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Tyrod Taylor-led Buffalo Bills send Kansas City Chiefs to defeat

By The Sports Xchange
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) drops back for a pass in the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on October 2, 2016. File photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) drops back for a pass in the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on October 2, 2016. File photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI | License Photo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Quarterback Tyrod Taylor used his arms and his legs to send the Buffalo Bills to a much-needed 16-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, buoying their playoff hopes while sending the Chiefs reeling to their third straight defeat.

Taylor completed 19-of-29 passes for 183 yards while running nine times for another 27 yards in his return as the starting quarterback after getting benched in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman last week.

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The Chiefs drove into Buffalo territory for a potential game-winning score, but cornerback Tre'Davious White picked off a pass from Alex Smith to seal the win.

The first quarter set the tone for a defensive affair, with both teams combining for six punts on the first six possessions of the game. The Bills finally broke the scoring drought with an 11-yard pass from Taylor to wide receiver Zay Jones with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter.

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After forcing another three-and-out from the Chiefs, the Bills took advantage of a short field to extend their lead. Taylor connected with Jones for a 17-yard gain that set up a Stephen Hauschka field goal from 34 yards that made the score 10-0.

The Chiefs picked up their only first down of the first half with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter. Smith hit backup tight end Demetrius Harris for a 28-yard gain to the Buffalo 30-yard line. That helped set up a 45-yard field goal by Harrison Butker.

Buffalo mustered just 268 yards of offense, but that was all it took on a day when the Chiefs tallied just 236 yards on offense.

Smith and the Chiefs' offense struggled much of the day against the Bills' aggressive front seven defense. Smith finished 23-of-35 passing for 200 yards. Running back Kareem Hunt chipped in just 17 yards on 11 carries. Tyreek Hill led the team's receivers with seven catches for 41 yards.

Buffalo led 13-3 at the half, with Hauschka extending the lead thanks to a 56-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the second quarter.

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Kansas City ended its lengthy touchdown drought early in the third quarter. Smith found wide receiver Albert Wilson for a 19-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 13-10. That marked the Chiefs' first touchdown in 127 minutes, 53 seconds from when they last found the end zone on Nov. 5 against Dallas.

Buffalo responded with another Hauschka field goal, this time from 49 yards. That put the Bills up 16-10 with 6:56 remaining in the third quarter.

LeSean McCoy led Buffalo with 49 yards rushing on 22 carries. Tight end Charles Clay contributed four catches for 60 yards.

NOTES: Chiefs K Harrison Butker set a franchise with his 23rd consecutive field goal, eclipsing the former mark of 22 straight set by Pete Stoyanovich in 1997-98 and matched by Ryan Succop in 2011. ... Bills K Steven Hauschka's 56-yard field goal gives him seven field goals of 50 yards or more for the season, bettering the team record of six set by Dan Carpenter in 2014. His 52-yard miss, however, ended an NFL-record streak of 13 consecutive field goals made from 50 yards or more ... Chiefs S Eric Murray left the game in the second half with an ankle injury.

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