Bill’s Tyler Bass Apologizes For Missed Kick That Cost Game Against Chiefs: ‘I’ve Got To Do Better’

The Buffalo Bills once again fell just short to the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 27-24 in the Divisional Round. Like their previous playoff matchups, the game stayed close as both teams were swapping the lead all night. The Bills had a chance to tie the game with a 44-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Bass with 1:47 remaining, but it missed wide right, handing the Chiefs the victory. 

The Bills had beaten the Chiefs in Kansas City 20-17 in Week 14 of the regular season, but once again fell just short in the playoffs, their third straight loss in the Divisional Round. The kick from Bass, who was kicking a career-low 76.5% throughout the season, veered just right before going past the uprights.

“Ultimately, it’s completely on me. I’ve got to do a better job of getting through to my target,” Bass said. “I feel terrible, you know? I love this team and it hurts. This one hurts bad. Yeah, I’ve got to do a better job.”

Led by quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills managed to get multiple first downs and slowly drive downfield in the final minutes of the game. Buffalo did have chances in their final drive to score in the form of two Allen passes to receivers Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir, but were never able to find the endzone.

“I wish he wouldn’t have been put in that situation. You win as a team, you lose as a team. One play doesn’t define a game, doesn’t define a season,” Allen said about his teammate Bass. “We got to be there for him because again, we execute a couple of plays prior, probably singing a different tune right now.”

By the final whistle, the Bills had outgained Kansas City in total yards, ran 31 more total plays than them, and converted on 7/14 third downs compared to only 1/5 for the Chiefs. Though they led in multiple areas of the stat sheet, Buffalo fell for the third time in four postseasons to Kansas City, a team they just can’t seem to beat down the stretch.

Buffalo won their final five games of the regular season to edge out the Miami Dolphins to win the AFC East title, their fourth in a row. Throughout the season, they were ranked fourth in total yards per game, and on Sunday night, the offense did its job in the first three quarters but were scoreless in the fourth. The team’s defense was ranked ninth in total yards allowed but struggled to stop the Chiefs from scoring in quick fashion multiple times.

“I’m extremely disappointed. I mean, you put so much time into this,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. “We put so much time into a season, let alone this game, and the preparation for it, and to come out and to not perform the way I’d hoped we would’ve, it’s extremely disappointing and frustrating.”