Locals in the NFL: Heartbreak for Kincaid, Bills as Reid, Chiefs make 3rd straight Super Bowl

AROUND THE SHIELD — Dalton Kincaid was as close as almost anyone can come to never having to buy a drink in Buffalo again.

But the former University of Utah tight end and his Buffalo Bills watched their Super Bowl dreams disappear in the cold Kansas City night.

Kincaid caught two passes for 13 yards as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 39.

But with a fourth down and the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, Allen's deep ball under pressure fell agonizingly off Kincaid's fingertips to help send the Kansas City Chiefs to a third consecutive Super Bowl with a 32-29 win in the AFC championship.

The two-time defending league champions will face the Philadelphia Eagles — the team previously led by Chiefs coach Andy Reid for 13 years — in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in two weeks.

"It still comes down to the game and the purity of the game, each play and how you handle it," Reid told CBS while standing on a familiar postgame podium with red-and-yellow confetti falling over his mustachioed frame. "You don't get yourself too far out of the box and just concentrate on the opponent and what you've got to get done against them."

Games don't ever come down to one play, and Buffalo certainly had moments where it looked like the Bills might bust a lengthy streak without a Super Bowl appearance that dates back to four consecutive from 1990-93.

Kansas City scored on three of its four first-half possessions and took a 29-22 run on Mahomes' second touchdown run Sunday with 10:14 remaining — moments after the Chiefs' defense stopped Allen on a fourth-and-short sneak attempt.

After Mahomes found Justin Watson for a 2-point conversion, Buffalo got off the mat when Allen connected with Curtis Samuel for a 4-yard touchdown to tie the game with 6:15 on the clock.

But the visitors could get no closer, and Harrison Butker kicked what became the game-winning field goal from 35 yards out 3:33 left before the Bills' final drive that included the fourth-down stop.

"Guys made some plays today," a visibly emotional Allen said after the game. "We just had to make one more."

Patrick Mahomes threw for 245 yards and a touchdown and ran for two scores for the Chiefs, who advanced to their fifth Super Bowl in the last six years under Reid.

It's rare air for Reid, the former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant whose team delivered a 23-14 win over Houston in last week's divisional round. With his 27-16 playoff record — just four shy of Bill Belichick's all-time record of 31 postseason victories — Reid became just the fourth coach in NFL history to reach 300 career games.

Combined with his 273 regular-season wins, Reid trails only the league's all-time wins leader Don Shula in Miami (347), Belichick (who had 333 with the Browns and Patriots), and former Chicago Bears coach George Halas (324).

Cole Bishop had a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solo stops in the Bills rookie out of Utah's first career playoff start.

"Our hats go off to Buffalo; they're a tremendous team," Reid said. "(Bills head coach Sean McDermott) is a phenomenal coach; I'm proud of him. It was a little bit short for them, but we're glad that it was.

"What a heck of a game it was for the fans, and for the National Football League."

NFC Championship

Philadelphia 55, Washington 23

Eagles (17-3)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Did not play Sunday (neck), but could be activated for the Super Bowl after Philadelphia designated Covey to return from injured reserve.

Commanders (14-6)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted team-high nine tackles and a tackle for loss
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Inactive for NFC Championship
• Brian Johnson, Assistant, Utah: The former Utah quarterback is in his first season with the Commanders as assistant head coach and offensive passing game coordinator.

AFC Championship

Kansas City 32, Buffalo 29

Chiefs (17-2)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle also played on special teams
• Apu Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Did not play (practice squad)
• The Chiefs' coaching staff also includes a bevy of Utah products:
  1. Andy Reid: Former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant who won his 301st career game Sunday
  2. Porter Ellett: BYU and Wayne High alum in his eighth season on staff and second as assistant running backs coach
  3. Spencer Reid: Former BYU assistant and Utah grad in his second season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach
  4. Alex Whittingham: Former Utah linebacker in his sixth season as a defensive quality control coach and seventh overall with the Chiefs

Bills (15-5)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel made three tackles on defense
• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Starting safety had a game-high 10 tackles including nine solo stops
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught two passes (four targets) for 13 yards on offense

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