BUFFALO, N.Y. — Criminal charges have been dropped against two police officers seen on video last spring shoving a 75-year-old protester to the ground in Buffalo, New York, prosecutors said Thursday.
A grand jury declined to indict Buffalo Officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski on felony assault charges, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said, ending a matter that drew national attention at the height of protests over the police killing of George Floyd.
Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers representing the officers. A message was also left for the man who was pushed to the ground, longtime activist Martin Gugino.
John Evans, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, told The Buffalo News: “Obviously, we are ecstatic with their decision. These officers have been put through hell and I look forward to seeing them back on the job.”
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Flynn, echoing earlier statements, said he didn’t necessarily feel that altercation rose to the level of a felony but that state law required prosecutors to bring such a charge when a victim is at least 65 and the suspected perpetrators are at least 10 years younger.
Addressing criticism that he slow-played or “sandbagged” the case, Flynn said prosecutors made a thorough presentation to the grand jury but, citing secrecy rules, said he couldn’t discuss what witnesses were called or what evidence was presented. The grand jury heard the case on a delayed basis because of coronavirus-related court closures, he said.
In this image from video provided by WBFO, a Buffalo police officer appears to shove a man who walked up to police Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Associated Press)
Flynn said throughout the investigation, video of the shove remained the primary evidence.
“This was not the J.F.K. assassination,” Flynn said. “This was not that complex of a case. The video that was taken speaks for itself.”
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A news crew covering protests in downtown Buffalo last June over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis captured video of the officers shoving Gugino to the ground in front of city hall as crowd control officers in riot gear cleared demonstrators from the area for an 8 p.m. curfew.
Gugino, pushed backward, started bleeding after hitting his head on the pavement and spent about a month in the hospital with a fractured skull and brain injury.
Martin Gugino, a 75-year-old protester, lays on the ground after he was shoved by two Buffalo, N.Y., police officers, June 4, 2020. (Reuters)
McCabe and Torgalski were suspended without pay and arrested within days. They pleaded not guilty and were released without bail pending further developments. Flynn said at a news conference Thursday that national attention on the case had no influence on his decision to charge the officers right away.
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“All I need is probable cause for an arrest,” Flynn said. “When I go to trial, though, I need beyond a reasonable doubt. At this point right now, it’s 50/50 in my mind as to whether or not it was intentional or reckless. If it’s 50/50, that’s not beyond a reasonable doubt. That analysis factors into my mind, but I can’t articulate to you what was going on in (grand jurors’) minds.”
Buffalo, N.Y., police officers Robert McCabe, left, and Aaron Torgalski. (Erie County District Attorney’s Office via AP)
The Buffalo News reported that the Buffalo Police Department will begin an internal affairs investigation, a development that had been on hold because of the criminal case. A message seeking comment was left with a police spokesperson.
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In the wake of the officers’ suspensions, nearly 60 other members of the department’s crowd control unit said they would no longer serve on the unit, effectively shutting it down.
The city responded by replacing the Emergency Response Team with a Public Protection Unit designed to work with groups seeking to peacefully protest. Other reforms in the wake of the protests included halting arrests for low-level, non-violent offenses like marijuana possession and making it easier for the public to view police body camera video.
Gregory Paul Ulrich dreamed of getting revenge on the doctors and medical staff who had “tortured” him, records show.
In October 2018, the 67-year-old was calling his former doctor three times a day, threatening mass shooting, to blow things up and other revenge scenarios, according to a Buffalo, Minn., Police Department report.
“I believe Mr. Ulrich is a high threat to society and himself,” the doctor told police at the time.
More than two years later, Ulrich has been arrested in connection to a shooting and seriously injuring five people at the Allina Health clinic in Buffalo.
After the 2018 incident, Ulrich was taken to an emergency room for an evaluation. His complaints appeared to stem from a series of back surgeries and medications he was taken afterward, police said.
He threatened four Allina facilities, with Buffalo first on the list, and said he wanted to make it “big and sensational so that it makes an impact,” the report states.
Allina medical staff believed Ulrich may act on the threats and filed paperwork barring them from the medical campus, which police delivered to his home. Ulrich was charged with violating the restraining order at the Buffalo clinic in November 2018. That case was dismissed last year after he was found mentally incompetent, records show.
This is a developing story. Check startribune.com for updates.
Andy Mannix • 612-673-4036
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“Our heart breaks as a community,” Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said. “This is a day no community would want to go through.”
Budke told KSTP the shooting happened inside the Allina Clinic Crossroads campus. He said the situation was contained as of 11:42 a.m. and there is no continuing threat to public safety.
Budke added that there are victims, although “we don’t know of any fatalities right now.”
He said the Minneapolis bomb squad is heading to the scene to check and clear the site where the incident occurred. During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said “improvised explosive devices” were used during the incident.
While Walz said explosive devices were used, Budke said it was unclear if an incendiary device was detonated. He said there is damage to the building, however, he said it is unclear if it is from gunfire or an explosive.
A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the agency had a crew headed to the scene. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also tweeted that it has special agents and crime scene personnel en route to the scene.
North Memorial Health spokeswoman Abigail Greenheck said multiple victims were brought to its hospital in Robbinsdale. She did not say how many or what condition they were in.
The Minnesota State Patrol said its pilots are flying six boxes of blood from the Red Cross to the Buffalo Hospital so it is ready for victims of the shooting. The patrol also said troopers are on scene to help secure the area, and urged the public to stay away from the scene and give law enforcement room to work.
Due to the situation, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools canceled all evening activities.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement on Twitter.
There is an unspeakable depravity in doing harm to those who work to heal us. Those who have stepped up and risked their own health for ours.
Our first responders are on their way to the scene to help. Today Minneapolis stands with our neighbors in Buffalo.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) February 9, 2021
This is a breaking news story. KSTP is working on confirming more details at this time. Be sure to refresh your browser for the latest information.
Gunfire at a health clinic wounded at least five people in Wright County and was followed by reports of a bomb exploding at the medical provider late Tuesday morning.
The scene is the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo on Crossroads Campus Drive, according to police, who were called there about 10:55 a.m.
Up to five people are said to be seriously wounded, and a male suspect has been detained, according to emergency dispatch audio.
A female with three gunshot wounds was taken by air ambulance to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where two others also were transported, emergency medical personnel were heard saying on dispatch audio. Two others were taken to Allina-operated Buffalo Hospital, the audio continued.
The initial Sheriff’s Office dispatch reports indicated that multiple people called 911 about an “older white male” in the clinic with a handgun.
One dispatcher said his partner was on the phone with the suspect doing the shooting. “He is saying that there are bombs inside,” the dispatcher is heard saying. “He is telling law enforcement to back off.”
The man let a woman out of the clinic, but authorities were “not sure about other hostages,” the audio continued.
The suspect was in the front vestibule while “saying that he does want to surrender now. … The male is going to stay in place, he is laying on his stomach … The male is saying the gun is inside the building somewhere.”
The State Patrol said its pilots are flying six boxes of blood from the Red Cross to the Buffalo Hospital for the victims.
About 30 minutes after the gunfire, dispatch audio disclosed that “we just had a bomb go off in the clinic.” However, there has yet to be any official comment about there being a blast.
As word of a possible explosion spread, one officer on the scene said, “We see evidence of that; west glass shattered all across.”
A news conference was scheduled for 3 p.m. at Buffalo police headquarters.
The audio illustrated a frantic scene as victims streamed outside the hospital as officers rushed to evacuate them.
“I’ve got four or five with gunshots back here,” an officer said, adding that at least three of the victims were women, with one shot in the abdomen and another in the spinal cord, acording to the audio. “Send as many ambulances as you can.”
State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension special agents and crime scene personnel are en route to assist in the investigation of the “shooting incident involving multiple victims,” said agency spokeswoman Jill Oliveira.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also were added to the growing roster of assisting agencies.
A spokesman for the full Allina Health system was heading to the scene early Tuesday afternoon to assess the situation and possibly disclose further details.
There also was a “high suspicion” of a bomb threat directed at a Super 8 hotel about a mile south of the clinic, the dispatch audio disclosed, but its relationship to the shooting was not immediately clear.
Despite someone being in custody coming soon after the shooting, word had yet to spread through the city. Staff at a nearby coffee shop closed its doors out of concerns for safety and were only letting customers in one by one.
A sheriff’s deputy went door-to-door at a strip mall within view of the clinic, asking whether anyone saw anything suspicious. Some of the shops are closed, but a few, such as the Italian restaurant Bugambilias, remained open. A waiter there said he and other workers haven’t been told anything.
State Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Maple Lake, whose district includes Buffalo, said in a statement that “my friends, my children and grandchildren live and work in Buffalo, and while we do not yet know who the injured are, we are all connected. … I want to thank the Buffalo police officers, Wright County sheriff’s deputies and first responders who ran toward danger instead of away from it, and the medical personnel who made sure that those injured had the best care possible.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said his city has sent first responders to assist authorities in the community on the far west edge of the Twin Cities metro area.
A large truck and trailer from Minneapolis Police Department bomb squad was backed up to the clinic.
“There is an unspeakable depravity in doing harm to those who work to heal us,” Frey said, “those who have stepped up and risked their own health for ours.”
Star Tribune staff writers Matt McKinney, Libor Jany and Abby Simons contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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Gunfire at a health clinic wounded at least five people in Wright County and was followed by a bomb exploding late Tuesday morning.
The scene is the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo on Crossroads Campus Drive, according to police, who were called there about 10:55 a.m.
Up to five people are said to be seriously wounded, and a male suspect has been detained, according to emergency dispatch audio.
A female with three gunshot wounds was taken by air ambulance to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where two others also were transported, emergency medical personnel were heard saying on dispatch audio. Two others were taken to Allina-operated Buffalo Hospital, the audio continued.
About 30 minutes later, a bomb went off in the family medicine and urgent care clinic, the dispatch audio revealed. That explosion forced responding emergency medical personnel to relocate, the audio disclosed.
“We just had a bomb go off in the clinic,” according to the dispatch audio. “They’re evacuating the clinic parking lot, so we’re going to go stage back at the child-care center we originally staged at.”
A news conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Buffalo police headquarters.
State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension special agents and crime scene personnel are en route to assist in the investigation of the “shooting incident involving multiple victims,” said agency spokeswoman Jill Oliveira.
A spokesman for the full Allina Health system was heading to the scene early Tuesday afternoon to assess the situation and possibly disclose further details.
There also was a “high suspicion” of a bomb threat directed at a Super 8 hotel about a mile south of the clinic, the dispatch audio disclosed, but its relationship to the shooting was not immediately clear.
Authorities have since imposed a flight ban over the area, according to the dispatch audio.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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Brown is streaking across the middle and now he has the ball – a brisk Allen pass is right into his chest. It’s 3rd & 2 on the 12.
Timeout Buffalo. They have two left.
20:06
Bills 9-21 Chiefs, 1:52 2nd quarter
The KC crowd are up trying to stop the Bills and the KC defense cooperates – an Allen bootleg results in an incomplete pass.
20:03
Bills 9-21 Chiefs, 2:00 2nd quarter
Allen, a great fake to the RB, and he runs right for another Bills first down. We’re at the 2:00 warning with the ball in the red zone.
Updated
20:02
Bills 9-21 Chiefs, 2:19 2nd quarter
Allen, drops back, reads a book, cooks dinner, ALL KIDS OF TIME, then he flips it across his body to Yeldon – wow! What a play, and the coverage was really good.
KC call their last time out.
Ball at the KC 29.
20:00
Bills 9-21 Chiefs, 3:06 2nd quarter
OK, this is serious – Allen and his offense have got to get something here, don’t they?
Yes.
They start at the 25. Beasley has a catch, a spin, and a 14-yard gain. Nice.
Then Allen, working from the shotgun is incomplete looking for Yeldon. On second down it’s play action and a pass to Knox, who runs ahead for a second Bills first down. Some momentum here.
An injury on thee field stops play – it’s a KC player, looks like Ward, who is able to walk to the sideline.
Ball at the Buffalo 39.
19:54
TOUCHDOWN Bills 9-21 Chiefs, 4:11 2nd quarter
Helaire is in for the TD and the Chiefs rampage continues.
This is what happens when you miss an extra point.
19:52
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 4:12 2nd quarter
The Bills defense are flummoxed, calling time after a Kelce catch takes them down to the Buffalo one-yard-line.
19:51
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 4:33 2nd quarter
Helaire has it – a gain of four, setting up 3rd & 6 at the KC 37.
Now Mahomes has arms around him but gets it away to Kelce for another Chiefs first down! Gain of 11 to the 49.
But wait – there’s more. Mahomes fires under major pressure to Hill for 33 yards after a catch and run!
They’re at the Buffalo 18! They move fast!
19:47
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 7:51 2nd quarter
Mahomes runs right, throws right towards Pringle, who can’t come up with it.
Then Mahomes runs right again – this time he finds Kelce, complete. First down.
They make it look easy. Ball on the KC 33.
19:44
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 8:44 2nd quarter
Now It’s 3rd & 3…KC crowd are up – over 17000 of them.
Allen is back to pass – quick throw – it’s high on the far sideline – Diggs has no chance at that.
The Bills are three and out, again. The punt is to the 24, where KC will start and try to keep their machine moving.
19:41
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 9:29 2nd quarter
The small crowd is making some decent noise as they smell blood. Allen in the shotgun, pumps and throws nearly into the hands of Ward, who by the way, plays for the Chiefs. Yikes.
19:40
Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 9:35 2nd quarter
If you’re wondering how Josh Allen and the Bills will respond to this sudden KC onslaught, two TD’s in under five minutes, well, you’re ion the right place.
Buffalo will start at their own 25 after a touchback.
19:37
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 9-14 Chiefs, 9:35 2nd quarter
Williams runs it in from six yards out and just like that, KC take their first lead of the game!
It’s a real test for Buffalo now: they desperately need a long drive to keep that ball out of KC’s hands.
19:35
Bills 9-7 Chiefs, 9:43 2nd quarter
Mahomes moves well in the pocket before firing complete to Kelce, again, over the middle! He’s inside the 10, first and goal KC, who have it all going now.
19:34
Bills 9-7 Chiefs, 11:08 2nd quarter
The Bills are three and out and here comes Mahomes and the KC offense.
Hardman on an end-around and he has SPACE! He’s off and running down the far side to the tune of 50 yards to the Buffalo 32! There’s that thin Buffalo run defense that has hurt them all season, back after a week off. What a fantastic play from KC.
19:31
Bills 9-7 Chiefs, 12:26 2nd quarter
Singletary is wide open but just drops it. That’s a real blunder – eesh.
So now it’s 3rd & a long 7 – KC are blitzing and Allen is backpedaling again. He throws it away before a chasing Mathieu can take him down!
And there’s a flag for intentional grounding, which pushes the Bills back further.
Bojorquez punts it and there’s a Bills bounce. KC start at their 18.
19:27
Bills 9-7 Chiefs, 13:09 2nd quarter
So Mahomes looks ok, eh? I would say so. We haven’t seen him take a real shot down field, but he’s running well and passing better.
How can Allen respond – he’s at the 25, and starts out with a short pass to Singletary, who came out of the backfield to make the reception. Call it about two yards.
Now Allen has Diggs, who was hit quite late, after the whistle – that’s Breeland, who will help Buffalo set up 15 yards further downfield. So now the Bills are at the 48, just like that.
Not smart from Breeland.
19:22
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 9-7 Chiefs, 14:16 2nd quarter
Redemption for Hardman – Mahomes finds the wideout on the far side and he runs into the end zone. KC go 80 yards in nearly seven minutes and are on the board.
19:20
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 14:20 2nd quarter
Mahomes runs left and fires to Kelce but Johnson is there to break it up.
2nd & goal now…
19:17
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, end of 1st quarter
Here we go – Mahomes fakes the handoff, moves right and finds Williams for a first down. Terrific design and execution by KC.
Now Mahomes finds Hill for eight over the middle fir eight, down to the Buffalo six.
And that’s the quarter – a good one. The Bills stormed ahead to a lead but KC are on the brink, deep in the red zone.
19:14
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 1:08 1st quarter
On 2nd & 11, Mahomes faces heat and throws incomplete setting up 3rd & long.
Mahomes is in the shotgun – he hits Pringle but Wallace makes a great tackle to prevent a first down!
What will KC do? Bring out the field go unit or go for it?
KC are going for it, but Andy Reid has to call for time as the play clock dwindles.
19:12
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 2:05 1st quarter
Here’s Hill with his first reception – it comes over the middle as the Chiefs find a rhythm with three first downs on this current drive.
Now Mahomes pumps and throws to find Kelce for a fourth time – it’s a 16-yard catch to the Buffalo 32. Chiefs on a major move here.
19:10
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 3:57 1st quarter
Kelce is active, making his presence known underneath (as he does). His third catch is for 11 yards to the KC 41.
Now he’s gunning for Kelce again, but this time the TE drops it. A rare unforced error there from the all-pro.
19:09
Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 4:58 1st quarter
So how will the startled Chiefs respond to an early deficit – well, history shows quite well, as they were down in three games during the playoffs last year and won all three. How about now?
Chiefs start at their 20. Mahomes is in the shotgun – he’s on the move, running right, fires and hits Kelce for about nine yards. Good start. Now Mahomes passes to Hardman, who muffed that punt – this time he has it: a short reception for a first down. Ball is on the KC 30.
19:05
Touchdown! Bills 9-0 Chiefs, 6:14 1st quarter
Allen is looking at Dawson who is running towards the sideline – he throws and connects with the tight end who is in for the touchdown!
The Bills have jumped on top early and have capitalized on the turnover, stunning the thinned covid crowd at Arrowhead.
Consolation prize for the Chiefs – Bass misses the extra point.
19:03
FUMBLE! Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 6:19 1st quarter
Hardman muffs the punt! The Bills recover – it’s Jones who comes up with the football at the KC 3! Huge opportunity now for Buffalo!
19:02
Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 6:40 1st quarter
There goes Allen – he steps up in the pocket and is off on an 18-yard scramble to the Buffalo 39!
But now Allen finds himself back – WAY BACK. KC pressure forces Allen into a major backpedal – Sneed has a big sack of 15 yards. Why didn’t he throw it away?
Now Buffalo have 3rd & a long long 23 yards. Allen is running again, up to about the 40 and the Bills will need to punt.
18:58
Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 9:13 1st quarter
Allen starts in the shotgun, drops back and fires over the middle to Driggs who cannot hang on after being hit by Tershawn Wharton.
On 2nd & 10, Singletary runs for seven up and now it’s 3rd & 3.
18:55
Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 9:58 1st quarter
Mahomes is looking for his main man Tyreek Hill – he floats it into his hands but he drops it! So the Bills survive their first test. The punt is down to the 15, where Buffalo will take over.
18:53
Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 10:13 1st quarter
Short kick – what’s up with that? Byron Pringle takes it up to the 35 after a 24-yard return.
A short pass to Kelce for a yard, then a run up the middle by Helaire. Now it’s 3rd & 4.
18:50
FIELD GOAL! Bills 3-0 Chiefs, 11:27 1st quarter
Kicking on natural grass, Bass makes it look easy and the Bills strike first. Now it’s all eyes on Patrick Mahomes.
18:48
Bills 0-0 Chiefs, 11:32 1st quarter
On 3rd & 3, Allen looks for Beasley down the near sideline and he’s nearly picked off. The drive stalls, here comes a 51-yard attempt from Tyler Bass.
18:47
Bills 0-0 Chiefs, 13:18 1st quarter
It’s 3rd & 7. CBS tells us Buffalo has the best third down offense in the league. Let’s see.
Allen faces pressure and whips it to Sorensen who makes the catch but is short of a fist down by a yard.
They’re going for it!
Allen – a quick flip to Dawson Knox the tight end and he’s rumbling down to the Chiefs 40. First down and a good driver to start for Buffalo!
Updated
18:43
Kickoff!
See, I wasn’t kidding. We’re off. The Bills have it at their 25 to start – a one-yard gain from Singletary is Buffalo’s first game from scrimmage. Then Allen hits Beasley who is streaking across the middle. That’s a gain of 17, and the Bills are moving and are at their 43.
18:41
Prediction time
The Bills are getting 3.5 points in Vegas but I don’t think they’ll need it. I do like what Buffalo did vs the run last week and with their pass defense already strong, they could have another good game against Mahomes as they did back in week six. Plus, Mahomes is coming off a concussion and does have that turf toe.
It’s an unpopular opinion, but I think Buffalo can figure out a way to pull this thing out and give Western New York a fifth Super Bowl appearance with a win at Arrowhead.
Final score: 27-23, and you can print it! (I just did).
Even though the result is in stone, we still have to go through the formality of playing the game.
The AFC Championship is nearly here. Please stand by.
18:33
The weather factor
These folks are used to the worst the weather gods can throw at them, but the Bills and Chiefs are catching something of a break tonight. KC will be about 37/3 degrees, reasonable for this time of year. There is however a chance of some rain, which could be fun. Kickoff coming soon.
18:18
Tom Brady is back in the Super Bowl – with a new team!
Does this mean that Brady wins the who is more important to the Patriots dynasty pub chat? That’s a piece for next week, but here’s another question: does this mean Brady has outdone what Joe Montana did with his new team 27 years ago. I know, it’s something of a strange question – stick with me.
The legendary Joe Montana, who won four Super Bowl rings with the 49ers, had made a similar, late career move, to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. In his first season at Arrowhead, Montana took KC all the way to the brink of the Super Bowl XXVIII, losing to, yes, the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.
This past offseason, when all the rumors of Brady possibly leaving the Patriots were running rampant, Montana had this to say:
Don’t, if you don’t have to. It’s a process to go through, and it takes time to get used to the team…I just can’t see how they would let him leave there, myself.
Well, the Patriots did let Brady fly, and now the quarterback who must be considered the greatest of all-time has taken it a round further than Montana did with his new team.
Who will Brady face in SBLV, at the Bucs home venue, Raymond James Stadium? Kick off is coming – stay with us.
18:09
Battle of the Sauces!
If the Bills / Chiefs tilt isn’t enough for you, how about KC BBQ sauce v Buffalo wings sauce. It’s an enticing battle between spicy and vinegary vs the somewhat sweet and tangy rib topping condiment.
If you were seeking out a taste test in Buffalo last week, you might of run into a supply issue – that’s because Dash’s market removed all KC BBQ sauce from their shelves, for spite, and for charity. There was also the customary bet between local mayors.
Personally I’m a sucker for Buffalo wings, and now I’m hungry – send wings, please!
18:00
The last time
I mentioned that if not for a flukish loss to Arizona, Buffalo would be on a 12-game winning streak. That would make the Bills last loss to KC back in week six. In that matchup, it wasn’t Mahomes who lit up Buffalo, but rather, KC’s rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who ran through a banged up Bills line for 161 yards, with Mahomes chalking up a modest 225 yards. Josh Allen had what was arguably his worst day of the season, passing for just 122 yards as the Chiefs won 26-17. Of course, Allen has done a lot better since, and so has Mahomes who guided Kansas City to a 14-2 record. Below is a look at highlights of that game.
Oh, and did you know that the NFC Championship was also a week six re-match? Is that a coincidence, or perhaps something more…?
17:50
Hola!
Welcome to our coverage of the AFC Championship. We’ve got quite the nightcap (morning? afternoon?) in store for you with the Buffalo Bills, who are attempting to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993, taking on the Kansas City Chiefs, current holders of the NFL’s most prized piece of metal.
The Chiefs drive for a dynasty nearly took a nasty turn against the Browns last week as they survived a late rally from Cleveland. They were saved not by heroics from their all-Galaxy quarterback Pat Mahomes, but rather, his replacement, Chad Henne. KC’s backup somehow found a way to razzle and dazzle his Chiefs to safety with a couple of timely and unlikely plays as the clock ticked down in Arrowhead.
The Chiefs survival means they’re still in the running for a second consecutive Super Bowl ring, a prospect that seems significantly more likely now that we know that Mahomes will be under center against Buffalo, a fact that was anything but assured until he passed through the concussion protocol late in the week.
And they’ll face the Bills, who if not for a hail Mary of a loss in Arizona, would be riding a 12-game winning streak into the AFC Championship. A lot of that winning comes courtesy of the rapidly evolving Josh Allen and his main battery mate, Stefon Diggs, also known as the best offseason pickup of the year.
Last week Buffalo transformed their porous run defense into a reasonably formidable unit, one that held the slippery Lamar Jackson to just 34 yards as the Bills saw off Baltimore in the Divisional round. Of course, against KC, the challenge will be upped several notches as they attempt to do something few defenses have done to KC in this era: slow down the juggernaut.
We’ve got a few apps for you before the main course comes out (don’t fill up) as we get set for kickoff. In the meantime, feel free to @me – or hit me up via email with all your thoughts and feelings, predictions and all that.
For now, I highly encourage you to also visit Hunter and his NFC Championship coverage of the Bucs and Packers.
Updated
15:38
David will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a preview of today’s game:
What the Bills need to do to win: The Chiefs can do so much damage, so quickly, through the air with the likes of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill that encouraging them to go to the run game, perhaps by not packing the box, is one option. Josh Allen has evolved beyond recognition in a short space of time, partly because of the array of weapons he has, from the almost impossible to cover Stefon Diggs to Cole Beasley to tight end Dawson Knox. The Bills will need to keep that chemistry going on Sunday.
What the Chiefs need to do to win: As mentioned above, Allen’s progress this season has been extraordinary and he is no longer the turnover machine he was. But he still makes mistakes and the Chiefs’ standout defensive talents, whether it is Tyrann Matthieu or Chris Jones, are capable of forcing him into making errors. If the Bills do manage to make the Chiefs turn to the run game, the fitness of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, returning from injury, could be telling.
Key player: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes is the best player in the NFL, so he is the most important player in any game he plays. But his impact on Sunday feels particularly telling. Mahomes was forced out of last week’s win over the Browns due to concussion – and he has been limited in practice – but he will almost certainly start. The question is what version of Mahomes plays. The concussion doesn’t appear to have been too damaging (at least in the short-term) but more worrying for the Chiefs is the fact that Mahomes is also suffering from turf toe. Mahomes is no Lamar Jackson, he won’t scorch you for 50 yards, but his mobility and ability to beat the rush is an important part of his game.
Prediction: Bills. A fully fit Mahomes beats Allen 90% of the time. But a limited Mahomes, who has been very good rather than great in his recent games, is a different proposition. The lingering effects of the concussion and his reduced mobility will hand this one to the Bills … just.