The Buffalo Bills stunned the Kansas City Chiefs with a potentially season-saving 20-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and afterward, Bills head coach Sean McDermott was thrilled.
“Our guys, the staff, the players, were steadfast in their focus,” said McDermott, via Patrick Warren of the Bills’ official team website. “I couldn’t be more proud of a group, I really couldn’t, at this point in the regular season. To a person, they didn’t flinch. They were focused, they supported one another, they supported me and I don’t take that for granted at all.”
The victory came after an article was released detailing a speech that McDermott gave to his team back in 2019, where he used the events of 9/11 as motivation for his club.
McDermott’s players defended him during the week, and on Sunday, they all showed that they still have the coach’s back.
“You can question a lot of things about coaching style, you can question a lot of things about my decision-making, you can question a lot of things about this team, but to question his character and who he is as a man … he’s one of the better humans on this planet,” said quarterback Josh Allen.
Buffalo jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Chiefs in first half, only to see Kansas City rally and tie the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.
However, the Bills drove down the field to kick a field goal to retake a 20-17 lead at the 1:54 mark and then held on as a late Chiefs touchdown was called back due to a controversial penalty.
The win moved Buffalo to 7-6 on the season. Due to tiebreakers, Sean McDermott’s group is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the AFC playoff picture, but there are currently seven teams in the conference with the same record as the Bills.
Buffalo’s schedule won’t get any easier, as it will head home to host the surging Dallas Cowboys next Sunday. It will then take on the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins to close out the regular season.
The Bills are aiming to make their fifth straight trip to the playoffs.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.