Among the questions in the aftermath of the Buffalo Bills' 42-36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is the decision to kick the ball into the end zone with 13 seconds remaining rather than squib the ball.
A squib kick would have forced Kansas City to use at least a few precious seconds - perhaps three or four - to recover and return, presuming they opted to fall on the ball to kill the clock.
After Buffalo's Gabriel Davis scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 19-yard reception, the Bills opted to have Tyler Bass kick off deep, and the kick sailed into the end zone, meaning no time ran off the clock and the Chiefs started their final drive in regulation at their 25-yard line. Speedy Mecole Hardman was the kick returner for the Chiefs.
Kansas City moved the ball 44 yards in three plays, leading to game-tying field goal by Harrison Butker.
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Asked whether the Bills considered a squib kick, Bills coach Sean McDermott said, “We talk about a lot of things. I’m just going to leave it at the execution, and that starts with me.”
Pressed for further details, McDermott essentially repeated his previous response.
Reactions to the decision to kick off were swift:
Bills probably would have won had they not boomed that kickoff and forced a return.. yikes
— Ryan (@ryantharoyal) January 24, 2022
Why didn’t the Bills squib kick the kickoff. Make the Chiefs burn off 5 seconds at least
— Alex Smith (@asmitty27) January 24, 2022
Not a fan of Boomer Esiason, but I agree with him that with 13 seconds in regulation Bills needed to have the Chiefs return the kickoff. The amount of time that would've gone off the clock likely makes a FG try to tie the game up and force OT impossible.
— David Hall (@DHallNole) January 24, 2022
Still don’t understand why the Bills didn’t kick the kickoff short after that last TD to waste some of the clock…
— Jason (@Jkauf55) January 24, 2022
Completely different outcome if the Bills kickoff short after taking the lead and force the Chiefs to burn clock. And play more aggressive D. No way Chiefs tie it up with 13 seconds to play.
— Dan In Search of America (@DBoy526) January 24, 2022
Listen, the Bills were up three with 13 seconds to go and a kickoff at their disposal. I don't wanna hear "change the OT rules." Don't give up an absurd game-tying drive that defies football logic, first. Then we can talk about the OT rules.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) January 24, 2022
All the Buffalo Bills have to do is keep the kickoff on the field...
— Michael (@postmanstew) January 24, 2022
If the Bills squib-kicked that last kickoff with :13 seconds, does KC win?
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) January 24, 2022
13 seconds is what this game came down to, should’ve been even less than that because you should have made KC return the kickoff. Honestly one of the most heartbreaking losses I’ve personally seen. However the bills will be back, no doubt about it.
— ian cornish (@cornish_ian) January 24, 2022
T Romo was 💯 when he said bills should have left the kickoff short and run a few seconds off the clock to give Mahomes less time. Who’da thought 13 seconds would be enough for Mahomes? Probably most people
— Anthony Da(n)vis 🟣🟡 (@thebowss) January 24, 2022
