ABOUTOf course, Josh Allen didn't take a breath during the final seconds of the latest Chiefs-Bills classic. “You never know, with Pat [Mahomes]” Allen told reporters after Buffalo's 28-21 win on Sunday. Bills kicker Matt Prater had earlier missed a 52-yard field goal with 27 seconds left that would have sealed the Buffalo win. Even the miss was dramatic: Prater took the kick right-handed. Allen wasn't alone in thinking Mahomes could have put the Chiefs up 58 yards down the field. with 22 seconds left and no time left. One Chiefs fan in Buffalo, of course. reminded the home audience on Buffalo's 2021 divisional run collapse when Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill and then Travis Kelce with 13 seconds left in the game and eventual overtime win.
Can these two teams put on a boring contest when they meet? On Sunday, it looked like it was going to go that way given Buffalo's defensive statement before the Chiefs threatened a comeback in the fourth quarter. The Bills answered questions about their depleted defense by shutting down Mahomes for most of the game. This sandwich bag Greg Russo and Michael Hocht showed the toughness of Buffalo's defensive line. They needed it: Mahomes converted a fourth-and-17 play early in the fourth quarter, a reminder that no matter the situation, he is always capable of tormenting the Bills.
Allen was outstanding, completing 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns (two through his legs). Two rushing touchdowns put Allen in first. NFL All-time running back with at least six rushing touchdowns in each of his first eight seasons. James Cook also rushed the Chiefs for 114 yards on 27 carries, becoming the first player to allow Kansas City 100 yards in 27 games.
Buffalo is now 5-1 against Kansas City when Allen and Mahomes meet in the regular season. And the Chiefs are leaving with numerous problems. They don't have a pass rusher other than Chris Jones. They need to bring back Josh Simmons to bolster the offensive line. And they need more consistency and cohesion in attack. The current lineup doesn't sound like a band that has played together for a long time.
However, Billy, like the rest of us, recognizes the elephant in the room. Since 2020, Kansas City holds a 4–0 playoff record over Buffalo. If they meet again in the playoffs this season, we know it will be close, and that's the beauty of this rivalry. After winning the 2021 division title in overtime, the Chiefs won both the 2023 division game and the 2024 NFC Championship over Buffalo by just six points combined. The division loss in 2023 was especially painful considering it happened in Buffalo, Tyler Bass missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
As far as rivalries go, the Bills-Chiefs are friendly. Much of this is based on mutual respect and quality matches. A rematch is far from guaranteed this postseason. Neither the 6-2 Bills nor the 5-4 Chiefs lead their divisions heading into the back half of the season. Even if both make the playoffs, who knows how the postseason schedule will pan out. But if the stars align, let the classic streak continue.
MVP of the week
Steelers defense. Pittsburgh's defense has been so disastrous in recent weeks that the fans have started an uproar. mock funeral outside Akrizur Stadium, with Rex Ryan calling the group “absolutely brutal.” The squad finished 30th in the league on Sunday. With the 7-1 Colts coming to town, expectations were, unsurprisingly, low.
But on Sunday they completely dismantled the NFL's premier offense, forcing six turnovers in the Steelers' 27-20 win. TJ Watt's sacking of Daniel Jones in the second quarter felt like a weight had been lifted from the much-maligned group. The pressure on the line was unrelenting, the defenders covered their gaps and mistakes were minimal. The Steelers' defense held Colts running back Jonathan Taylor to just 57 yards from scrimmage, dimming his MVP hopes.
Assuming this week wasn't anything out of the ordinary, this defensive play puts the Steelers' Super Bowl chances in a new light.
Video of the week
#Panthers RB Rico Dowdle was tagged in this TD celebration (even though it was only 2 pumps).
It was a costly fine. The XP try was called back and the Panthers missed, keeping the game at 7 points. pic.twitter.com/01w4F6HmKI
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 2, 2025
How many pumped-up heels represent excessive celebration? It's hard to imagine this topic being discussed at offseason meetings. However, NFL officials, who are clearly not experts on Key and Peele, decided that two would be enough. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle took the taunting penalty. emulating the duo's famous McCringleberry celebration after landing, although he deliberately stopped at two. To paint the flag you will need three pumps. Not only was the penalty excessive, but it nearly cost Carolina the game. The flag forced the Panthers to miss a very long extra point and had to rely on Ryan Fitzgerald's 49-yard field goal as time expired to secure their 16-13 upset win over Green Bay.
Whether Dowdle's celebration was excessive remains controversial. What's not up for debate is that much of the NFL is frustrated that officiating is perceived as subjective, biased or unfair. Besides Dowdle, the biggest scandal of the week was the roughing of the pass. Jack Campbell, bag JJ McCarthywhich was labeled “body weight”. Like many calls like this one, this one raises the question: What else should Campbell have done?
Regardless of your point of view, we can all agree that NFL officiating is too important a topic to discuss.
Statistics of the week
80. That's how many points the Cincinnati Bengals scored in their last two games – and still managed to lose both. Last week, their defense scored 23 points in the fourth quarter in a 39-38 loss to the New York Jets. On Sunday, they took a 42-41 lead over the Chicago Bears with 49 seconds left… and lost 47-42. The Bengals defense gave up over 500 yards in each of those losses. It's rather charming that Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for four touchdowns and 470 yards on Sunday, refused to blame his hapless defense. “It’s one team,” Flacco said. “You need to focus on yourself and do your job. I understand it can be emotional. I go to these guys and have good conversations about going to work and being proud of what you do. If you do that, you don't have time to be mad at people you shouldn't be mad at. You can't worry about anyone else.” Bengals fans might not be so forgiving.
Elsewhere in the league
— If Week 9 was Mac Jones' last game as the 49ers' starting quarterback, he can bow out after leading San Francisco to a 34-24 win over the Giants. Jones was absolutely perfect in the first half, completing all 14 pass attempts and throwing two touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey continued to carry the bulk of the offense, rushing for 106 yards and leading the team in receiving with 67 yards on five catches. McCaffrey's 61 receptions this season are the most of any player except Ja'Marr Chase. The fact that the 49ers are 6-3 and in the playoffs with their entire defense and half their offense in the hospital is remarkable. Brock Purdy could be back this week (though it's the same story as the last few weeks). If he doesn't, Jones will be in good hands.
— NFL History! Jags kicker Cam Little kicked a league-high 68-yard field goal as time expired in the first half of Jacksonville's win over the Raiders. An incredible moment that also seemed inevitable given the number of 60+ yard field goals we've seen across the league this season. Sixty has become the new 50, and 70 becoming the new 60 is just around the corner. Little, by the way, used to hit from 70 meters, but this happened in a preseason game so this is not considered an official record.
– Sam Darnold was excellent in the Seahawks' 38-14 win over the Commanders, throwing for 330 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. But the game was marred by a serious hand injury to Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Some will question why Daniels was still on the field when the injury occurred in the fourth quarter – the Commanders were down 38-7 at that point and had little chance of a comeback.
— McCarthy silenced his doubters and remained undefeated at Michigan State after the Vikings' dramatic 27-24 road win over the Detroit Lions. In just his third NFL start, McCarthy endeared himself to Vikings fans by winning his second division game on the road. McCarthy's modest statistics say nothing. The child is a gamer. McCarthy's deep hit to Jalen Nailor on third with 1:41 left sealed the win. The defense was also sensational, frustrating Detroit's high-octane offense with multiple blitz packages. Brian Flores' team came away with five sacks from Jared Goff (two from Eric Wilson). Can Flores get a serious head coach to take a look at this decision?
— The Patriots extended their winning streak to six after beating the Falcons 24-23. Atlanta got the ball with 3:30 left in the game, but their momentum was stopped after an alleged New England simulated click countingwhich forced Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. to intentionally ground. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris called the move illegal, but it is rarely used.
— Welcome to the MVP conversation, Matthew Stafford. He put on a passing masterclass in the Rams' 34-10 victory over the Saints. Stafford has thrown four touchdowns and now has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past two weeks. Rams head coach Sean McVay called Stafford's performance “just another game where he's in complete command.” Stafford, 37, appears to be getting better with age.
–Has there ever been a more promising 3-5 team than the 2025 Baltimore Ravens? Lamar Jackson shined in his return, throwing for four touchdowns in a 28-6 rout of the Dolphins on Thursday night. The Ravens' defense is on the rise, and the upcoming schedule — the Vikings, Jets, Browns and Bengals — is relatively soft. Even though they still trail the Steelers by two games in the AFC North, there's plenty to like about the Ravens' postseason chances.
