The stage is set for the Kansas City Chiefs to host the Buffalo Bills tonight in the AFC championship game.
The Chiefs finished the season with the best record in the AFC (15-2) and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference. Kansas City locked up its tenth consecutive AFC West title in the process. They had a first-round bye in the wild-card round and enjoyed an extra week of rest to prepare for the Houston Texans, whom they defeated 24-13 in the divisional round to clinch a spot in the AFC title game for the seventh consecutive season.
Kansas City is seeking an historic third consecutive Super Bowl win but it will have its hands full on Sunday against Buffalo.
The Bills cruised past the Broncos in the wild card and defeated the Ravens 27-25 in the divisional round. Quarterback Josh Allen has played at an MVP level all season and has an opportunity to exercise revenge this Sunday.
Under offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Buffalo has one of the NFL’s most efficient units. The Bills finished the 2024 season ranked second in EPA per play (0.18), while Allen recorded 41 total touchdowns.
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Buffalo has won the AFC East title in six consecutive seasons under head coach Sean McDermott. Buffalo and Kansas City are the only teams to win double-digit games and reach the playoffs in each of the last six years. The Bills were one of two teams to defeat Kansas City during the regular season.
Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid has the franchise clicking on all cylinders and are two wins away from a fourth Lombardi trophy in six years. Patrick Mahomes has defeated Buffalo in all three previous postseason meetings. With a fourth on Sunday he would join Tom Brady and John Elway as the only starting quarterback to reach the Super Bowl five times.
The latest chapter in the greatest NFL rivalry of this generation will be written tonight.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the AFC championship game between the Bills and Chiefs on Sunday below. All times are Eastern.
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Chiefs-Bills score: Mahomes scrambles for 1-yard TD
The Chiefs maximized the long punt return and found the end zone once again before halftime, this time on a one-yard run by Patrick Mahomes. Harrison Butker’s extra point is good again and the Chiefs take a two-score lead with 1:55 to go before halftime.
Kansas City got inside the 5-yard line thanks to a 26-yard throw from Mahomes to wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Buffalo challenged whether Worthy had possession and ultimately ruled he did. Four plays later, Mahomes ran it in from one yard out.
Chiefs 21, Bills 10
Must-see play: Bills punt, Chiefs get excellent field position on return
Josh Allen threw three incomplete passes in a row and the Bills offense had to punt for the second time in the first half. Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio took the kick 41 yards to the Bills’ 34-yard line and the Chiefs will have a good chance to score once again before halftime.
Chiefs-Bills score: Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy for go-ahead TD
Kansas City’s offense responded to Buffalo’s touchdown drive with one of their own. Patrick Mahomes found rookie wide receiver for an 11-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put Kansas City back ahead. Harrison Butker’s extra point is good and the Chiefs take the lead with 4:13 to go in the first half.
Mahomes completed all five pass attempts on the drive and scrambled for six yards on a crucial 4th-and-1 conversion to keep the drive going near midfield.
Chiefs 14, Bills 10
Chiefs-Bills score: James Cook gives Buffalo the lead
The Bills offense capitalized on Patrick Mahomes’ fumble with a 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive that culminated in running back James Cook sprinting down the left side for a six-yard touchdown run. Tyler Bass’ extra point is good and the Bills get their first lead of the game with 10:25 to go in the second quarter.
Buffalo had multiple key third-down conversions, starting with a 10-yard pass from Allen to Amari Cooper on 3rd-and-9 to extend the drive closer to the red zone. Allen fumbled on the next play but found Khalil Shakir for a 24-yard gain on 3rd-and-13 to get the Bills in a goal-to-go situation.
Bills 10, Chiefs 7
End of first quarter: Bills get new set of downs as first quarter closes
Buffalo’s gone 12 yards in two plays after recovering the Chiefs’ fumble. The Bills offense will be facing 1st-and-10 from their own 40-yard line to start the second quarter.
Bills get turnover on Patrick Mahomes fumble
Kansas City was driving near the red zone when Patrick Mahomes fumbled a fake handoff to running back Isiah Pacheco. The ball hit the ground and Buffalo defensive lineman Ed Oliver corralled it at the Bills’ 28-yard line. Buffalo will take over on offense with 57 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Chiefs-Bills score: Buffalo gets on the board with Tyler Bass FG
Buffalo’s second offensive drive of the game went much better than the first as the Bills picked up a pair of first downs. A fumbled exchange between Josh Allen and running back James Cook on 2nd-and-5 from the Chiefs’ 35-yard line stopped the Bills’ progress, though, and Buffalo couldn’t convert on 3rd-and-9. Tyler Bass knocked through a 53-yard field goal to get Buffalo on the board with 3:45 to go in the first quarter.
Chiefs 7, Bills 3
Chiefs-Bills score: Kareem Hunt opens up the scoring with 12-yard touchdown
After the Bills’ three-and-out, Kansas City took over on offense and marched 90 yards in nine plays, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt. Harrison Butker’s extra point is good and the Chiefs hold an early lead in the AFC championship game.
Buffalo will take over with 8:56 to go in the first quarter.
Chiefs 7, Bills 0
Bills punt after Josh Allen narrowly avoids INTs twice on opening drive
Buffalo wasn’t able to move the chains on their first drive of the game. Quarterback Josh Allen narrowly missed interceptions on his first two passes of the game, one on a throw over the middle to Mack Hollins and another on a deep shot down the left sideline to Keon Coleman.
Chiefs vs. Bills start time
Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
The Bills and Chiefs game will wrap up the conference championship matchups kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Chiefs vs. Bills TV channel
Chiefs inactives vs. Bills
There are no surprise inactives for the two-time defending Super Bowl champs in the AFC championship.
Bills inactives vs. Chiefs
There are no shocking inactive players for Buffalo in the AFC championship. The most significant absence will be safety Taylor Rapp.
Is Taylor Swift at the Chiefs vs. Bills game?
Yes, Swift is in attendance to watch Travis Kelce in action against the Bills. She was spotted entering Arrowhead Stadium with Donna Kelce and figures to be in her usual suite.
Chiefs vs. Bills predictions, picks
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the AFC championship between the Bills and Chiefs will shape up:
Lorenzo Reyes: Bills 31, Chiefs 23Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 26, Bills 22Jordan Mendoza: Bills 29, Chiefs 28
Chiefs vs. Bills live stream
Live stream: Fubo | Paramount+
For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.
Chiefs vs. Bills odds, moneyline, over/under
The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Bills, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
Spread: Chiefs (-2) Moneyline: Chiefs (-130); Bills (+110) Over/under: 48.5
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Who is the highest-paid NFL player?
The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the 2024 season, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position?
We have a complete list at every position:
Chiefs vs. Bills best bets
Looking to make the Chiefs-Bills playoff matchup a bit more interesting? Here are some of the best bets for the game:
Super Bowl odds
Here are the Super Bowl odds for the remaining four teams in the NFL playoffs, according to BetMGM:
How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs won?
The Chiefs have won four Super Bowls. They are as follows:
Super Bowl 4Super Bowl 54Super Bowl 57Super Bowl 58
Three of those championships have come with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes as the team’s coach and quarterback. They are going for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat in 2025 and will need to win just three more games to accomplish that goal.
Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?
The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.
NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:
➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game
Did Patrick Mahomes have his baby?
Mahomes’ wife Brittany gave berth to the couple’s third child – a daughter, Golden Raye – during Kansas City’s playoff bye week. Sterling Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes III (a.k.a. Bronze) are the couple’s other two children.
Updated 2025 NFL playoff bracket
Just two games remain before NFL fans will know who plays in Super Bowl 59. They are as follows:
NFC championship game: Eagles vs. Commanders AFC championship game: Chiefs vs. Bills
Where is Chiefs vs. Bills?
The Chiefs are defending home turf vs. the Bills on Sunday, as Buffalo travels to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri for the matchup.
Chiefs vs. Bills weather updates
Temperatures will peak at 33 degrees on Sunday. That’s a bit chillier than Saturday’s estimated high of 41 degrees, but there is still a chance that the temperature won’t drop below freezing until after the AFC championship game kicks off.
Below are the full details of Sunday’s forecast for Kansas City, Mo., according to the National Weather Service.
High temperature: 33 degrees Low temperature: 21 degrees Chance of precipitation: 0% Wind: 3-6 mph
There is not expected to be any precipitation during Sunday’s game nor is there expected to be much wind.
What happened to Rashee Rice?
The Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve following the team’s Week 4 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rice injured his right knee while trying to tackle Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton following an interception by Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter. As Rice went in for the tackle, Mahomes inadvertently collided with the wideout as he attempted to take down Fulton.
Rice underwent successful surgery to repair the LCL in his right knee.
Current NFL draft 2025 order
Here’s the projected 2025 NFL draft order entering the AFC and NFC championship games (picks Nos. 29-30 will be decided by today’s results): according to Tankathon.com:
Tennessee Titans: 3-14 record; .522 strength of schedule (SOS) Cleveland Browns: 3-14; .536 SOS New York Giants: 3-14; .554 SOS New England Patriots: 4-13; .471 SOS Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13; .478 SOS Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13; .540 SOS New York Jets: 5-12; .495 SOS Carolina Panthers: 5-12; .498 SOS New Orleans Saints: 5-12; .505 SOS Chicago Bears: 5-12; .554 SOS San Francisco 49ers: 6-11; .564 SOS Dallas Cowboys: 7-10; .522 SOS Miami Dolphins: 8-9; .419 SOS Indianapolis Colts: 8-9; .457 SOS Atlanta Falcons: 8-9; .519 SOS Arizona Cardinals: 8-9; .536 SOS Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8; .478 SOS Seattle Seahawks: 10-7; .498 SOS Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7; .502 SOS Denver Broncos: 10-7; .502 SOS Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .502 SOS Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOS Green Bay Packers: 11-6; .533 SOS Minnesota Vikings: 14-3; .474 SOS Houston Texans: 10-7; .481 SOS Los Angeles Rams: 10-7; .505 SOS Baltimore Ravens: 12-5; .529 SOS Detroit Lions: 15-2; .519 SOS Washington Commanders: 12-5; .436 SOS Buffalo Bills: 13-4; .467 SOS Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3; .453 SOS Kansas City Chiefs: 15-2; .488 SOS
Who will winner of Chiefs vs. Bills play next?
The winner of tonight’s AFC Championship between the Chiefs and Bills will advance to the Super Bowl and play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET.