Don’t poke the bear NFL fans, because the (7-6) Buffalo Bills came together this week coming off a bye and pulled out a gut-check 20-17 win over Patrick Mahomes and the (8-5) Kansas City Chiefs.

It started with a huge interception by Buffalo Bills (DE) A.J. Epenesa and ended in “Style.”

Running back James Cook has rushed for over 100 yards in four games this year and the Buffalo Bills are undefeated when he has gone over the century mark.

History

The Buffalo Bills became the first team to defeat Mahomes three times in the regular season.  It’s also the first time the Buffalo Bills have beaten them when Taylor Swift has been at the game.

Will the Chiefs ever begin to “Shake It Off” with a receiver core that is Travis Kelce and their one true receiver that can’t even line up on the sides properly?

Bad Play from Chiefs Receiving Core

Kansas City has now been unable to close out games mainly due to the self-inflicted wounds by their receivers. In the season opener, Kadarius Toney mishandled a pass that led Detroit to a pick-six.

Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) – Cooper Neil/Getty Images

Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s missing a touchdown pass against the Eagles late in the fourth quarter put the team in danger. Later in the game, Justin Watson also missed a catch on a fourth-down conversion.

Skyy Moore muffed a touchdown throw on a fourth down in the fourth quarter in a loss to the Denver Broncos. Sometimes you have to feel sorry for Mahomes, as he has some of the most perfect throws in the NFL, and his receivers let him down, by dropping the easy ones.

Tony would have had a go-ahead touchdown off a lateral toss from Kelce, but he blatantly lined offside, “No Mahomes, it wasn’t the worst call ever, as it was the right call”.

Even when number “15” on the team has a magical season, his receivers still lead the league with 25 dropped passes.

While Swift may never go out of “Style”, it looks like the football product for Kansas City is starting to become, “Trouble“, quickly.

It’s safe to say at least for right now the Chiefs receiver core needs work and Kelce is the team’s only true wide receiver, though he’s called a tight end. The question is, “Was it worth it for Kansas City to dump Tyreek Hill during free agency in 2022?”

The Officials made… THE RIGHT CALL!

It looked like the Chiefs were about to pull ahead 24-20 for the first time in the game. With 1:25 left, Mahomes completed a pass to Kelce who threw a flag football-like lateral pass to Toney.

Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (19) – Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports

Toney ran the ball for an apparent touchdown but was flagged for an offensive, yes, offensive offsides penalty. It has been called once in 2021, two times in 2022, and now Toney makes it 12 times this season.

It was a killer penalty for Toney and the whole team, as he was so offside that it cost them the game.

Poor Sport or Apologetic?

After the game was over, head coach, Andy Reid was mad. “Normally, I never use any of this as excuses, but normally I get a warning before something like this happens in a big game,” Reid told reporters. “A bit embarrassing in the National Football League for that to take place.”

Then speaking to the media on Monday, Reid had a different story to tell. “Just make sure you check with the guy on the side to make sure you’re aligned,” Reid said. “He’s not lining up offsides on purpose and listen, it was two inches or an inch from being legal.”

“I’ve been doing this a long time. This isn’t an excuse. Or blame on the officials for blowing the game… But it’s a working relationship.” Reid stated. “That part is so important in this thing. You see it on both sides… You give the head coach a heads-up… That’s how it’s worked over the years. That’s what I was really trying to get across.”

Head Referee Thoughts

With the call being so “egregious”, head referee Carl Cheffers felt that he didn’t need to provide a heads-up when the penalty was called.

“Ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they lineup,” Cheffers said of Toney. “Certainly, no warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far offsides where they’re actually blocking our view of the ball. So, we would give them some sort of warning if it was anywhere close, but this particular one is beyond a warning.”

While most people are blaming the officials in this game, I would take a closer look at the actual person responsible; Toney, for being lined up “offsides”, period.

Buffalo Bills Fun Facts

*With three wins each, Allen and Mahomes even up the score

*With 61 receptions, Buffalo Bills (TE) Kincaid passes Charles Clay for the second-most catches in one season

*With 64 receiving yards in the first quarter, (RB) Cook marked a career-high in receiving yards in one game

*With a series-opening interception, (DE) A.J. Epenesa is now one of 12 Buffalo Bills defensive linemen with at least two career picks

*The Buffalo Bills are (7-0) under Sean McDermott when coming off bye weeks

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