Bills Top Mahomes, Chiefs 28-21 Behind Allen’s 3 TDs, Stout Defense/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Josh Allen delivered three total touchdowns and a franchise-best completion rate to lead the Buffalo Bills to a 28-21 win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The victory gives Buffalo an edge in the AFC playoff race while exposing Kansas City’s offensive struggles. The Bills defense was relentless, recording three sacks and 15 hits on Mahomes.
Josh Allen’s Big Day – Quick Looks
- Josh Allen throws 1 TD and runs for 2 more
- Allen completes 88.5% of passes, a franchise single-game record
- Bills move to 6-2; Chiefs fall to 5-4 after third loss in five games
- Mahomes posts worst career completion rate (44.1%)
- Bills defense sacks Mahomes 3 times, hits him 15 times
- Rookie DB Maxwell Hairston seals win with late deflection and interception
- Dalton Kincaid leads receivers with 101 yards, James Cook rushes for 114
- Bills break through against longtime playoff nemesis
- Sean McDermott calls win a “coming together” moment for Buffalo
- Chiefs suffer rare early-season struggles under Andy Reid
Deep Look
Josh Allen Outduels Mahomes as Bills Beat Chiefs 28-21 in High-Stakes AFC Showdown
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In a matchup packed with playoff implications and personal history, Josh Allen reminded the football world that he belongs in the conversation with the NFL’s elite. With three total touchdowns and a near-flawless passing performance, Allen powered the Buffalo Bills past Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-21, on Sunday in a game that could reshape the AFC playoff picture.
Allen completed 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards — a franchise-best 88.5% completion rate — and added two short rushing touchdowns to complement a 23-yard scoring strike to tight end Dalton Kincaid. The win moves Buffalo to 6-2 and opens a 2.5-game lead over the 5-4 Chiefs, who have now lost three of their last five games.
“They’ve been the standard for the last eight years,” Allen said, referencing Kansas City. “Any time you get a win over them, especially late in the season, it’s huge.”
Mahomes Struggles as Bills Defense Turns Up Pressure
While Allen shined, Mahomes endured his roughest outing of the season — and perhaps of his career. The two-time MVP was held to a 44.1% completion rate (15 of 34), his lowest ever in a regular-season game, finishing with 250 yards, one interception, and zero touchdowns. Mahomes was under siege throughout, sacked three times and hit on 15 occasions by a surging Buffalo front.
The frustration showed in the final moments of the game when Mahomes threw three consecutive incompletions from Buffalo’s 40-yard line, including a final heave into the end zone that was deflected away by rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
“I have to be more consistent. We all do,” Mahomes said. “It’s not enough to show flashes. You’ve got to play all four quarters against a team like Buffalo.”
Bills Defense Makes Statement
Buffalo’s defense played perhaps its best game of the season, harassing Mahomes, limiting big plays, and getting key stops when needed most. Rookie Maxwell Hairston, in only his second career game after recovering from a knee injury, picked off Mahomes earlier and broke up the game-sealing pass.
“Games like this are what I dreamed about as a kid,” Hairston said. “To be part of this moment, this rivalry, it means everything.”
Second-year safety Cole Bishop also made a critical play, breaking up a fourth-down pass to Rashee Rice late in the second quarter that shifted momentum firmly in Buffalo’s favor.
Allen Reaches New Milestones
With two rushing touchdowns, Allen reached 78 total rushing scores (including playoffs), surpassing Cam Newton for the most ever by a quarterback in NFL history. He also now has 282 total touchdowns (passing and rushing), moving ahead of Mahomes for second all-time among players under 30 — trailing only Peyton Manning (288). Allen, 29, turns 30 next May.
“It’s never about records for me,” Allen said. “It’s about putting our team in a position to win. And we did that today.”
Offensive Support and Key Moments
Tight end Dalton Kincaid broke the 100-yard mark, finishing with 101 receiving yards on six catches. Running back James Cook contributed 114 rushing yards, helping Buffalo dominate time of possession and neutralize Kansas City’s pass rush.
The Chiefs held a brief 10-7 lead after Harrison Butker’s 46-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but the Bills responded with back-to-back touchdown drives. Ty Johnson scored on a 3-yard run to give Buffalo a 14-10 lead, and Allen’s 1-yard plunge capped a 60-yard drive to extend the lead to 21-10.
Kansas City’s final drive started with hope after Buffalo kicker Matt Prater missed a 52-yard attempt that clanged off the right upright. But Mahomes couldn’t capitalize, ending the game with three failed attempts toward the end zone.
McDermott Praises Team Unity
Head coach Sean McDermott called the win a defining moment for a Bills team still finding consistency. Buffalo’s previous victories came against struggling teams with a combined 11-30 record. Sunday’s win over a top AFC rival signals that the Bills are ready to challenge again.
“We’re not where we need to be,” McDermott said, “but today I saw the team come together. When things got tough, we didn’t blink.”
Chiefs Facing Rare Adversity
The loss marks only the third time in head coach Andy Reid’s tenure that the Chiefs have started a season with four or more losses through nine games. Reid acknowledged the missed opportunities.
“Against a team like this, field goals aren’t enough,” Reid said. “We’ve got to finish drives.”
Kansas City’s offense scored on two rushing touchdowns by Kareem Hunt and Rashee Rice, with Butker adding two field goals. But without consistency in the passing game, they couldn’t keep pace with Allen’s balanced attack.
Injuries
- Chiefs: Right tackle Jawaan Taylor left with a right ankle injury.
- Bills: Defensive end Michael Hoecht tore his right Achilles in a non-contact injury late in the game, McDermott confirmed.
What’s Next
- Chiefs: Head into a bye week before facing the Denver Broncos on Nov. 16.
- Bills: Travel to face AFC East rival Miami Dolphins next Sunday.
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