spot in the AFC. With as much high-level talent that exists on the roster, the Bills can rest assured nobody wants to play them come January.
“I feel like we’re resilient,” Johnson said. “That’s a big thing that we need to carry throughout the rest of the season.”
Of course, they have to make it to the dance before the fun starts. That started with beating Kansas City and continues against the red-hot Dallas Cowboys, who they’ll host on Sunday. From there, it’ll be contests against the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins.
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