The Buffalo Bills are still in championship purgatory, and one play in particular doomed them, because they ignored one primary schematic trait from Steve Spagnuolo

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo pulled out one of his best calls when his team needed it against the Bills.

The situation came on the other side of the two-minute warning on Sunday night. With Kansas City clinging to a 32-29 lead, Allen and the Bills faced a do-or-die 4th-and-5 situation on their own 47-yard line. With Buffalo holding all three of their timeouts, Sean McDermott left his offense on the field to try and convert fourth down.

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shares rules for maintaining Buffalo #Bills QB Josh Allen: ‘He sees everything’ | @EdEastonJr

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Yes, cornerback Trent McDuffie — historically an excellent pass-rusher from the outside, and one who helped save the Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl with a well-timed rush — got the green light to attack Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Or, perhaps, he made that decision on his own.

Hurts largely succeeded against the blitz on the NFC side of the playoff bracket. But the Los Angeles Rams, who sacked Hurts seven times in Philadelphia’s 28-22 win in the divisional round, gave the Eagles quarterback considerable trouble. Oftentimes it appeared his checkdown options were ill-placed or covered up entirely.

The Buffalo Bills had the Kansas City Chiefs on a string when they ran the ball in the AFC Championship Game. Why did it take them so long to start, and why did they stop?

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the AFC championship game for an opportunity to advance to their third-straight Super Bowl and a chance to complete a three-peat. But it's never easy preparing for the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen,

The NFL's best teams, and best defenses, are some of the league's heaviest blitzers ... and also some of its lowest.

Countless fans believe the Buffalo Bills fell short to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship because of the referees. The players who actually competed on the field, however, don't view it that way.