‘Wide Right Nightmare': Bills, Upstate NY Football Fans Come Up Short Again

“Wide right, the two most dreaded words in Buffalo have surfaced again …”

Unfortunately for Bills Mafia, Jim Nantz nailed this game-deciding call. On fourth down, from 44 yards away, a kick from Tyler Bass sailed toward the upright, but began to veer right. As the ball sailed closer to the goalpost, the hopes of Buffalo Bills' fans dwindled by the inch.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it was over. The kick had missed the mark, and the Bills would once again be heading home, defeated when it mattered most by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Buffalo Bills Fall Short; Lose 27-24 in Heartbreaking Fashion to Kansas City

For the sixth time in NFL history, and the third time in the past four seasons, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs squared off in a win-or-go-home playoff game. Buffalo's Highmark Stadium would serve as the backdrop for this game, one which had endless reasons to watch.

It was Patrick Mahomes' first road playoff game in his career. It was a game featuring Travis Kelce, which by default, meant it would be a game that featured Taylor Swift.

Most importantly, however, it was a chance for the Buffalo Bills, and their fans, to finally slay the metaphorical dragon, one that had ended their season in consecutive seasons in 2020 and 2021.

Instead, however, it was Kansas City who ended up victorious. The kick by Bass will be the first highlight that is shown on every television show in America on Monday, which is completely understandable. It's an unfortunate, yet unforgiveable, error.

That said, Bass' missed field goal was far from the only reason that Buffalo lost. Kansas City played a disciplined game on offense, attacking the middle of the field against a depleted Buffalo defense.

The Josh Allen-led Bills' offense, meanwhile, reverted back to a cautious style of football, something that Joe Brady had seemingly coached out of his team down the stretch. They took their occasional shots down the field, but couldn't ever seem to link up for the "big play" that could've changed the outcome.

Now, just like that, another season comes crashing down for the Buffalo Bills. Another year with large contracts, and high expectations, ends in a so-close-yet-so-far playoff loss.

Buffalo remains caught in a frustrating, seemingly-endless cycle. Can you justify firing Sean McDermott, or trading away major pieces, after finishing as the No. 2 seed in the AFC this season?

Probably not.

That said, can you then justify keeping McDermott, maintaining your current core of players, and running it back when you can almost pencil in what next year's outcome is going to be?

I'm not sure about that, either.

We are in for a very, VERY interesting offseason in Orchard Park.

Congratulations to Patrick Mahomes and the Fighting Swifties on their victory.