Chiefs Stuffed Bills’ Fake Punt With Only 10 Players on Field

Along with a game-sealing missed field goal, the Buffalo Bills likely will be thinking about one play in particular from their 27—24 divisional playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs for quite some time. 

On a fourth-and-5 from their own 30-yard line early in the fourth quarter, the Bills elected to run a fake punt, handing the ball off to safety Damar Hamlin, who subsequently gained only two yards. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott is facing backlash over—and had to explain the reasoning behind—the decision. 

But the worst part for the Bills and their fans? The Chiefs’ defense only had 10 players on the field and still managed to stop Buffalo’s fake punt attempt in its tracks. 

Here’s the play.

And yes, the Chiefs only had ten players on the field on the Bills 4th quarter fake punt.

Here’s nine men, and the return man (not pictured).@nflnetwork @gmfb pic.twitter.com/rOMbhbF3TW

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 22, 2024

And here’s a breakdown of the personnel the Chiefs had on the field for the fake punt. 

The dots for the fake punt. Chiefs did only have ten men. pic.twitter.com/GRygxnZIzC

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 22, 2024

The fact that the shorthanded Kansas City defense had no trouble stopping the fake punt makes the decision by McDermott even more baffling. 

After the game, the Bills coach was asked why he chose to run play, and McDermott cited the “element of surprise,” per the Buffalo News.

Unfortunately for the Bills, the play surprised no one, least of all the Chiefs defense.