See how Chiefs fans braved snow, brought party to Buffalo for 27-24 victory over Bills

Sidney Steele
·4 min read

The Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Orchard Park, NY, where they defeated the Buffalo Bills, 27-24, in the AFC West Divisional game this weekend.

While fans weren’t able to see the Chiefs play at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, many Chiefs fans still braved cold and snow to cheer on their team (alongside Taylor Swift and a shirtless Jason Kelce) at Highmark Stadium.

Last week, we asked our readers about their plans to see the AFC West divisional game in Orchard Park, NY. Here’s what you shared:

Chiefs Kingdom in the Empire State

Kansas City Chiefs fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills failed to tie the game with a field goal in the final minutes of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, New York.
Kansas City Chiefs fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills failed to tie the game with a field goal in the final minutes of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, New York.

While we didn’t hear from any fans traveling from the Midwest to see the Chiefs play, we did hear from a few Chiefs fans living in or near New York.

Andy Cowherd had plans to travel from his home in New Jersey to attend the Wild Card game in Kansas City, but his plans changed when he saw the weather forecast.

“Called my sister, a season ticket holder, and told her I was canceling my flight home and staying in New Jersey,” Cowherd wrote to The Star. “Watched on Peacock, which I already had. Cocktail, fireplace, family, Chiefs win. Nice evening.”

Thanks to their match-up against the Bills, Cowherd was able to see the Chiefs play without having to travel too far.

“I regularly attend Chiefs playoff games in KC. Seeing one in Buffalo, with Josh Allen vs. Patrick, will be a treat,” Cowherd wrote The Star, prior to the game. “My daughter, an NJ-born Chiefs fan, and I will travel from Morristown, NJ. Will rendezvous with a former work colleague from NYC who is a die-hard Bills fan. Pre-gaming with him and his family at Danny’s South, near the stadium.”

Andy Cowherd and his daughter, Sarah, enjoyed a Chiefs win in Buffalo, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
Andy Cowherd and his daughter, Sarah, enjoyed a Chiefs win in Buffalo, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.

He added, “Looking forward to a Chiefs win, 23-20.”

With the Chiefs winning by three points, 27-24, Cowherd wasn’t far off.

Priced Out

Between the cost of flights, hotels, and game tickets, Kansas Citians would have had to pay a pretty penny to make it to Buffalo to see the Chiefs’ victory over the Bills.

Nicki Miller attended the Wild Card game in Kansas City last weekend. Of this weekend’s game in New York, Miller said, “I would go if I could afford it.”

For Chiefs fans living in the Northeast, however, the road game gave many fans the opportunity to see their team play closer to home.

Family Ties

A Kansas City Chiefs fan celebrates after the Buffalo Bills failed to tie the game with a field goal in the final minutes of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, New York.
A Kansas City Chiefs fan celebrates after the Buffalo Bills failed to tie the game with a field goal in the final minutes of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, New York.

The Northeastern Chiefs fans we heard from all had personal connections to the home of the Chiefs.

Dakota Reed said, “I live in NY (Dad’s from Kansas) so we couldn’t miss a chance to see the Chiefs here in NY! I’ll be going with my parents and decked out in full Chiefs gear!”

Kathie Smith attended the game with her husband, Gary. The couple now lives in New York, but was married in Prairie Village in 1971.

“We are avid Chiefs fans as we originally are from Kansas City,” Kathie said. “We now live in Lake Placid, New York.... so KIND OF used to cold weather.”

“We are surrounded by Bills fans... and do like the Bills as well, just not like THE CHIEFS. We are driving 6 hours to hopefully be able to sit on the snow covered seats to watch hopefully and amazing game. GO CHIEFS!!!!”

After the game, Smith said karma caught up to the Bills for the way their fans acted at the game.

“The fans were so obnoxious and hateful. Not to the Chiefs fans necessarily, not scary but awful. The Bills deserved to lose with the behavior. Throwing ice/snow, language,” Smith said.

Despite the Bills’ fans’ behavior, Smith said she “loved being sooo close to OUR BOYS.”

Family Rivalries

Jerry Mitchell is from Dalton, New York, an hour outside Buffalo, and is a life long Bills fan. The Chiefs/Bills match-up is giving him the chance to enjoy the game with the Chiefs fan in his life.

“My wife is a big Chiefs fan, especially when they play the Bills,” Mitchell wrote to The Star. “I am going to take her to a couple of my favorite Buffalo restaurants. My wife is coming to root for the Chiefs and to taunt me.”

It’s safe to say Mitchell’s wife had plenty to taunt him about on the drive home.