Takeaways from Chiefs-Bills playoff game: Patrick Mahomes' standout performance and a little luck send Chiefs to AFC title game

For the sixth consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs will play for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. 

Thanks to an incredible effort by the Chiefs offense and a little luck, they took down the Buffalo Bills 27-24 on the road at Highmark Stadium, setting up a date next week against the Baltimore Ravens with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. 

Here are three takeaways from the Chiefs' dramatic win. 

1. Chiefs' offense does a lot with a little 

The Bills entered Sunday's divisional round, hoping the team's offense would be its best defense. For the most part, the plan worked, as Buffalo led time of possession by a large margin (37:03 to 22:57) while limiting quarterback Patrick Mahomes' time on the field. However, as they often do, No. 15 and the Chiefs' offense rose to the occasion. 

Despite running only 47 offensive plays to the Bills 78, the Chiefs recorded 361 total yards, seven fewer than Buffalo. Furthermore, Mahomes finished 17-of-23 for 215 yards with two second-half touchdowns, both to tight end Travis Kelce. 

Meanwhile, after missing the Chiefs' previous meeting with the Bills, running back Isiah Pacheco made up for lost time, pounding Buffalo for 97 yards (15 carries) and the game-winning score from four yards out early in the fourth quarter. 

Despite the discrepancy in time of possession, the Chiefs also beat up the Bills in the big-play department, finishing with eight plays of 20 or more yards to Buffalo's zero. 

2. Wide right, again, shouldn't be the headline in Buffalo

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass conjured up memories of Scott Norwood, who famously cost the franchise Super Bowl XXV by missing wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt that would've tied the game with 1:47 left. While he ultimately doomed the team's chances, the game slipped through the Bills' fingers long before that. 

Before the Bills' final drive, they had run seven plays in the fourth quarter for five yards over two possessions. They included a curious failed fake punt attempt on fourth down and a three-and-out. 

Meanwhile, if not for a fumble by the Chiefs at the goal line early in the fourth quarter, the Bills would've had a two-score deficit to overcome, not only three points. Also, during the 16-play drive that resulted in Bass' miss, quarterback Josh Allen narrowly avoided a lost fumble, which would've ended things. 

Bass isn't off the hook, but he's not the reason the Bills lost the game. The offense's failure in crunch time and a nearly invisible outing from wide receiver Stefon Diggs (three catches for 21 yards) played a much more significant role. 

3. Andy Reid tried to give the game away 

Sunday's matchup came down to some last-minute dramatics, but it didn't have to be that way. Down the stretch, Reid made several decisions that could've and probably should've, bitten the Chiefs in the backside. 

Reid adjusted well to the Bills' game plan for most of the game, but he nearly gave things away in the second half. Following the Bills' failed fake punt attempt, the Chiefs had possession deep in Buffalo territory, nursing a three-point advantage with 12:49 to go. 

After a huge 29-yard run by Pacheco on the drive's first play, Reid went away from what worked, calling a trick play from the three-yard line, which led to a fumble through the back of the end zone by wideout Mecole Hardman. 

Ultimately, the Chiefs' defense forced a three-and-out, but Reid again baffled with his play calling on the ensuing possession. Three plays into the drive, a controversial pass interference penalty prevented Kansas City's first punt of the game. 

However, Reid again strayed away from what had been successful, calling three unsuccessful pass plays in a row to give the ball right back to Buffalo.

The Bills drive would end with Bass' missed field goal attempt, but if only one or two plays break the other way, the outcome could've been much different for the Chiefs.