NFL fans couldn’t have asked for a better finish to this year’s divisional round of the playoffs.
The Bills and Chiefs pulled off a thrilling finish, with a fourth-quarter shootout leading to an overtime finish. The Chiefs took a 42-36 lead to advance to their fourth straight AFC championship game.
The offenses, led by Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, packed the scoreboard with mind-boggling stats. Sporting News takes a look at some of the wildest numbers in the game.
Statistics for Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes
The two have been viewed for several years as the preeminent quarterbacks in the AFC, with each solidifying their case for the new best QB rivalry.
Allen completed 27 of 37 passes for 329 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, while Mahomes completed 33 of 44 passes for 378 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. And that’s just the tip of their impressive evenings; each led his team in rushing, with Allen carrying the ball 11 times for 68 yards and Mahomes rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Several historical numbers came out of their duel. This was the only playoff game in NFL history where quarterbacks combined for 700 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and no interceptions, according to Stathead.
Mahomes and Allen also posted playoff games 21 and 22 of 300 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a completion percentage of at least 72 percent. according to Stathead. It was the second time each has done it this postseason. It was also the first time two quarterbacks had posted those stats in the same game. Allen’s performance in the wild card round it was the only time a quarterback had reached all of those passing milestones while rushing at least 60 yards.
the last two minutes
The two teams had been battling throughout the game, but what happened in the last two minutes of regulation set the spectators’ heart rates racing.
Remember:
- 1:54: Bills take a 29-26 lead
- 1:02: Chiefs take a 33-29 lead
- 0:13: Bills take a 36-33 lead
- 0:00: Chiefs tie the game at 36
For those keeping score at home, that’s 25 points in the last two minutes of play.
That’s the most combined points among playoff teams in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The majority? 28 for the Vikings & Ravens in 2013.
— Statistics and information from ESPN (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 24, 2022
The only game with a crazier ending was Dec. 8, 2013, when the Ravens and Vikings combined for 28 points in the final two minutes. Baltimore won 29-26 on Joe Flacco’s touchdown pass to Marlon Brown.
The historical night of Gabriel Davis
If NFL fans didn’t know Gabriel Davis’s name before Sunday’s contest, they certainly do now.
Davis single-handedly wrecked the Chiefs’ secondary, catching all four of Allen’s touchdowns and amassing 201 receiving yards on just eight catches. And two of his touchdown receptions came when the Bills needed him most.
Several aspects of the second-year wide receiver’s performance make him historic. He became the first player to catch four touchdown passes in a playoff game. He is only the ninth receiver to amass 200+ receiving yards in a game. by Stathead. His two go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter tied him for the most in a playoff game, by Stathead.
nonstop offense
This was not a game for a defense fan to watch. Neither offense could be stopped, with Buffalo amassing 422 total yards of offense and Kansas City adding 552.
The 974 combined yards ranked as the 15th-most in playoff history, according to Statheadand it was the most of two teams that did don’t flip the ball.
The 683 combined passing yards are tied for 29th in a playoff game. by Stathead.
And according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the second time two playoff teams had combined for five or more fourth-down attempts without a failed attempt.
Tonight, the Chiefs and Bills combined to go 5/5 on fourth down. This is only the second time in the Super Bowl Era that two teams have combined to make more than 5 fourth-down conversions without a single turnover in opportunities in a playoff game.
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) January 24, 2022
The Luck of Josh Allen’s Coin Flip
The NFL’s overtime rules are under fire again, as the Chiefs were able to win the game without the Bills having a chance to respond. But Allen has had success at coin tosses in the past.
ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Allen was a perfect 9-0 this season on pregame coin tosses. He guessed tails on Sunday and the coin came up heads. The Chiefs made him pay for his bet 50-50, marching down the field 75 yards in eight plays to score the winning touchdown.
A crazy stat that’s more relevant after the end of overtime: Josh Allen came into today’s game 9-0 in coin tosses this season.
— Field Yachts (@FieldYates) January 24, 2022
Lack of sanctions
For a game with as much firepower as this one, it sure was clean.
The Bills only had three penalties for 15 yards. The Chiefs had a 10-yard penalty.
It was one of only 33 playoff games in NFL history with 25 or fewer combined penalty yards, and the combined 78 points was the most of any matchup on the list. according to Stathead. It was also one of only 55 playoff games which had four or fewer penalties combined and was again the highest score of those contests.