Josh Allen's MVP MOMENT as the BILLS BEAT the CHIEFS and win 6th STRAIGHT

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast: Josh Allen's MVP Moment & Bills Top Chiefs – 6th Straight Win

Date: November 18, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Buffalo Plus podcast breaks down the Buffalo Bills’ thrilling 30-21 victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The hosts, drawing on their decades of experience covering the team, focus on Josh Allen’s electrifying fourth-quarter touchdown and his continued emergence as an MVP favorite. They analyze pivotal plays, contributions from unsung heroes, in-game adjustments, and the overall significance of this statement win—especially with the Bills surging back into the race for the AFC’s top seed.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josh Allen’s Defining “MVP Moment” [01:54, 04:27, 05:05, 12:23]

• The Play: On fourth and two, late in the game, Allen ran for a crucial 24-yard touchdown, electrifying the stadium.
• Decision to Go For It: Sean McDermott’s aggressive decision reflected lessons from past Chiefs comebacks.
  • Sean McDermott: “[Mahomes and Reid are] just way too good to not go for it right there ... would have stood by it if it didn’t work out.” [03:06]
• Atmosphere: The crowd’s intensity and MVP chants elevated an already iconic moment.
  • Dan Fates: “You see Josh Allen put his head down and start to run. And this place was going nuts after it’s over.” [02:38]
• Significance: Hosts agree this was a national-stage, MVP-caliber display, capturing what makes Allen unique.
  • Mike Catalana: “It’s an MVP moment. National stage ... go be you. Go be the unicorn, the alien that you are.” [05:05]
  • Jenna Cottrell: “It’s an all timer ... Jim Nance called it the play of the year as he’s going in the end zone. Great call, Jim.” [12:23]

2. Reactions from the Locker Room: Teammate Praise & Awe [07:54–10:18]

• Quinton Morris: “He’s the goat. You know, I always say that on the sideline, man. He’s amazing ... We all had the utmost confidence ... Like, go for it. Let Josh do his thing ... that’s my guy for sure.” [09:21, 09:55]
• Dorian Williams: “When he took off today, I just started yelling ... Man, he’s a dog. He’s a great leader. Great dude. Love the dude.” [10:07]
• Deion Dawkins: “He seems to do that all the time ... you get to the point where you kind of expect it ... shouldn’t be normal, but it is.” [08:53]

3. Supporting Cast and Offensive Highlights

Khalil Shakir: Mr. Reliable [05:54, 06:15, 06:50, 10:55]

• Consistently comes through in high-pressure situations with third-down conversions and tough catches.
  • Jenna Cottrell: “It's almost like when anything's going wrong, just find Khalil somewhere. He's going to make it better.” [06:15]
  • Mike Catalana: “Stats are like bikinis. They show you some things but not everything ... that could be the play that gets the Bills possibly the one seed.” [06:50]

Curtis Samuel’s Breakout Game [07:32, 17:36, 18:47]

• Earned his first TD as a Bill with a critical catch and run, marking a turnaround in his contribution to the offense.
  • Mike Catalana: “Big to sort of wake him up ... he can help this team.” [18:14]

Dawson Knox is Back [19:31, 19:49]

• Reliable with several key catches, stepping up with Dalton Kincaid out due to injury.

4. Offensive Line and Run Game Struggles [21:59, 22:51, 23:13]

• Ryan Van Demark: Filled in capably for Spencer Brown, avoiding major mistakes.
• Run Game Issues: Bills were unable to establish traditional run plays, often facing second & long.
  • Jenna Cottrell: “First down runs were awful ... funny that the game basically ends for the Bills with a Josh Allen 24-yard run.” [23:24]
• James Cook: Noted for two touchdowns but overall the ground attack sputtered.

5. Defensive Standouts and Adjustments

Terrel Bernard: Difference Maker [25:22, 25:45]

• Recorded a sack and a sealing interception, energizing the defense and fans.
  • Dan Fates: “You could just tell he was just like, I wanted to be there. Like, it felt so emotional ... I wanted this.” [25:22]

Taylor Rapp, Cam Lewis & Special Teams [26:02, 26:36]

• Rapp had an early interception and played physically, returning from an injury scare.
• Cam Lewis made a crucial open-field tackle on Travis Kelce, limiting his production to just 2 catches for 8 yards. [26:36]

Limiting Mahomes & the Chiefs [27:14, 27:27]

• The Bills' defense adjusted impressively after the first half, holding KC to only 7 second-half points.
  • Mike Catalana: “No points allowed in the third quarter, just seven for the entire second half. Put some respect on Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich’s defense.” [27:27]

6. Implications for the Playoff Race and Locker Room Vibes

• AFC One Seed in Play: With their sixth straight win, the Bills are now in serious contention for the AFC’s top seed.

• Team Mentality: Players and coaches are quick to downplay the hype but privately acknowledge the matchup’s significance.

  • Von Miller (via Quinton Morris): “Coach McDermott was like, it’s just another game and, you know, 100 years from now, nobody's going to remember ...” [16:00]
  • Deion Dawkins: “... this isn’t the Super Bowl. We will see them again. Most likely ... it's great.” [16:33]

• Emotional High, Bye Week Ahead: The hosts agree the upcoming bye comes at a perfect time, allowing players to heal and avoid a letdown after such an emotional win. [28:39]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Catalana (Opening): “My feeling is that moment in Tommy Boy when the car gets all wrecked ... that was awesome.” [00:00, 30:32]
• Jim Nantz (on CBS, relayed by Jenna): “Called it the play of the year as [Allen] is going in the end zone.” [12:23]
• Mike Catalana (on watching the Allen TD): “Closest I ever came to cheering in a press box ... man, that was special, what we just saw.” [13:57]
• Postgame Interaction: Allen gave his hat and armband to a kid in the crowd, reinforcing his character and connection to fans. [12:49]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Opening reactions & Tommy Boy reference
• 01:54 – Setting up the win and Allen’s 4th-down play
• 03:06 – Sean McDermott on the decision to go for it
• 04:27 – Breakdown of Allen’s TD, crowd atmosphere
• 05:05 – “MVP moment” discussion
• 06:15 – Khalil Shakir’s clutch play
• 07:32 – Teammate reactions from the locker room
• 09:21 – Quinton Morris praises Allen’s leadership
• 10:07 – Dorian Williams on Allen’s run
• 12:23 – Jim Nantz’s “play of the year” call, MVP chants
• 13:57 – Press box reactions to Allen’s TD
• 16:00 – Von Miller relays McDermott’s motivational message
• 17:36 – Curtis Samuel’s breakout, first TD as a Bill
• 19:31 – Dawson Knox filling in for Kincaid
• 21:59 – Offensive line shuffle, Van Demark’s steady play
• 23:13 – Run game issues, Allen as the difference
• 25:22 – Terrel Bernard’s big game
• 26:36 – Cam Lewis’s crucial tackle
• 27:27 – Second-half defensive adjustments
• 28:39 – Bye week and moving forward
• 30:32 – Closing reactions: “That was awesome”

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Final Thoughts

This episode captures every angle of the Bills’ epic win: Josh Allen’s magic, clutch supporting performances, a defense that rose to the challenge, and a team mentality that’s both grounded and hungry. The podcast’s hosts balance technical analysis with the raw emotion of being present for greatness, underscoring why this victory could be a turning point in the Bills’ 2024 season.

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Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

My feeling is that moment in Tommy boy when the car gets all wrecked and Chris Farley goes, that was awesome.

[Dorian Williams]

I just started yelling. Like, I just. I couldn't stop yelling. I mean, I was blinking. Head kind of, you know, blacked out a little bit.

[Quinton Morris]

Yeah, I mean, he's the goat. You know, I always say that on the sideline, man. He's.

[Dan Fates]

He's.

[Quinton Morris]

He's amazing, man. Every time we on the sideline, we watch him, we're like, oh, that's crazy. So that's our guy, you know, that's. That's my guy for sure.

[Mike Catalana]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Dan Fates]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share like. We appreciate it. We're going to break down this Bill's huge win over the Chiefs, 30 to 21 today as the Bill is still in play for the one seed. They knocked off the undefeated Kansas City team coming into Orchard park. Who stood out, obviously. We're going to talk about Josh Allen, some things to clean up, and the fact that the Bills are still in play for the one seed. We also want to remind everyone, check out our audio podcast, available on Apple Podcasts. And Mike, there's a pretty cool thing about that, too.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How about top tier 10 Apple podcast?

[Dan Fates]

Unreal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, this is up there with.

[Dan Fates]

This is our Chiefs win.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

National pods. All of a sudden, I. Look, you guys, look. Someone sends a message. Number nine out of ten for Apple podcasts for this past year for sports.

[Mike Catalana]

We made it.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

We did it. We did it.

[Dan Fates]

All right, so big win for us. Big win for the Chiefs, Dan. And it starts for the Chiefs. The Chiefs. Oh, my God. Sorry. The Bills. Big win for the Bills. Big win over the Chiefs. Yes, it's been a long day, but let's start fourth and two. And Josh Allen being Josh Allen, Joshua.

[Mike Catalana]

Patrick, Leaping Allen just doing unbelievable things in that entire drive. We've talked about it before, that the Bills have had Chiefsy moments, finding ways to win the last two drives. Gutty championship caliber, finding ways to win. It wasn't necessarily pretty throughout this game. We can get to that. But with the game on the line, Sean McDermott going, being aggressive up to fourth and two, keeping the offense on the field, and it's pretty easy to just say, Hey, 17, go be. Go be you.

[Dan Fates]

I loved your tweet of Josh Allen when you say the Bills Super Bowl. Window is closed. And it's that play of him running in for that touchdown. Because, Mike, I think for this team. And you're right. Sean McDermott keeping the offense out on the field.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And.

[Dan Fates]

And you just see Josh Allen put his head down and start to run. And this place was going nuts after it's over.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And it's spectacular because it's Josh Allen and what he does. And we'll hear from some of his teammates, but you think to yourself, look at the spot they were in. It's fourth and two. The run game was awful, awful, awful. Offensively running the football, you could kick a field goal to go up by five. Okay, here's Sean McDermott talking about his mindset when he put the ball in the hands of 17.

[Sean McDermott]

Just felt, you know, we mapped it out during the week and felt strongly that that was the right decision. You know, I don't want to be resulting, if you will, but would have stood by it if it didn't work out. Just felt like, you know, there's been too many games, as you guys know, where Andy and Patrick have come back and you kick a field goal and they go score a touchdown or it's overtime, you know, just in different games where they've been and they get the ball first and the game's, you know, so they're just way too good to not go for it right there. And, you know, so every situation is a little bit different. But felt confident.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he's been burned by this before, as he said, you know, Patrick and Andy have come back on him a few times, but even take that play, I mean, that really wasn't happening much in this game. Josh ran a few times, made a few plays, but that was special. I don't know. You're on the field. Does the place get any louder than it did on that? It was one of the great plays that has ever taken place in this building, short of clinching the first Super Bowls and all those things. I'm talking about regular season game. In that moment, Josh Allen on a fourth and two against Patrick Mahomes, takes it to the house. Incredible display of athleticism and guts and will and everything that goes with it.

[Dan Fates]

And. And I think just how tense of a moment it kind of was going into that. You look around in the crowd and obviously everyone's locked in. All right, fourth and two, they're going to go for it. This is a pivotal point in the game. And you hear or you see Josh Allen start to go. You start to hear the cheers. He trucks his way into the end zone. The team's going nuts. The place is going nuts. Quinton Morris is kinging him, you know, crowning him. It was. And then you see Josh afterwards flexing like it was just looking around in that moment. It was so awesome to see because just the pure excitement and just another iconic Josh Allen moment.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's an MVP moment. Like national stage MVP moment. Game on the line in the sense of you don't get it. All Patrick Mahomes has to do with two timeouts and a two minute warning is go down the field for a field goal and then Josh. It's also, it's the visual of Josh getting up the jersey, falling off his shoulder pad. It's all of that encompassed into the rivalry. And for as much as they have played down that this was just a week 11 game. And all of those things Josh to rise up in that biggest moment. And listen, I think there are problems. And Joe Brady didn't call his best game. And that was just one of those moments where Josh Allen for an offensive coordinator is a get out of jail free card. It is a go be you. Go be the unicorn, the alien that you are you. And it was. It was real and it was spectacular.

[Dan Fates]

It was. Are you not entertained? Like it was. It was just such an awesome moment to see. And he had some moments throughout that drive. I think we also need to talk about Khalil Shakir. Some of those big moments, some of those third downs and we've talked so much about him. Football player, tough. Some of the things that he is able to do. I just, I sit back and I'm like, we all underestimated him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I would tell you this sometimes as we all know, everybody looks to stats. A lot of people look to stats. Yeah. That's a what a 10 yard catch that he makes over the middle. He got drilled. He hits the ground, holds onto the football. Massive play. It is funny. It's almost like when anything's going wrong, just find Khalil somewhere. He's going to make it better. Yeah. And he does. And he's tough and he hangs in there. And they needed it. Everything was a little disjointed it this game, but when they needed it this second half, they made two big drives.

[Mike Catalana]

You know Booger from ESPN talks about stats are like bikinis. They show you some things but not everything. And I think such a good line, it's such a. But that'll go down in the stat book as a 10 yard catch, right? That could be the play that gets the Bills, possibly the one seed. And you can look back to this drive, and if, you know there's moments in the game where you get like, I think about Josh hurdling defenders and getting fired up, but for Khalil to make that catch, and then they cut to Josh, and he gives that. That raw emotion of, like, that was a big play. We've got something going now. Like, you're in between that. In between that spot there on the field before that, that obviously led up to the fourth down run. Just unbelievable.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And then also having Curtis Samuel, someone we've talked about, of, like, oh, I don't know. Sometimes when Curtis Samuel gets involved, things don't go well. But for him, it's week 11, and he finally gets his first touchdown.

[Mike Catalana]

Josh, after the game. Casual Josh, right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

It's funny. When he has these moments, he always takes it down. He always talks up his teammates.

[Dan Fates]

He amplifies them.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. But other players around him are constantly in shock. I went in the locker room and got to talk to some of his teammates, and they were probably a lot like you. When you saw Josh Allen on that final play, what was your view on the touchdown run by Josh?

[Quinton Morris]

Josh, I can't wait to see the replay. As soon as y' all leave me alone, I'm gonna go on my phone, look at X or go on Twitter or White X's Twitter with Instagram, and see what's going on. But, like, all I seen was Josh bouncing off of tackles, and then he fell into the end zone. So Josh is. Josh is crazy, man.

[Deon Dawkins]

I turn around, and Josh is fighting off a defensive lineman. Then he's up to the next level, and he's making three guys miss scoring a touchdown. As soon as I saw him get past the line of scrimmage, I kind of knew he was scoring. And even though there's a linebacker and two DBs right in front of him, I've seen it 100 times from him in the most important situations. He seems to do that all the time, and it's incredible to watch.

[Mike Catalana]

Does it ever get old?

[Deon Dawkins]

I mean, it probably is close to 100. He's played over 100 games now. It seems like he does that every game, so it still never gets old. It's weird. You get to the point where you kind of expect it, and you're like, holy cow. Why does this almost feel normal? And then you, like, watch it again on film. You're like, this shouldn't be normal, but it is. And the whole crowd immediately starts chanting, mvp. It's really fun. He's incredible, man.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Quinton Morris]

I mean, he's the goat. You know, I always say that on the sideline, man. He's amazing, man. Every time we're on the sideline, we watch him, we're like, oh, that's. That's crazy.

[Mike Catalana]

So.

[Quinton Morris]

But he does an amazing job. Everybody on the sideline was ready. We all had the utmost confidence in each other. We have the utmost confidence in the offense. They have the utmost confidence in us. So we kind of love it. You know, it's like we all kind of thinking the same thing on the sideline. Like, go for it. Let Josh do his thing. Let the offense do their thing, and whatever happens, we'll live with it and we'll make it right.

[Mike Catalana]

What was your perspective, obviously, from the sidelines of seeing that run by Josh? Oh, you know what I mean?

[Quinton Morris]

It's like. It's like, oh, man, he shoot the guy. Spin off one still forming up. It's like, oh, man, that's crazy. You know, that's our guy. You know, that's my guy for sure.

[Dorian Williams]

When he took off today, I just started yelling. Like, I just. I couldn't stop yelling. I mean, I was blanking the head kind of, you know, blacked out a little bit. Man, he's a dog. He's a great leader, Great dude. Love the dude.

[Mike Catalana]

Dorian Williams is a great soundbite, as always. And he just goes, he's the goat. He's our quarterback. He's my quarterback. Was just that raw emotion that you get to see. Deon Dawkins added, too, that, like, what Josh is doing in this world is special. Like, in this football world, like, people aren't talking about it enough how special he is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, it's only a few players in this entire league where the great players, all these guys, you're in the NFL, you're a great athlete and a great player. Talk about a teammate or another player, the way they talk about Josh, like, he amazes them, but they also expect it. It's the strangest thing.

[Dan Fates]

Like, he does interesting dynamic because it's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, I see these crazy plays. Like, well, you just heard, you know, like, Dawson Knox, like, yeah, I looked and I figured all these guys are there, but, you know, Josh is going to get in the end zone because he does it and he comes through in those moments. And you said it, Dan. I think that's. That should get hyped up a little bit. You know, Lamar had a loss. You know who has been really good this year? MVP moment. Like, you say, you Know used to be the Heisman moment.

[Mike Catalana]

It's the Heisman moment that is in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The big, big moment. And he did it the way he did it too. So when you were describing that, I was like, okay, first down. Like in my mind probably like you sitting there, he got the first and he's like, nah, I want a little bit more.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's a broken play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Like the Chiefs on the. Josh's interception. The Chiefs, somebody texted me, said it was a perfect defense called by Spax, like he didn't have anything. There was obviously a miscommunication with Knox, but Knox wasn't. Didn't seem to be the main read. Like other things were taken away on that fourth and two game on the line. For most of it, you know, you can say that nothing was there. Like they had a play called, the Chiefs covered it up and Josh just goes into the phone booth, puts on his superman cape and says, guys, I got this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He also knew when they go into man like that they're going to have great coverage, but he has an opportunity to take off. That is what is there. And I look at it and go, There's a sense of. I don't know if comfort is the right word. Confidence.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

When Josh Allen. I'm not, I'm not talking about a called run. I'm talking about that play where he looks and goes and in his mind he knows that play is out there. It's. It's an all timer. You know, it's funny when they're, they're doing the broadcast on cbs, Jim Nance called it the play of the year as he's going in the end zone. Great call, Jim.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's a Buffalo plus subscriber too.

[Dan Fates]

I do want to say the, the crowd was chanting mvp.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

And one of. So that play happens, all that stuff. Obviously the Bill is able to seal the win with the Terrell Bernard interception. But the thing that also stands out to me is right after that, Josh walking off the field, spots a kid in the crowd, gives him his hat, gives him his armband. And I know sometimes that stuff is like, well, whatever, it doesn't matter to me. I'm like, Josh embodies the MVP on and off the field. He just holds himself and his teammates in such high regard. The fans like, I know it's. This is not X's and O's, but I just think that it's so special to watch what he does on the field and then how he conducts himself off of it too.

[Mike Catalana]

Two things off of that I remember being in Kansas City when they beat. It was the rain game that was delayed. And I remember tweeting out, great quarterback, even better person, because he went and found a Bills fan in Arrowhead and gave him the ball. And it was just kind of one of those things. Also, to Mike, to your point, I know we're not. We cover the team. We try and be objective, all of those things, but it is nice to kind of give some little tidbits from the press box, things like that. Do you know where I'm going with this? Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I say to Dan, how long have.

[Mike Catalana]

You been covering this team?

[Jenna Cottrell]

37 years?

[Mike Catalana]

9 years? It's 300 years.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. I said that was. You know, there's no cheering in the press box. That was as close to cheering when I saw him go. Just because I knew what it meant in the game. It also meant we could go downstairs and get ready to do the post game.

[Mike Catalana]

But it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just because it was. You're sitting there watching it, going, this is special. And I've said this to you before, this is why we want to be around this. It's not necessarily cheering when I say that. I just thought, we're seeing greatness there.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hey, look, there's greatness on the other side, and they're gonna see that.

[Dan Fates]

They were on this side.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, and that's part of it. We're kind of packing up our laptops as we're getting ready to go down from the press box, and you're kind of sitting there like, this doesn't happen. Like, Mahomes was on the other sideline. And we've seen that story, too. So to see that. And we're packing up, and he runs to the end zone and we go, all right. Like, we were walking out. I go, ball game. And Mike's like, well, you know, at least it's going to be an onset kick. Now you kick the extra. Because we watched Bass kick the extra point.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Have we not seen the Chiefs?

[Dan Fates]

But again, I know sitting next to.

[Mike Catalana]

Mike for a game is an experience, and then for him to kind of sit there and I go, we're not fans. None of us grew up being fans. We cover the team. We appreciate all of you being Bill's fans that follow our content, and we talk about this before, but for Mike to look at me and goes, that was the closest I've ever come to cheering in a press box. It was one of those moments where you went, man, that was special, what we just saw.

[Dan Fates]

It's right. We're.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was just Gonna say I gave Dan the full experience of it.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, I got the full experience.

[Dan Fates]

No, but I mean, watching greatness is. I mean, it's incredible.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And against a team that obviously. And look, there's the playoffs and we can talk about all that stuff, but at the same point, to be at home, to have such a domination of a play for Josh, to be able to do that, to have the reaction from the crowd, the MVP chance, all that stuff, knock off a previously undefeated.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Team, but, yeah, special. Do you think this game was special? It was one of. What?

[Dan Fates]

I love what Von Miller said. I love it because he was talking about Sean McDermott and we talked about all this week.

[Mike Catalana]

Let's just let Vaughn say it.

[Quinton Morris]

The speech from Coach McDermott was like, it's just another game and, you know, 100 years from now, nobody's going to remember. And, you know, we were like that.

[Dan Fates]

I love that it's perfect because it's true, it's honest.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And Sean even did say, and, you know, it's great to see the guys celebrate. It's great that I know what he's saying. Because the reality is they've beaten this team now four times in the regular season.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And, you know, the other part of it, Right.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The odds of them playing, I think, are very, very, very high.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. This was the intro.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Dion Dawkins said after the game, you know, whether it was a measuring stick and all these things, Deion was very clear, it's great to get a win. It feels good to get a win. But he goes, let me tell you this, this isn't the Super Bowl. And he goes, we will see them again. And then he paused and goes, most likely, like, you know. But he goes, it is great. And the question was asked, like, now it puts you in position again to get the one seed. And these are guys that are always. Every single person, what did this game mean in the locker room? And they all say, 24 hour rule, we'll move on, things like that. But Deon for a split second went, yeah, we haven't really been in contention for the one seed in quite some time. And he goes, but that. We'll worry about that. We'll worry about that later. Like, it is just to get to be nine and two and, you know, just win number nine and all those things. But this is. This was a game that the players tried to downplay while the national media and fans knew this was the game of the year. This was the national game of the week. And it lived up to the hype and then some.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. All right, let's talk about some more players who we thought were special. Mike. Curtis Samuel, he. He showed up, had the touchdown today. His first touchdown with the Bills. I said before in week 11, it's pretty unbelievable to think about that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, we talked about it. Seems like when plays went to Curtis Samuel, they went the wrong way. Yep. Right. Something would go wrong in this case. Josh getting hit, gets the ball away. It's behind him. He's open. Great catch, pivots gone with some help from Mack Hollins to get free. Yeah, that was close. Like, you know, if you see the replay of that play, that's a. I think when it works for you, it's the rub route and it's the other team. That's a pick.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And he sort of, you know, and you see it on. He sort of got him.

[Mike Catalana]

And then he gives them a little chicken wing action.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It absolutely could have been called, but it wasn't. I don't care. I mean, this happens. It happens both ways sometimes. But in that case, Curtis Samuel. Yeah. And I gotta tell you, it is big to sort of wake him up a little bit in this offense because he can help this team.

[Dan Fates]

I think he talked about, you know, I didn't get frustrated. I tried to stay patient. Like, how could you not get frustrated? So for him to kind of have the monkey off his back and be like, I can play, I can contribute, I can score touchdowns. I just think for him going forward, you're like, I can have a role in this offense.

[Mike Catalana]

That's what Sean McDermott talked about after the game, about getting his confidence up and reminding him, you're a great player, you're going to make plays for us. Curtis Samuels, guy that got paid a lot of money to do all these things. And as I've said before, and Sean added to it, too, because he likes comments and subscribes. He goes, he's been banged up this year. We're going to hear that a lot. And again. But he said, the fact. What stood out to me was that first drive he had the catch on third down, it was short. Makes a guy miss in the open field, picks up the first down. That's what Bill's fans and what Brandon bean and Shawn McDermott and Joe Brady were all hoping for, that guy that can be shifty in space, tough to tackle. We saw that a little bit in Indianapolis and a whole lot more this week.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. No, it's true. I also, I think Dawson Knox, we know Dalton Kincaid did not play. I Think Dawson had a couple of nice catches as well today. And it's nice to see him kind of get going because earlier on the season it felt like you were waiting for him to kind of push the pace and like take that next step.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Last week you had that big 30 yard catch, Josh with the throw.

[Mike Catalana]

Did you hear about that? Did you hear what Sean said earlier this week? I know you guys wedding in bridal show, but Sean, they asked when Dalton was announced that he was out on Friday. Hey, it's really nice to have Dawson Knox to be a guy that can slide into that role, a guy that's played the role before. And he said after the Indianapolis game, Dawson went up to Sean and said like, guys were like, great game, like, unbelievable catch. And Dawson's like, I've been doing this for a while. Guys like, like, I. This ain't my first time making plays and things like that. So it is comforting to have that. And great to see that Dawson Knox, who had, you know what, seven touchdowns the one year, like, have those flashes come back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he was involved in that weird fourth down play with he and Josh. Miscommunication. Miscommunication.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. That was strange.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I need to see that again. Honestly, it's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think Josh thought something. He was in a little trouble. He probably thought he was going to bounce and go behind him.

[Mike Catalana]

Go behind him because the trajectory of.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The pass and then it ended up going from bad to worse because he ended up picking about 35 yards up on the interception. But that was bad. But, you know, other guys like you.

[Dan Fates]

Mentioning Amari Cooper, that's my next guy. I want to talk about. I don't know how he caught that first catch.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He said it was like. Like a normal catch is what he said after the game.

[Dan Fates]

Well, it was coming right at us and I was like, there's no way that he's going to be able to catch the ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Just one hand. Late hands.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He said, Mike goes. That's what you're talking about, Dan, with late hands, as we've talked about with Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman at times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was part of the experience.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, again, it's an experience. We should auction that off.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I had to correct.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my God. Wait, that's a good idea.

[Mike Catalana]

So that I could sit on the other side.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm trying to make a point. I had to correct my tweet and say laid hand. Hand.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, just one with the cast or.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Whatever that is on his wrist.

[Dan Fates]

A cast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But that was. I kind of wish they Would have gone back to him a little bit more.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was only the few times we really never found him again after those two big catches that he made. But it's nice to have him back because he does open some stuff up. And you're. You just mentioned it. Kincaid and no Keon playing in this one. And then you're playing without. Right. Spencer Brown. It's like. But of course, the chief's got guys coming back, too.

[Mike Catalana]

Shout out Ryan Vandemark. I'm not going to sit here and try and tell you that he was incredible and that I watched him on every single snap. But the fact that you weren't going, man, he's a turnstile. The fact that we weren't talking or mentioning Ryan Vandermark's name is a good thing for Ryan Vandermark to step up in that spot. Guys like Osiris Torrence almost did it. The other Osiris Torrens.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. Honestly, we've said it so many times.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know. He also had some really nice plays, one on one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Whoa.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, good. Good catch.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Outstanding catch of the day. It was our light.

[Mike Catalana]

And we're back.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Great catch. Great credit to me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dan caught the light.

[Dan Fates]

Who are we talking about? I can't even remember.

[Mike Catalana]

Brian Vanmar.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, yeah. Good for him.

[Mike Catalana]

And Osiris.

[Dan Fates]

Osiris Torrance. Dion Dawkins left the game, came back, he had a wrap on his ankle. He said, we were walking off the field. He's like, they tried to knock me out. He cracks me up.

[Mike Catalana]

Because in that last drive, the play before, they were missing both starting tackles in that spot. It was again, gutsy, gritty, chiefsy, finding a way to win.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I would also add it is a little different. Spencer Brown brings a little bit more of that physicality on that side to get him back. Because they really did not get any push in the run game.

[Mike Catalana]

Nope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And they kept trying to run. And it did help them use clock. I'll say. There's the positive, because they would run it. First down runs were awful. Which is why I said it was kind of funny that the game basically ends for the Bills with a Josh Allen 24 yard run because it was ugly when they handed the ball off most of the game.

[Mike Catalana]

It was a waste of a down.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

The Bills were putting themselves in two plays to get 10 yards.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was.

[Dan Fates]

We were on the sidelines and we were laughing like, here comes another first down run. And they're like, oh, they picked up two on that run. We're like, oh, they Doubled it like it was. James Cook obviously had the two touchdowns, which was nice, but it felt like they just couldn't get anything done. And I kind of was at one point like, just change it, change it up, figure something out. Because obviously it was not worth it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Chiefs run defense is really good. They're number one in the league and they were physical. Yes, they played, they play very tough to get anything going against Spags defense, but the bills still put 30 points on the board.

[Mike Catalana]

So I saw a tweet. I don't want to go Aaron Rodgers because I don't know if this 100% factual, but it was from a reporter that said the Chiefs hadn't allowed 30 points in a game since Week 4 against Tampa Bay in 2022.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wow.

[Mike Catalana]

So it had been a while since they have allowed 30 points in a game. And again, we're sitting here, the bill scored 30 points and I think they're. Offensively, they were at times disjointed and not in rhythm.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So this is a fifth straight game they've scored 30 points and they were a little off. Like what?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And they're without Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman and Spencer Brown.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Finding ways to win, it hasn't been pretty. I'm not trying to sit here and say it's all rose colored, you know, sunglasses and all these things, but man, finding ways to win this team is. Sucks their championship windows closed. If only that thing was still open, this team could be a real contender.

[Dan Fates]

I love how much you keep.

[Mike Catalana]

I love it.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. All right, let's talk a little bit about the defense though. I was really Terrell Bernard at the end of that game. I just. He didn't play obviously in the playoff game. He had the sack earlier on in the day and after that first sack of Mahomes, you could just tell he was just like, I wanted to be there. Like, it felt so emotional to see him get up and be like, I, I wanted this. I wanted to be here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And the play at the end was great. Great for him to get a stat too.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because that always helps get some recognition. And he's. He is a Pro bowl all pro level player.

[Dan Fates]

So damn good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He just got to stay in the field.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He does. That's the biggest thing with him.

[Dan Fates]

But he throws himself around.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He does.

[Mike Catalana]

You know who else does? Taylor Rap Codrington.

[Dan Fates]

Oh my gosh.

[Mike Catalana]

That man is a crash test dummy. Just fearless running.

[Dan Fates]

He had the nice return. Yeah, great return.

[Mike Catalana]

But like as cars whiz past him at 65 miles per hour. Mike. Mike's constantly next to me going, get down, get down.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just.

[Mike Catalana]

Just get down.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

I felt like while the play's going.

[Dan Fates]

On at halftime, I was on the other. Oh, my God. I'm pointing. But I was on the wrong side of the tunnel. Like, I was trying to cut across the tunnel. So I felt like Frogger. Of like.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You felt like Codrington.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey, he's gonna break one.

[Dan Fates]

I found the gap.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Couple other quick things. Cam Lewis, outstanding tackle on Kelsey. That could have been a first down.

[Dan Fates]

Kelsey had, what, eight yards today?

[Jenna Cottrell]

He had two catches. Yeah. Now, they did go to Noah Gray. Two touchdowns and played pretty well. But, no, that was a big play because it was third and long. It was like third and 13, and he tripped him up. It just looked like that would be the Kelsey kind of play to get a first down, so I wanted to mention him. And I actually thought the corners played. When the Chiefs got him, it was, you know, it was the passes to the tight ends.

[Mike Catalana]

And Xavier Worley, yeah, he was dominant in that one drive.

[Dan Fates]

But hey, yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Nobody wants to hear this. We're beating a dead horse here. But second half adjustments, they did. No points allowed in the third quarter, just seven for the entire second half. Put some respect on Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich's defense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep. And long drives that kept the defense off the field, the Bills defense, because they found a way. How did they play? What would you say? Where do you use the term Cheapsy?

[Dan Fates]

Cheapsy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Cheapsy.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They were Chiefsy. They were. Because that's what they have done. They're number one in time of possession, and the Bills beat him at that and beat him on the scoreboard.

[Dan Fates]

Taylor Rapp also had an interception early.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's a tough dude, and he throws himself around, too. And he went out with the ankle, you know, and then he came foot and came back. Yep.

[Dan Fates]

The lights. Sorry. It's windy.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know about that. I don't know, Jim.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. Anyone else?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No. In terms of the players, I just think when you look at where this is now for this team, six wins in a row. They've done it in different ways. They've done it now in this case with guys out, but it does. The other part does feel inevitable, but there's so much now to play for. Ravens losing Steelers are tough like you see around the conference and what's going on. And it'll be a little break for this team. Awesome timing for them. It's perfect. Have their bye.

[Dan Fates]

And for you.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. And then the Niners come in.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So it's not like you're sitting there going, and maybe you see Matt Milano on the field when the Niners come here.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, to me, such an emotional win.

[Dan Fates]

Have some time.

[Mike Catalana]

Have some time to forget it and have Sean McDermott come back in two weeks or in a week and say, you guys aren't anything. We haven't earned anything yet. So that there's not that emotional high coming in and playing another game coming out flat is a big help.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, look at that.

[Dan Fates]

Turning off the lights on us. They're ready for the bye week.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. They're like, get out of here.

[Dan Fates]

But no, I think that's important. They. They got some guys banged up, have a little bit of extra time. This is the bye week. They've earned it some rest. Von Miller said they're going to celebrate maybe two nights instead of the 148 hours, right? Yeah. But Matt Milano possibly coming back, what that would mean for this defense moving in the right direction. Now, look, I mean, it's going to be a tough schedule ahead. Niners, obviously, Detroit, like, those are tough games. But where the Bills are at? Could you have ever expected that heading into the season?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought they would. We all thought they'd be a playoff team. We thought they win the division. This is next level stuff.

[Mike Catalana]

Absolutely.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because you're right there. And look, the one thing I really liked what they did, they hit Mahomes in this one.

[Mike Catalana]

They hit him first five plays. Mahomes had three drop backs. He was hit on every single one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. One was an interception, one was an.

[Mike Catalana]

Incompletion and one was a sack.

[Jenna Cottrell]

One was a sack. Yeah, when he tried to throw. So that was good. But not that it's any thing, but when the Chiefs come back, we'll see how it all plays out. They're going to be getting some dudes back, too. You always talk about the dudes. They got a few dudes who are out just like the Bills did. Teams will look different like that. Pacheco. There's guys that can really make plays for them, but they know they're in for it. Mahomes had made some great plays. That one throw he made was great. You know how good they are. Bills were just better. Better in this moment.

[Mike Catalana]

My feeling is that moment in Tommy Boy when the car gets all wrecked and Chris Farley goes, that was awesome. That's just how I feel like walking when I walk out of the stadium tonight. That will be my thought of. That was awesome. And he's like, sorry about your car.

[Dan Fates]

Is that the open. No, that. That's the perfect way to go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And you were there at the end. Did he say to Mahomes or Mahomes.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, Mahomes said, we'll do it again.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We'll do it again.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, I did not see that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. So why not? I mean, that's what we're all expecting, right?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Maybe it's here.

[Dan Fates]

Maybe it is here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We'll see.

[Dan Fates]

Maybe it's after a week off.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Look at all this.

[Dan Fates]

We don't know. All right, we'll have our. Our. You ask, we answer on Tuesday. Plenty more coverage coming up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah, we got coverage all week. We're gonna have some special guests. We're working on Spy Week.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, we're top 10 podcasts.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Spy Week, honestly.

[Dan Fates]

Wait, hold on real quick.

[Mike Catalana]

How like Houseway.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How so? So just so you guys know, we all see it. And then we're like, someone tagged us in a My daughter. Yeah, like, check.

[Mike Catalana]

Because I.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Since I have Buffalo plus all over my phone. Correct. I wonder what else were we getting? Some special algorithm.

[Mike Catalana]

We're above Ryan Rosillo and Club Shay Shay. And I'm like, there's no way this is accurate.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And Kelsey's. We're coming for you. Yeah. So they were like.

[Dan Fates]

I was like, this can't be right.

[Mike Catalana]

But seriously, thank you. I know we talk about it time and time again, but it means a lot to, like, comment, subscribe, leave us a review if you're on Apple and things like that. The Apple pod.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

This is nuts.

[Dan Fates]

I know. Very cool.

[Mike Catalana]

Top 10.

[Dan Fates]

Very cool. Wild. All right, thank you so much for joining us. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share again. It really does mean a lot and we thank you so much for watching and listening to us, because who would imagine but for Mike, hey, look at us. Look at us.

[Mike Catalana]

Look at us.

[Dan Fates]

For Mike Catalana and Dan Fades, I am Jenna Cottrell. Thank you again. Please be sure again, like, comment, subscribe, share. Check out the audio podcast. Be sure to rate and review that as well. That'll do it for us from this game. But we'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris.

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[Dan Fates]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Mike Catalana]

So close.

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