ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Broad Proper, Half 2. That is what this sport shall be generally known as in Buffalo eternally.
However like Scott Norwood after Super Bowl XXV, Payments kicker Tyler Bass did not dodge the media after his miss that basically ended the sport.
“It is disappointing, I am damage now, having this sense going into the offseason,” Bass mentioned at his locker after the sport. “I’ve to do no matter I can to enhance.”
When requested about his confidence after a miss and blocked kick within the wild-card spherical, Bass mentioned, “My confidence was excessive. I had a terrific week of follow, made some changes, felt good going into the sport, however the outcomes did not work out.”
Bass too commented on the assist he’d gotten from his teammates instantly following the loss, and people sentiments had been echoed by Payments quarterback Josh Allen
“I want it would not have been put in that state of affairs,” Allen mentioned. “You win as a group you lose as a group. One play would not outline a sport, would not outline a season.”
Payments head coach Sean McDermott mentioned “we have now full confidence in Tyler” at his postgame press convention.
Now, displaying such assist is not shocking, however it’s nonetheless noteworthy. And whereas Bass’ kick did all however formally seal the victory for the Chiefs, who’ll remarkably head to their sixth-consecutive AFC Championship Sport, Buffalo’s banged-up protection merely could not get Kansas Metropolis into 2nd-and-long and Third-and-long eventualities. The Chiefs ran 62 offensive performs within the victory and solely obtained to 3rd down 5 instances. Unbelievable.
Additionally, the Chiefs averaged a whopping 7.7 yards per play after averaging 5.6 yards per play within the December loss to the Payments inside Arrowhead Stadium.
For the third time in his profession, Mahomes shredded the Payments protection within the playoffs. This loss for Buffalo was a recurring nightmare from that perspective too.
“It begins with me,” McDermott mentioned. “And I take full accountability. We did not do sufficient to win the sport. We did not do sufficient to influence the sport defensively.”
Past Bass’ miss and the Payments protection lastly cracking amidst the huge accidents it endures, on Buffalo’s ultimate drive of the season, contained in the Chiefs’ 30-yard-line, Allen obtained a rusher in his face which did not permit him to step right into a throw that will’ve hit an open Khalil Shakir in the long run zone to take the lead. The move hit the turf a yard or two brief.
Hinting at inevitable season-to-season modifications, Payments heart Mitch Morse mentioned, “This week was like a celebration on the market at follow. My thought is not who we misplaced to, it is that this group will not have a possibility to play collectively once more, and that is a disgrace.”
Towards what many would agree is a Chiefs group not as dynamic as its usually been throughout the Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid period, surrendering almost eight yards per play just isn’t a recipe for achievement. Add in a squandered potential go-ahead landing on the final drive and a missed fourth-quarter discipline aim, and there you have got it, one other devastating Payments loss within the playoffs.
It is haunting for the Payments and their followers as a result of it occurred on a kick that missed broad proper … once more.
