It breaks Patrick Mahomes’ heart to keep beating Josh Allen in playoffs: ‘Always feel for him’

It breaks Patrick Mahomes’ heart to keep beating Josh Allen in playoffs: ‘Always feel for him’

It was personal for the Chiefs and the Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes apologized to Josh Allen after the ending the Bills quarterback’s season in the playoffs for the fourth time since January 2021.

“I always feel for him — he’s a great player, an amazing compeтιтor and an awesome dude who I respect so much,” Mahomes told The Athletic after Kansas City’s 32-29 victory over Buffalo in the conference championship game.

“I’m sorry it had to be us. But, you know, we compete, and someone has to win.”

Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hug after the AFC Championship game on January 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP

Mahomes completed 18-of-26 pᴀsses for 245 yards, one pᴀssing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns.

Kansas City is the first back-to-back champion to return to the Super Bowl, putting them on the brink of a historic three-peat.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on January 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP

The Chiefs celebrated their third straight AFC тιтle by blasting hip-hop songs in their locker room at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, according to The Athletic.

Down the hallway in the Bills locker room, Allen sat in silence with his head down at his locker.

“To be the champs, you have to beat the champs, and we didn’t beat them,” said Allen, who could win his first MVP after playing lights out during the regular season.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) practices before the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Allen completed 18-of-26 pᴀsses for 237 yards and two scores. He also had 11 carries for 39 yards.

The Bills had plenty of chances to break their playoff losing streak to the Chiefs — and at one point, the game was tied at 29.

With less than four minutes remaining, Allen launched a game-saving pᴀss to Bills тιԍнт end Dalton Kincaid, but he dropped it on fourth-and-5.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen before the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri on January 26, 2025. Jason Squires/Shutterstock

The Bills’ defense couldn’t stop Mahomes on Kansas City’s final drive en route to securing the win.

Tom Brady and Joe Burrow (Bengals) are the only two quarterbacks who’ve defeated Mahomes in conference тιтle games — both needing overtime in 2019 and 2023.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts on stage after the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Chiefs and Eagles will meet in a Super Bowl rematch in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

Kansas City beat Philadelphia, 38-35, in Super Bowl 2023.

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