This I can say was definitely not one of the marquee games of the week in the NFL. In Kansas City on Sunday you had a game between two not very good teams. The Bills came out on top in this ugly affair 16-10, like they usually have over the past few years against opponents like the Chiefs. It was very clear early on that Buffalo’s offensive gameplan was going to be to commit to the run.

The Chiefs started off with the first drive, and quickly punted the ball. The drive only lasted 3 plays. The Bills nearly got a turnover, when Chris Kelsay sacked, and forced on fumble on Matt Cassel. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Ryan O’Callaghan recovered the fumble. The Bills could not do much with the football as they were forced to punt on their first drive as well. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked very shaky early on, when one of his passes on the first drive was nearly intercepted.

After the Bills got the ball back, they were forced into a third and short situation from their own 16 yard line. Fitzpatrick fumbled the ball after he was hit, and the Chiefs recovered at the Bills 9 yard line. Kansas City moved the ball to the one yard line, and were faced with a 4th and goal situation. Cassel did a play action roll out to the left side, and was met by Aaron Schobel for a loss of 7 yards on the sack.

Playing off that huge play, Buffalo responded on the next drive. Marshawn Lynch took the carry, and sprung loose for a 47 yard gain. Fitzpatrick threw a key block on the right side to give Lynch running room on the play. Then one play later, Fitzpatrick found Shawn Nelson for a 17 yard gain to the Chiefs 23 yard line. The Bills moved the ball to the Chiefs nine yard after 3 runs by Fred Jackson . On third down, Fitzpatrick found Terrell Owens for a 9 yard touchdown on a crossing pattern to put the Bills on top 7-0.

The Chiefs responded on the next drive by going on a 13 play drive that resulted in a Ryan Succop 21 yard field goal. The big plays on this drive were Cassel’s pass to Chris Chambers for 24 yards on first down, and his third down conversion pass to Mark Bradley for 9 yards. The Bills held the Chiefs out of the end zone and responded with a nice drive towards the end of the first half with Jackson’s running and catching ability on full display. The Bills had a third down and 2 situation with Kansas City, and Fitzpatrick completed a 1 yard pass to Lynch. Buffalo settled for a 41 yard field goal by Rian Lindell to extend the lead 10-3 at the half.

The Bills were forced to punt on their first drive of the second half. On first down, the Chiefs turned the ball over after Cassel was intercepted by Terrence McGee . Cassel was hurried on the play, and he rolled out and threw a very poor pass right to Mcgee. The Bills had a golden opportunity to open the lead up, but when they were down at the Chiefs 5 yard line, Fitzpatrick did a play action fake, and threw a pass right to Brandon Flowers. There were 3 defenders around Lee Evans in the back of the endzone, and Fitzpatrick made a very poor read to waste a opportunity to increase the lead further. Kansas City was forced to punt on the next drive, and the Bills responded with an 11 play, six minute drive that resulted in a Lindell 24 yard field goal to increase the lead to 13-3.

Kansas City came back on the next play with a 76 yard touchdown run by Jamaal Charles. He ran the ball off the left side, and used his speed to blow away the Bills secondary. The game was very tight going into the fourth quarter at 13-10. The Bills got great field position after a poor punt by the Chiefs. Buffalo took over at the Chiefs 37 yard line for their first possession of the 4th quarter, and could only move the ball 4 yards in 3 plays. That set up a 51 yard field goal attempt by Lindell which he pushed wide left.

The defense made a huge play on the Chiefs next possession. Cassel threw a pass on third down that was tipped by a Bills defender and intercepted by Paul Posluszny who returned it 17 yards to the Chiefs 35 yard line. On first down, Fitzpatrick found Owens for a six yard pickup, and Fitzpatrick also converted a key third down by running himself for a 2 yard gain. On the second 3rd down opportunity of the drive, Fitzpatrick found Jackson for a 8 yard gain, which help set up Lindell’s 36 yard field goal to extend the Bills lead 16-10.

Cassel responded on the next drive by converting a big 3rd down on a pass play for 22 yards to Bobby Wade. Cassel completed another third down by finding Leonard Pope for 16 yards to the Bills 46 yard line. Then on a key play, Jairus Byrd was whistled for a pass interference penalty that brought the ball to the Bills 21 yard line. This third down penalty put the Bills in a very tough spot. But the defense held the Chiefs out of the endzone by intercepting a Cassel pass on fourth down. The interception was made by none other than Jairus Byrd . That was his 9th interception of the year. After the Bills were forced to punt, the Chiefs had one opportunity left. They drove the ball to the Bills 37 yard line with 7 seconds left. Cassel threw up the ball into the endzone, and George Wilson came down with the interception to end the game.

It was a nice win for the Bills, who beat a very poor Kansas City Chiefs team. But just like Perry Fewell said in the post game press conference, “I don’t see any ugly in victory”. The Bills will look to avenge the Monday night loss to New England, as the Patriots come to town this week.

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