The Buffalo Bills came so close to finally getting one over the Kansas City Chiefs, but as they often do in the playoffs, they came up agonizingly short.
The 32-29 loss at Arrowhead marked the fourth straight time that the Bills lost to the Chiefs in the postseason, and after such a successful year, naturally, it is hard to take.
Buffalo and the love the roster had for one another was a driving force in their superb regular season, but when push came to shove, Josh Allen and Co. couldn’t make enough plays.
And receiver Khalil Shakir is having a tough time moving on from the loss.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Shakir said. “I mean, you play 20-plus weeks in the season and get into your routine, and it’s over just like that. So yeah, I say I’m just kind of numb right now.”

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) reacts as he walks off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Shakir is right. An NFL player’s life during the season is regimented, but once the season ends, everything stops.
Players have their exit meetings, and they clear out their lockers, and that is it for months until the roster comes back for rookie minicamp and other activities.
Some wonder how the Bills will be able to get past this crushing defeat, thinking that “this was the year” to finally slay the Chiefs, yet Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid continued their dominance over their AFC rivals.
Time heals all, but given how close the Bills were to their ultimate goal, this loss might take a little extra time to get over.