After the AFC divisional round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills when the NFL‘s overtime rules allowed the Chiefs to claim the victory without the Bills getting a chance to possess the football, the week leading up to the league’s championship games featured vocal calls for reform to overtime rules in the postseason. Critics of the league’s overtime rules lamented how Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his offense, despite an outstanding fourth-quarter performance, were not allowed the opportunity to answer a Chiefs touchdown on the opening drive of overtime.
Sure enough, the AFC Championship Game took an ironic turn when a Harrison Butker field goal on the last play of regulation yet again set up an overtime playoff game. And when the Chiefs won the opening coin toss, it looked as though they might yet again be the beneficiaries of the NFL’s overtime rules — but things would end up taking a much different turn.
After Bengals safety Vonn Bell picked off Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on third and 10, the Bengals were able to drive down the field and kick a field goal to stun Kansas City and send Cincinnati to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988. The swing of emotions in overtime took place right on Twitter, with players and others from around the NFL chiming in.
When the game went to overtime, Josh Allen had only one word to describe his emotions seeing a painfully raw and familiar scenario unfold.
Sean Payton — whose Saints lost the 2018 NFC Championship Game in similar fashion to how the Chiefs lost to the Bengals — also had some thoughts.
Thoughts from Houston Texans defensive end DeMarcus Walker:
Former NFL running back Rashad Jennings:
Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Kurt Benkert:
