Chiefs, Edwards-Heller flee with victory over bills

Orchard Park, NY – Rookie Clyde Edwards-Heller and Kansas City Chiefs overlooked taking a seat behind Patrick Mahoms in a running attack.

As the Buffalo bills worked hard to limit the deep throws of the strong-armed Mahoms, he continued to deliver the ball happily, and Kansas City beat Buffalo 26-17 on Monday night.

“You know my nature, I want to throw it deeper every time. We want to go down and throw these long touchdowns,” said 2018 MVP Mahoms. “But if teams are going to play us like this, we have to show that we can run football.”

Mission accomplished.

With Edwards-Heller’s 161-yard run, the Chiefs finished with 245 – since Mahoms took over as starter in 2017. Kansas City’s 46 run attempts are the highest in eight years under coach Andy Reid and Wein Bell is waiting to make his debut after signing a new deal with the newly signed Leto ‘Chiefs last Thursday.

“I can not wait,” Bell tweeted during the game.

Edwards-Heller has already chatted with the veteran Bell and is excited to team up.

“Another person is coming in, another part of the puzzle. For me, we can only go up,” Edwards-Heller said. “I can do anything to pick his brain and gain knowledge. I’m there for it.”

Mahoms finished 21 of 26 with two touchdowns for 225 yards, both of which ended in a tight end for Travis Kells. His first touchdown was his 90th game in his 37th game, breaking the NFL record of 90 TD passes for the fewest games. Hall of Fame Dan Marino has a previous mark of 40 games.

The Chiefs are off to their third 5-1 start in four seasons, and they lost 40-32 to the Las Vegas Raiders on October 11th.

Buffalo (4-2) lost his second row. Bills fell 42-16 in Tennessee last Tuesday as the game was shaken by the spread of COVID-19 against the Titans. This also led to the Kansas City-Buffalo game being pushed back. Chiefs, who initially had to play three games in 11 days, had two days off rather than bills.

Buffalo’s defense was sold to prevent Mahoms from going deep, but proved against the run.

“We thought we’re well constrained from removing them from above, but the run game was just another part of their game, and they executed it well,” said security Micah Hyde.

The bills were scrapped by allowing the chiefs to change nine of the 14 third-down chances, two of which were 1:56 on Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field goal on a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

During that drive, Buffalo’s Justin Zimmer took the ball away from Edwards-Helier at Kansas City 30. The play was confusing on the field, but that call was manipulated after replays showed Edwards-Heller being below the knee.

Two plays later, on the third and 11th, Mahoms came out of trouble and hit Byron Pringle for 37 yards. Mahoms ate more clock with a 9-yard scamper on the third and 7th.

“Frustrated, we found a way to bring our guilt back on the field,” Hyde said. “We had to get a stop and we didn’t.”

Buffalo’s run defense has had the worst outing since conceding 273 yards at the hands of New England on December 23, 2018.

Josh Allen completed 14 of 27 for 122 yards, with touchdown passes to Stephen Diggs and Cole Beasley.

Among what is considered a showdown of the NFL’s top passers-by, the chiefs have kept the Allen-led bills cooling their heels. There were four drives of 10 plays or more in Kansas City and more than 15 minutes were captured.

Darrell Williams had a nearly eight-minute, 82-yard drive from 13 yards, leading the Chiefs 20-10 with 1:18 left in the third quarter.

Social Justice Protests

As they were done in all seasons, the bills were chosen to stay in their locker room for the performance of the national anthem. Chiefs are by their side, defensive end Alex O’Keefe is the only player to recognize the knee.

No fans

Bills continued to play in an empty stadium due to state COVID-19 regulations.

Injuries

Highlights: T Mitchell Schwartz, who started the 134th game in a row, did not return after the first series due to a back injury. He has the longest active streak in offensive linemen and is the third longest offensive player. Okafor dismissed after injuring his tendon in the second trimester.

Bills: CB Com Lewis did not return after injuring his wrist in the first half. Left guard Cody Ford was sidelined after injuring his right knee in the fourth quarter.

Inactivations

Highlights: WR Sami Watkins has not played since injuring his tendon last week.

Bills: Buffalo’s defensive struggles led to a line shake-up as DE Trent Murphy and DT Harrison Phillips became inactive. They were replaced by Zimmer and Brian Cox, who rose from the practice squad the day before.

UP Next

Highlights: Sunday in Denver.

Bills: Sunday at Vinless Jets. Buffalo beat New York 27-17 in the season opener.