The Buffalo Bills' season ended in heartbreak against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, with tight end Dalton Kincaid finding himself at the center of criticism. On the Bills' final drive, with the team trailing, a fourth-down play sealed their fate.
Quarterback Josh Allen faced a heavy blitz from the Chiefs' defense and managed to escape the pressure, launching a precise pass to Kincaid. The throw was on target, but the second-year tight end from Utah failed to secure it. The ball slipped through his arms and hit the turf, resulting in a turnover on downs. Kansas City quickly ran out the clock to secure their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
Social media backlash targets Kincaid after the game
The missed opportunity brought a wave of abuse directed at Kincaid on social media. Fans were quick to vent their frustration, drawing parallels to the criticism Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews faced the previous week for a similar mistake.
One post read,
"Beat Dalton Kincaid with hammers." Another added,
"Dalton Kincaid like 25 with the hairline of an elderly man and he sucks at football lmao hang up the cleats pal."Comparisons between Kincaid and Andrews were widespread, with one account asking,
"Dalton Kincaid vs. Mark Andrews, who did it worst?" Others mocked Kincaid’s performance, such as one fan tweeting,
"Josh Allen just wants to scream, ‘DALTON KINCAID WHAT THE F** BRO,’ but is too nice. @_DaltonKincaid sucks A** I’ll say it for you Josh."*
Some memes amplified the backlash, including a GIF of Andrews on the bench and a clip from
Full Metal Jacket depicting a Marine being attacked, referencing Kincaid’s error.
Kincaid reflects on the moment
Speaking to reporters after the game, Kincaid said,
"I mean, it’s football. Josh made a hell of an attempt just to get the ball up there. Just sucks a lot, not being able to bring it down. Just hurts a lot."The loss extended Buffalo's playoff struggles against Kansas City, marking their fourth consecutive postseason defeat to the Chiefs. It was also their second AFC title game loss to Kansas City in the past four years, with the previous one in 2020.
Kansas City cements its dominance
With the victory, the Chiefs joined an elite group of NFL teams to reach three straight Super Bowls. They became the fourth team to accomplish this feat, following the 1971-1973 Miami Dolphins, the 1990-1993 Buffalo Bills, and the 2016-2018 New England Patriots.
Kansas City is now aiming for history as the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. To achieve that, they must defeat the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl LVII rematch. Two seasons ago, the Chiefs edged out the Eagles 38-35 with a late Harrison Butker field goal securing the win. This time, they have the chance to solidify their dynasty status.
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