The right foot of Tyler Bass did more than sail to the right with overtime in the balance at Highmark Stadium.
For fans of the Buffalo Bills, let alone viewers who watched a high-drama 27-24 Kansas City Chiefs win, there were painful memories of one notable miss involving the team that fell in the AFC Divisional Round in Western New York.
Fans Recall One Infamous Miss Involving the Buffalo Bills
With 44 yards separating the Bills from three points, Bass put every effort into his boot to potentially force overtime.
But two words: Wide right.
WIDE RIGHT.pic.twitter.com/QzX8LGFgc7
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 22, 2024
It’s not the first time Bills and NFL fans have seen this before.
“Holy Scott Norwood,” posted Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde on X, formerly known as Twitter.
That would be the Norwood who had the opportunity to give Buffalo its first-ever Super Bowl victory back in January 1991 against the New York Giants. But, like Bass’ attempt, this one sailed in a similar direction.
Again, Bass helped conjure up memories of Norwood.
“Tyler Bass channeling his inner Scott Norwood,” one NFL-themed account posted.
ABC 7 New York sports anchor Ryan Field also mentioned Norwood’s name in his post.
“Sigh”
— Scott Norwood pic.twitter.com/Qqq0CVGizx
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) January 22, 2024
Even CBS Sports’ play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, who has covered the Chiefs-Bills rivalry as of late, was given praise for how he called the Bass miss.
“Great call by Jim Nantz, immediately summoning the pain of Scott Norwood’s Super Bowl wide right vs the Giants,” longtime sports columnist Ian O’Connor shared.
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The difference is that Norwood’s kick came on the final play. Buffalo still needed one last defensive stand to potentially get one more chance, but they never got the ball back after the Bass miss.
Josh Allen Offers Reaction To Falling to Chiefs, Final Attempt
For Bass’ quarterback teammate Josh Allen, this now marks the third time he’s lost to the Chiefs in the playoffs. But he endures his first loss against them at his home stadium.
A dejected Allen was a man with minimal words to say after the game with reporters.
“Losing sucks. I don’t know what else to say,” Allen began with the media.
However, he got asked about that final situation where the game got put in the hands of Bass. Allen lamented about that sequence.
“I wish it wouldn’t have been put in that situation,” Allen said, refusing to place blame on Bass. “You win as a team, you lose as a team.”
Still, Allen and the Bills were given a prime opportunity to shed the memories of the last two postseason meetings with the Chiefs. It was considered the perfect storm for these Bills — as they came in winners of six in a row including beating the Chiefs in their home venue of Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 10.
And this time, K.C. walked out of the visitors’ locker room with a trip to the conference title game on the line.
Instead, Bills fans were given memories of that gut-wrenching Norwood kick as Bass’ attempt trekked in the same direction that broke the hearts of Buffalo. The agony of defeat resurfaced for a fan base that has seen multiple heartbreaks.
The agony of defeat. pic.twitter.com/lFb6yjO9is
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 22, 2024
Now, the Chiefs will play another rare road game, this time for the AFC title game, a first in the era of Mahomes, Kelce, and head coach Andy Reid. They’ll head to Charm City to take on the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Jan. 28.
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