Sean McDermott has been burned by Patrick Mahomes too many times to give the Chiefs any unnecessary opportunities.
Faced with a massive fourth-down decision in the closing minutes of the Bills' 30-21 win over Kansas City on Sunday, McDermott decided against a field goal that, if successful, would have extended Buffalo's lead to five, instead putting the ball in Josh Allen's hands.
Allen instantly rewarded his coach, picking up not just the two necessary yards but 24 more for the touchdown to effectively ice the game and end the Chiefs' bid for an undefeated season.
Here's what McDermott and Allen had to say about the decision to go for it.
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Sean McDermott, Josh Allen on fourth-down decision vs. Chiefs
The Bills have had their struggles against the Chiefs in the playoffs, but it's tough to say Buffalo has played scared against mighty Kansas City. The Bills defeated the Chiefs on the road in each of the past three regular seasons, and they didn't look intimidated at any point during Sunday's victory. That was personified by McDermott and Allen when the lights shined the brightest.
Knowing a field goal would still give Mahomes a chance to go down the field and win the game with a touchdown drive, McDermott made the decision to give the ball to Allen and ask him to get two yards however he could.
Allen considered throwing to an open Ty Johnson, but Johnson still would have had to get to the first-down marker. Allen instead held onto the ball and pushed forward, knowing he can turn into a wrecking ball when he commits to using his legs, and he found the hole that allowed him to go all the way to the end zone for one of the Bills' best regular-season moments ever.
After the game, McDermott explained the decision quite simply. “They’re just way too good to not go for it there," McDermott told reporters, alluding to the way the Chiefs' offense can change the game in an instant.
Sean McDermott on the 4th down decision where Josh Allen scored, to keep the pressure on Kansas City.
— Andy Young (@AndyYoungTV) November 18, 2024
“They’re just way too good to not go for it there.”#BillsMafia
The Bills, of course, learned this better than any team in the divisional round three seasons ago when they left 13 extra seconds for the Chiefs to force overtime in a game Kansas City ultimately won. If McDermott was going down this time, he was going down fighting. Thanks to Allen's legs, it was the Chiefs who fell for the first time in nearly 11 months.
Allen expressed his appreciation for the decision after the win, telling CBS Sports, "I appreciate coach McDermott trusting the offense."
MORE: Is Allen the MVP frontrunner? | Mahomes hints at playoff rematch with Allen
Allen confirmed the play wasn't drawn up for him to run for the first down. "We had a man play," Allen said, explaining that the Chiefs adjusted and forced him to figure something else out. "I was just trying to make a play," Allen added.
"We'll probably see this team again at some point."
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
- Josh Allen after the Bills win vs. the Chiefs.
(via @NFLonCBS) pic.twitter.com/FyzqSkVjxY
The Bills expect to see the Chiefs again, Allen said after the win, but the win makes it possible for the next matchup between the two to take place in Buffalo. The Chiefs still lead the AFC, but the Bills are only a game behind and now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Even the Steelers have a chance to earn a first-round bye, as they sit a game behind Kansas City and still play the Chiefs on Christmas.
