MIAMI (AFP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title after beating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the American Football Conference Championship game on Sunday.
The Chiefs will face the National Football Conference champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on 9 February.
Chiefs quarterback Mahomes ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as he triumphed again in his duel with Buffalo’s Josh Allen — who threw two touchdowns in another agonizing loss to the Chiefs.
Kansas City have now ruined the Bills dreams in four of the last five post-seasons — twice in the conference championship.
After Harrison Butker slotted a 35-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining, Allen had the ball back knowing that a touchdown would send his team to the National Football League’s championship spectacular for the first time since 1993.
But the Chiefs defense stood firm and then Mahomes, looking for his fourth Super Bowl win, made the crucial first down to secure the victory.
“I’m just so proud of my teammates and how they responded. That was a great football team, and I’m just, I’m just lost of words...I’m excited for New Orleans,” Mahomes said.
“I think I’ve always said it. It’s not about one guy. It’s not about a couple guys. It’s about the whole entire team,” Mahomes added. “And when we need the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special because it’s a team effort.”
Cheered on by Taylor Swift, the pop singer girlfriend of Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce, the home side took the lead in the first quarter with a 12-yard rushing TD from Kareem Hunt.
The Bills responded strongly with a 53-yard Tyler Bass field goal followed early in the second quarter with a six-yard rushing score from James Cook that put the Bills up 10-7.
But then the Chiefs turned on the style with Mahomes showing all his class to find Xavier Worthy with an 11-yard touchdown pass.
The quarterback’s one-yard touchdown run put the Chiefs 11 points up.
Buffalo’s never-say-die attitude was evident again, however, with Allen connecting with Mack Hollins on a 34-yard score before Cook’s one-yard plunge put Buffalo up 22-21.
A trademark Mahomes touchdown, with a fake pass followed by a powerful run into the corner for a diving touchdown, was followed by a successful two-point conversion with a perfectly floated pass to Justin Watson and the Chiefs were again up by seven.