3 Takeaways from Chiefs' Week 14 Loss vs. Bills

The Kansas City Chiefs left Arrowhead Stadium feeling that they controversially lost to the Buffalo Bills.

Travis Kelce pulled off one of the best moves you will ever see in the final minute of a football game, as he threw the ball across the field to Kadarius Toney for what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown.

However, Toney was ruled to be in an offside position at the snap and the play was called back.

Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes displayed plenty of frustration after the game regarding the call.

But the hard truth about the loss is Kansas City did not play well enough to win it anyway, and it could have prevented a last-ditch effort to win if it performed better in the first 59 minutes.

Offensive Struggles Led to Final Drive Desperation

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 10: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass during the first half against the Buffalo Bills on December 10th at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kansas City failed to find offensive consistency for a majority of the contest.

The inability to regularly score on the Buffalo defense led to the desperation of the final drive, and it showed in the frustration after the offsides call on Toney.

Kansas City missed Isiah Pacheco in the ground game. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the team's leading rusher with 39 yards. The Chiefs managed 82 rushing yards as a team.

Mahomes received little outside of Kelce and Rashee Rice in the passing game. Those two players combined to catch 13 of Mahomes' 25 completions.

Kelce caught six passes for 83 yards and Rice hauled in seven passes for 72 yards. No other Chiefs played had more than 30 receiving yards.

Kansas City punted on three straight drives after Mahomes' opening drive interception and it did not produce consecutive scoring series in a half all game.

The call at the end was certainly frustrating, but the Chiefs had plenty of opportunities to not be in that position to begin with.

Defense Failed to Contain James Cook

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 10: James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

James Cook tortured the Kansas City defense in the first half.

The Bills coaching staff schemed up a way to open up space for Cook not only on the ground, but in the passing attack as well.

Cook finished as the Bills' top pass-catcher with five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Cook's success is frustrating from a Kansas City perspective because it kept Stefon Diggs and the other Buffalo wide outs in check all game.

Diggs only had four catches for 24 yards and no Buffalo wide receiver or tight end eclipsed 40 receiving yards.

Cook was Buffalo's offensive X-factor and his success proved how instrumental a running back can be in a big game. Kansas City lacked that with Pacheco out injured.