KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was Week 11 within the common season, and the Payments had simply defeated the Chiefs, 30-21.
As is NFL customized, the 2 beginning quarterbacks trotted throughout the sector after the sport to greet one another, and it was then when Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes embraced Buffalo’s Josh Allen and informed him, “We’ll do it again.”
“We’ll see you guys later,” Allen responded as they went their separate methods en path to dominating their respective divisions.
So, right here we’re.
Later has arrived for Mahomes’ Chiefs and Allen‘s Payments, as they meet once more within the AFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
If the Chiefs win, it’s going to mark the fourth time in 5 seasons they’ve ended the Payments’ season prematurely within the playoffs.
It, too, would put Kansas Metropolis within the Tremendous Bowl for the third consecutive 12 months and fifth previously six years, and provides them an opportunity to grow to be the primary group ever to win three consecutive championships.
That is Kansas Metropolis’s seventh consecutive convention championship recreation — solely New England, with eight of their dynastic run, has extra.
“It’s been a special run,” Mahomes mentioned.
If the Payments win, they’ll attain the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time for the reason that 1993 season — once they misplaced their fourth consecutive try at profitable the Lombardi Trophy, which they’ve by no means gained.
Allen has by no means defeated Mahomes within the postseason — one thing that has grow to be an amazing burden for him regardless of proving himself to be one of the crucial dynamic gamers within the recreation, however needing the {hardware} to really cement his legacy.
Allen has began 12 playoff video games, probably the most of any quarterback with out reaching a Tremendous Bowl.
The factor is, although: Allen can hardly be blamed for his pedestrian 7-5 postseason file contemplating he’s thrown 23 touchdowns to only 4 interceptions in these video games.
Whereas the Payments have gained the earlier 4 regular-season matchups with Kansas Metropolis, together with the sport earlier this season, they’re 0-3 towards the Chiefs within the postseason.
Kansas Metropolis beat the Payments within the 2020 AFC Championship, then in 2021 divisional spherical and once more final season within the divisional spherical.
“We know what they are,’’ Allen said this week. “They’re the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL. You’ve got to beat them to get past them.”
This has gotten previous for Allen and the Payments. Will it change on Sunday night time? Is that this lastly the Payments’ time?
“We’re grateful and humbled to have one other alternative at it,’’ Allen mentioned.
The Payments enter this recreation trying like a extra full group than any they’ve had within the earlier conferences towards the Chiefs.
Allen stays nice, however he has a deeper, extra productive operating recreation round him now, and a greater protection.
The Chiefs, in the meantime, have had an interesting common season wherein they’ve regarded extra weak than ever throughout this dynasty, but they proceed to win.
They had been 11-0 in one-score video games this season.
“For those who take a look at the video games, each recreation’s shut, so it simply comes out to a play right here or there that makes an influence on the result,’’ Mahomes mentioned. “If you take a look at the good rivalries of the NFL, it comes with this. It comes with taking part in one another yearly within the common season, and it comes with taking part in within the playoffs.’’
The Payments and Chiefs have performed one another a complete of eight occasions previously 5 seasons.
“I really feel like we’ve performed them simply as a lot as we’ve performed the blokes in our division,’’ Allen mentioned.
There are lots of gamers on the Payments roster who’ve endured the end-of-the-season heartbreak from these losses to Kansas Metropolis. One in every of them who hasn’t is receiver Amari Cooper, who’s in his first season with Buffalo.
“I’ve by no means been this far within the playoffs,’’ Cooper mentioned. “That is what you dream of. [You] get this far, it’s like you possibly can style it.’’
What’s going to the Payments style come Sunday night time?
Will it lastly be candy?
Or bitter once more?
