Connect with us

Sports

Bills' Josh Allen aware of road struggles vs. Chiefs, ready for playoffs in Buffalo: 'Finally got a home game'

Published

on

Bills' Josh Allen aware of road struggles vs. Chiefs, ready for playoffs in Buffalo: 'Finally got a home game'

Read this article for free!

Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account!

Please enter a valid email address.

By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has developed a friendship with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The two NFL stars occasionally play a game of golf together during the offseason. 

But Allen’s fondness for Mahomes will likely go out the window this weekend, at least for a few hours, when the Bills-Chiefs divisional round playoff game kicks off inside Highmark Stadium. 

Advertisement

Allen and the Bills will look to avenge their overtime loss to the Chiefs in the 2021 divisional round. The Chiefs also knocked Buffalo out of the playoffs in the 2020 AFC championship game.

But the location of Sunday’s game will be different than the recent Bills-Chiefs postseason matchups. The Bills previously had to travel to Arrowhead Stadium in January, but this year the Chiefs will have to fly to New York.

Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Oct. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

But past playoff heartbreaks are the last thing on Allen’s mind.

Advertisement

“We don’t need to bring that up,” Allen said Wednesday. “I’m sure people will bring up what I’m afraid of but, nah, I got a lot of respect for him and his game and who he is off the field.”

BILLS COULD BE AFFECTED BY SNOW YET AGAIN WITH MORE FEET COMING TO BUFFALO

The Bills’ 2021 defeat did prompt the NFL to change its postseason overtime rules. Kansas City won the coin toss and ended the 2021 divisional game with a touchdown on the first overtime possession. The rules now stipulate that both teams are guaranteed an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.

Sunday’s game will also mark Mahomes’ first time playing a postseason game away from Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes expressed excitement about the opportunity to play in front of a favorably raucous crowd.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, left, and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.  (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Advertisement

“Even though I know it’s going to be hostile and there are going to be people talking trash and everything like that, I’m excited for it because it’s one of the best environments in football,” Mahomes said. “And you want to do that when you grow up watching these games in the best environments and see what it’s like.”

Although snow isn’t in the forecast for Sunday, both teams are accustomed to playing in frigid temperatures. The Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins in one of the coldest games in NFL history last week.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs a play during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff game against the Miami Dolphins Jan. 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

There is a fair amount of familiarity between the Bills and Chiefs. The rivals have split their past six meetings, including the playoffs, since 2020.

“There’s no secrets,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said.

Advertisement

Wherever the setting, Allen appreciates how difficult it will be to beat the defending champions.

“They’re at the top of the mountain. They know what it takes to get there. We’ve yet to do that,” said Allen, whose lone AFC championship game appearance ended in a 38-24 loss at Kansas City. “As a competitor, to be in a situation like this is something you dream about.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Sports

Multiple players ejected after brawl breaks out during Eagles-Commanders game

Published

on

Multiple players ejected after brawl breaks out during Eagles-Commanders game

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

An intense brawl broke out during the Eagles-Commanders game in the fourth quarter Saturday night, resulting in three ejections.

The fight began after Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley scored on a 2-point conversion to boost his team’s lead to 19 points with less than five minutes left. 

Washington’s Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Advertisement

There was some pushing and shoving and a lot of jawing, and officials threw six flags as the chaos ensued.

COWBOYS’ TRADE FOR JETS STAR QUINNEN WILLIAMS FACES HARSH CRITICISM: ‘DALLAS IS DRUNK’

Tyler Steen (56) of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mike Sainristil (0) of the Washington Commanders fight in the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md.  (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Eventually, order was restored, and Barkley, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner spoke to each other.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

The Eagles won the game, 29-18, to clinch their second straight division title, becoming the first team to win back-to-back NFC East titles since the 2004 Eagles did it. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Continue Reading

Sports

No. 4 UCLA closes nonconference play with a dominant win over Long Beach State

Published

on

No. 4 UCLA closes nonconference play with a dominant win over Long Beach State

UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close could not have imagined a better way for her team to wrap up nonconference play than Saturday afternoon’s 106-44 trouncing of Long Beach State at Pauley Pavilion.

Coming off Tuesday’s 115-28 triumph over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo — UCLA’s largest margin of victory during the NCAA era — the Bruins picked up where they left off, leading wire-to-wire for their fifth consecutive win since suffering their lone loss to Texas on Nov. 26.

“We’re growing … we had a couple of lapses today and we’re not there yet, but we’re heading in the right direction,” Close said. “I love the selflessness of this team.”

Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez led the way with 17 points and made five of six three-point shots. Angela Dugalic added 13 points while Gianna Kneepkens had 10 points and 10 rebounds. All 11 Bruins who played scored at least one basket.

UCLA forward Sienna Betts, top, and Long Beach State forward Kennan Ka dive for the ball during the Bruins’ win Saturday.

Advertisement

(Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)

Playing their last game in Westwood until Jan. 3, when they will host crosstown rival USC, the Bruins (11-1 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten) looked every bit like the No. 4 team in the country, improving to 6-0 at home. They are ranked fourth in both the Associated Press and coaches polls behind Connecticut, Texas and South Carolina.

“I’m really proud of our nonconference schedule. Not many local teams are willing to play us, so I want to compliment Long Beach State,” Close said. “Our starting guards [Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice] combined for 17 assists and one turnover. We have depth and balance and that’s a great luxury to have.”

Jaquez scored nine of the Bruins’ first 12 points. She opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the top of the key and added triples on back-to-back possessions to increase the margin to eight points. Her fourth three-pointer, from the right corner, extended the lead to 21-5.

Advertisement

Sienna Betts’ jumper in the lane put UCLA up by 19 at the end of the first quarter. The sophomore finished with 14 points and senior Lauren Betts added 17. The sisters’ parents, Michelle and Andy, played volleyball and basketball, respectively, for Long Beach State. Sienna wears her mom’s No. 16 while Lauren dons her dad’s No. 51.

Rice’s steal and layup made it 46-18 with 3:28 left in the first half and Leger-Walker’s tip-in at the buzzer gave the Bruins a 34-point advantage at halftime. Rice had a complete game, contributing 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals and one block.

The result continued the Bruins’ recent dominance against the Beach. UCLA has won six straight head-to-head meetings, including a 51-point blowout in the schools’ previous matchup last December, when Close became the all-time winningest coach in program history by earning her 297th victory to surpass Billie Moore (296-181). Long Beach State has not beaten the Bruins since 1987 under Joan Bonvicini, who posted a 16-1 record versus UCLA in her 12 seasons at the Beach from 1979 to 1991.

The Bruins’ primary focus on defense was slowing down sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who entered Saturday averaging 17.2 points per game. She scored 10 of the Beach’s 11 points in the first quarter but was held scoreless the rest of the way. She has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games. Guard Christy Reynoso added six points for Beach (0-10 overall, 0-2 in Big West).

Advertisement

The Bruins travel to Columbus on Dec. 28 to face No. 21 Ohio State (9-1).

Continue Reading

Sports

Nick Saban questions Texas A&M crowd noise before Aggies face Miami in playoff

Published

on

Nick Saban questions Texas A&M crowd noise before Aggies face Miami in playoff

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Despite dropping their regular-season finale to in-state rival Texas, the Texas A&M Aggies qualified for the College Football Playoff and earned the right to host a first-round game at Kyle Field.

Nick Saban, who won seven national championships during his storied coaching career, experienced his fair share of hostile environments on road trips. 

But the former Alabama coach and current ESPN college football analyst floated a surprising theory about how Texas A&M turns up the volume to try to keep opposing teams off balance.

Advertisement

A view of the midfield logo before the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field on Oct. 26, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

While Saban did describe Kyle Field as one of the sport’s “noisiest” atmospheres, he also claimed the stadium’s operators have leaned on artificial crowd noise to pump up the volume during games.

CFP INTRIGUE RANKINGS: WHICH FIRST-ROUND GAMES HAVE THE BEST STORYLINES?

“I did more complaining to the SEC office—it was more than complaining that I don’t really want to say on this show—about this is the noisiest place. Plus, they pipe in noise… You can’t hear yourself think when you’re playing out there,” he told Pat McAfee on Thursday afternoon.

Adding crowd noise during games does not explicitly violate NCAA rules. However, the policy does mandate a certain level of consistency.

Advertisement

A general view of Kyle Field before the start of the game between Texas A&M Aggies and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field on Oct. 12, 2019 in College Station, Texas. (John Glaser/USA TODAY Sports)

According to the governing body’s rulebook: “Artificial crowd noise, by conference policy or mutual consent of the institutions, is allowed. The noise level must be consistent throughout the game for both teams. However, all current rules remain in effect dealing with bands, music and other sounds. When the snap is imminent, the band/music must stop playing. As with all administrative rules, the referee may stop the game and direct game management to adjust.”

General view of fans watch the play in the first half between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Ball State Cardinals at Kyle Field on Sept. 12, 2015 in College Station, Texas. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Regardless of the possible presence of artificial noise, the Miami Hurricanes will likely face a raucous crowd when Saturday’s first-round CFP game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET.

Advertisement

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending