Bills Facing Criticism for Not Using Squib Kick in Overtime Loss to Chiefs

Buffalo seemed primed for a spot in the AFC title game after taking a three-point lead with 13 seconds left, but a fatal error might have been their undoing.

In one moment, the Bills seemed primed to pull off a road upset of the Chiefs and be on their way to hosting the AFC championship game next week against the Bengals. Seemingly an instant later, everything had come unraveled.

There is plenty to blame after the Buffalo defense allowed Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to pull off a game-tying field goal in just 13 seconds, but perhaps no decision has come under more scrutiny than the Bills’ decision to kick it deep for a touchdown following their dramatic go-ahead touchdown.

Rather than opt for a squib kick, the Bills booted the ball through the end zone, giving the Chiefs the ball at their own 25-yard line. Kansas City advanced the ball 44 yards in two plays and 10 seconds to set up Harrison Butker’s game-tying, 49-yard field goal that proved to be Buffalo’s demise. While a squib kick would have likely given the Bills better field position, it also would have certainly taken time off the clock, perhaps only giving Mahomes one chance to set up a field goal or Hail Mary attempt rather than two.

Unsurprisingly, that fateful decision was subject to plenty of second-guessing following the final whistle. Check out some of the discussion below:

McDermott was asked if they thought about a squib kick with 13 seconds left to waste more of the clock. "We talk about a lot of things. I'm just going to leave it at execution and it starts with me."

— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) January 24, 2022

We'll hear a lot about the unfairness of overtime rules. But the Bills kicked it in the end zone with 13 seconds left rather than using 4-6 seconds with a squib kick. And then let KC get in FG position.
But what a game..

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 24, 2022

Bills made a big mistake with a touchback instead of a squib kick that would take time off the clock.

— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) January 24, 2022

why didn’t the bills squib that kick

— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) January 24, 2022

If the Bills squib kick they win they game.

— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) January 24, 2022

Agree with Nance and Romo that Buffalo should have squib-kicked with 13 seconds left to burn some clock. McDermott blew that. Instead, Mahomes had time to hit Tyreek for 19 and (worse) Kelce for 25, setting up a 48-yard tying field goal.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 24, 2022

You are correct Andrew. Buffalo definitely needed squib that last kickoff in regulation and forced KC to return it. That would have given the Chiefs just one play. https://t.co/1JgsImHknp

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 24, 2022

Should the #Bills have squib kicked? Probably. Would this ⬇️ have also happened? Probably. 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/dUMtHKpu5k

— Mike Gwizdala (@MikeGwizdala) January 24, 2022

The Bills should have squib kicked with 13 seconds left. I will die on that hill.

— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) January 24, 2022

Re the squib kick— the trauma of Music City, fear it goes out of bounds, it’s downed immediately and gives Mahomes a super short field. Decision doesn’t bother me a lot. Defense giving up the entire field to the speedsters while KC has timeouts—gah. Play aggressive.

— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) January 24, 2022

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