Buffalo Bills defense denied Kansas City Chiefs on 3rd down, sparking big road win

The Kansas City Chiefs had won 15 of their last 18 home games heading into Sunday’s clash with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo had looked lost on defense, allowing 45 points per game and being outscored 135-55 during a recent three-game losing streak. Worse, the Bills run defense had allowed 638 yards on the ground and 11 rushing touchdowns during the slide. All that changed Sunday as Buffalo (6-5) snapped its three-game losing streak with a 16-10 victory over Kansas City (6-5) at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Bills held the once-mighty Chiefs offense to 236 yards of total offense, including just seven rushing yards by running backs, as Buffalo snapped a three-game losing streak vs. the Chiefs. Buffalo’s defense returned to its early-season form, forcing Kansas City to go three-and-out on its first five possessions.

The Bills brought pressure for most of the game, with Lorenzo Alexander and Cedric Thornton each logging big sacks of Alex Smith. Even when Buffalo wasn’t able to sack Smith, they pressured him, especially on third down, as Kansas City went 2-of-13 on third down and didn’t pick up its first first down until there was 3:30 remaining in the first half.

Buffalo’s defense helped extend Kansas City’s offensive woes, as the Chiefs went 21 consecutive drives without a touchdown before Smith found Albert Wilson for a 19-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Following Stephen Hauschka’s third field goal of the game, a boot from 48 yards that gave Buffalo a 16-10 lead, Alexander and Eddie Yarbrough brought pressure on a third-and-nine, with Alexander bursting through the line for a big sack.

Later in the quarter, again on third down, Yarbrough and Leonard Johnson came on a blitz and made life difficult for Smith, disrupting a screen pass attempt for Charcandrick West.

The Bills hit Smith four times and recorded seven tackles for a loss, with Jerry Hughes constantly getting into the backfield en route to 2.5 tackles for a loss.

For at least one game, Buffalo’s pass rush returned, just in time to stop a free fall out of the Wild Card picture.