KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What’s worse than living a nightmare?

The sequel.

This is again a slice of reality for the Buffalo Bills, who have built one of the NFL’s most consistent winners but keep running into the same heartbreak.

It happened again on Sunday in the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bills were thisclose to earning the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth in 31 years yet came up short, 32-29, against the same ole monsters.

Forget Freddy or Jason. The Bills are tormented by the Kansas City Chiefs, featuring Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. And then some.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

This is their horror flick: For the fourth time in five years, the Bills season ended with the will of the Chiefs, who are headed to their third consecutive Super Bowl.

 ‘To be the champs, you have to beat the champs,’ Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.

 Fair enough.

‘And we didn’t do it,’ Allen added.

Allen, who has evolved into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, may wonder what it would take to ever win in the playoffs when matched against Mahomes.

The Chiefs star is an NFL version of Michael Jordan. This makes Allen the equivalent of Karl Malone or John Stockton – great NBA players with the Utah Jazz who could never win a championship because Jordan was standing in the way with his Chicago Bulls.

This time, the snapshots portraying agony for the Bills will include Allen getting stuffed (to some degree) on a controversial fourth-and-one sneak and Mahomes dashing to paydirt when the passes weren’t enough. The enduring image, though, might be the dropped pass by tight end Dalton Kincaid on a fourth-down heave by Allen late in the fourth quarter.

Turns out, it was Buffalo’s last offensive play, with just under two minutes to play. Had Kincaid caught the football as he dove desperately, the Bills would have picked up a first down and moved into field goal range. The football traveled about 30 yards. But it glanced off the usually reliable target’s hands. Allen probably let it fly a split-second before he would have liked because of the pressure from a Trent McDuffie corner blitz and pursuit by George Karlaftis, who leveled Allen as he released the football.

That’s the thing about nightmares. Bad stuff happens.

‘Just the fact that he got the ball off was incredible,’ Kincaid told USA TODAY Sports. ‘He put the ball up there and gave me a chance to make the play. And I wasn’t able to make the play. It’s one that hurts a lot.’

The Bills did so many things that could have helped them avoid an eighth consecutive road playoff loss. They didn’t commit a turnover for the fifth game in a row. They played aggressively, converting four of their six fourth-down calls in the second half. They were resilient, striking for big plays as they fought back from an 11-point deficit in the first half to take leads in the second half.

And it was hardly enough.

Then again, even when it may have seemed like enough for the Bills it wasn’t necessarily the case. The fourth-down sneak by Allen that was stuffed generated what-if controversy as the mass of bodies in the pileup made it difficult to definitively see whether the officials properly spotted the ball. This was crucial on a fourth-and-one from the Chiefs’ 41-yard line, with Buffalo clinging to 22-21 lead.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said that from his sideline vantage point the quarterback gained enough for the first down before being shoved backward. A replay review, however, upheld the ruling on the field. Then Kansas City took possession on a short field and promptly drove for a go-ahead touchdown.

Given the final outcome, the ruling made the defeat more frustrating.

‘Darn right it does,’ McDermott said. ‘That’s a possession. We’re up one point at the time. A chance to go up maybe multiple scores at that point. It’s a big call. It’s absolutely a big call.’

The rivalry – if not the horror movie elements – will carry on. Buffalo has won five consecutive AFC East titles and has demonstrated it can beat Kansas City in some situations. The Bills are 4-0 against the Chiefs in the regular-season showcase games pitting Mahomes and Allen.

Yet in the playoffs it was the same ole script, with the same ending.

And same heartbreak.

‘What’s next?’ Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins said, repeating the question. ‘We go home. We kiss our families. And we get back to training.’

They might also want to be sure to burn the script for lining up against the Chiefs in the playoffs.

Follow Jarrett Bell on X, @JarrettBell

Mark your calendars, soccer fans: The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts in 500 days.

FIFA expects at least 5 million fans to attend World Cup matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with at least six billion people worldwide tuning into the action, the soccer governing body said in a news release Monday.

With 48 teams playing in 104 matches, it’s expected to be the biggest World Cup ever. The tournament begins June 11 in Mexico City, and the final will be played July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Following last summer’s Copa America and this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, the World Cup will end a three-year stretch of the United States hosting major soccer tournaments.

Expect President Donald Trump, reigning World Cup champion Lionel Messi and the U.S. men’s national soccer team to be among those playing major roles in driving attention to the sport and the tournament during the next 500 days.

Here’s the state of the sport in the United States before World Cup 2026:

Trump says ‘soccer is going through the roof in America’

President Trump will play a crucial role in elevating the sport of soccer in the United States during his second presidency. His presence alone at Club World Cup games this summer and World Cup games next year would raise awareness to the sport amongst Americans.

‘I will try to be there. If I can, I would,’ Trump said during the FIFA Club World Cup draw in December. ‘Soccer is going through the roof in America, as everybody knows. It’s doing fantastically well.”

Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have a budding friendship, with Trump comically pointing out: “He’s the President, and I’m the President.”

Infantino recently met with Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Fla., before attending Trump’s second inauguration in Washington D.C. last week.

Messi to play in Club World Cup. Will he play in World Cup 2026?

Messi is in the twilight of his career playing for an American team – Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, and continues to be the biggest draw in the sport.

Messi has not yet declared to play in the next World Cup, but soccer fans all over the world patiently await his decision. He has a busy year ahead, including playing in the Club World Cup this summer.

Messi will be 39 years old when the World Cup begins in June 2026, meaning it could be the last hurrah in Messi’s legendary career.

His presence at both FIFA tournaments in the next two years is instrumental for the sport’s growth in the country.

USMNT in beginning stages of World Cup prep

The USMNT has transitioned to new Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, who faces the massive undertaking of leading the Americans into the World Cup as a host nation.

While American standout Christian Pulisic is a lock for the World Cup team, Pochettino must put together the best roster possible to avoid embarrassment.

The U.S. is far from a World Cup favorite, but advancing to the knockout stage at the World Cup – after failing to do so during Copa America last summer – would be a step in the right direction.

The USMNT will play in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in Los Angeles in March, and the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament this summer. Gold Cup games will be played in five cities in California, three cities in Texas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, St. Louis and in Vancouver from June 14-July 6.

What to expect for the 2026 World Cup?

Messi’s potential participation is just one of many major storylines ahead of the next World Cup.

Can Kylian Mbappe and France reach their third straight World Cup final? How will Neymar look alongside Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Rodrygo and Raphinha with Brazil? Can rising 17-year-old star Lamine Yamal and Spain build on their Olympic and Euro success?

American cities hosting World Cup games include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and near the Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. World Cup games will also be played in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

FIFA Club World Cup this summer

The Club World Cup tournament this summer will see 32 of the best soccer clubs around the world compete.

Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and MLS club Seattle Sounders are among the participants.

Messi and Inter Miami will play the opening game June 14 in Miami. The final is July 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Games will also be played in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington D.C.

How will U.S. stadium security improve after Copa America?

Copa America was Google’s No. 1 trending search topic globally in 2024 due to the security nightmare before the final match between Messi’s Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami last July.

Fans without tickets hopped fences, pushed through gates and trampled people while evading police and security personnel. Viral videos of fans climbing into ventilation systems, and distressing scenes of women and children having trouble breathing and needing medical attention for heat exhaustion were lasting images.

Players from Uruguay also entered the stands to save family members from unruly fans after a semifinal match in Charlotte.

Major League Soccer’s role ahead of World Cup

Major League Soccer continues to make strides, entering its 30th season this year. Messi will be along for the ride for his third season, his presence continually elevating the league on a worldwide scale. San Diego FC begins play as the 30th team in MLS, while Los Angeles Galaxy are the reigning MLS Cup champions.

MLS has celebrated several milestones, including more than 12 million fans in attendance for matches last season, second to only the English Premier League (14.6M). The league is also the fastest growing social media following of any American sports league on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. You can find MLS games on Apple TV.

“Over these next two years, North America will be the epicenter of global soccer. Our league, clubs and players are all committed to working together on this path to 2026,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in December. ‘We have an unbelievable opportunity to continue this great trajectory and create even more momentum as we continue to grow our sport and league for years to come.”

Brian Schottenheimer admitted Monday he was emotional when Jerry Jones informed him he would be the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

‘When I got the news I really couldn’t speak,’ Schottenheimer told reporters as part of his introductory news conference.

It wasn’t just because he was realizing a long-held dream after 25 years in the NFL. It also reminded him of one of his most impactful mentors during his journey toward becoming a head coach.

‘Immediately, I went to seeing my father’s face and knowing how proud he would be of me,’ Schottenheimer said.

All things Cowboys: Latest Dallas Cowboys news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Schottenheimer’s father, Marty, was a 21-year NFL head coach who spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington and San Diego Chargers in a career that spanned three decades. He posted a 200-126-1 record during his career and was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2004.

The younger Schottenheimer got his NFL start working as an assistant with the St. Louis Rams before joining his father’s staffs in Kansas City, Washington and San Diego. They spent parts of six seasons together before Brian took the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator job ahead of the 2006 season.

The 51-year-old credited the time spent with his father as a formative part of his life, both as a person and a coach.

‘My father was a legendary coach, a great man, but he was an incredible father,’ Schottenheimer said Monday. ‘And he’s impacted me more than anyone in this profession.’

The elder Schottenheimer died on Feb. 8, 2021 at age 77 after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He never got a chance to see his son get the Dallas job, which makes the duo the ninth father/son combination to both serve as NFL head coaches.

Nonetheless, the younger Schottenheimer felt his father’s memory was palpable as he was introduced as the Cowboys’ head coach in front of an audience that included many family members, including his mother Pat, wife Gemmi, son Sutton and daughter Savannah.

‘I know he’s looking down on me and I know he’s proud,’ Schottenheimer said. ‘And I miss him very much.’

‘But I know what he’d say to me,’ Schottenheimer added. ‘He’d say, ‘Brian, the easy part is over. It’s time to get to work.”

The question is, did he actually catch it?

With 3:13 remining in the first half, Patrick Mahomes was under pressure on third-and-5 when he heaved up a prayer in the direction of Worthy and Hollywood Brown. The argument can be made that he was looking for Brown, who had a step on Taron Johnson.

However, Mahomes was falling to the ground and couldn’t step into the throw. Worthy was able to collect the ball in between two Buffalo Bills defenders, setting up a first-and-goal for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY

The review made that a little less clear. Buffalo’s Cole Bishop appeared to have the initial possession, which would’ve resulted in an interception. As he was falling to the ground, the ball slid into Worthy’s hands.

Either way, the ball hit the ground. Buffalo challenged, believing the pass was incomplete.

Referee Clete Blakeman’s crew opted to keep the ruling on the field after review, which was a catch.

While the holding penalty on Damar Hamlin would’ve kept the drive alive anyway, the upholding of the initial call gave the Chiefs an extra 21 yards on the play.

Instead of first-and-10 at the Buffalo 24, it was first-and-goal from the Buffalo 3.

The Chiefs went on to score a touchdown on the drive, with Mahomes punching it in with a one-yard rushing score. Kansas City took a 21-10 lead and went into halftime with a 21-16 advantage.

With arguments for and against a catch, it’s hard to fault the officiating crew for sticking with the initial ruling. Despite hitting the ground, the ball didn’t move enough to suggest either player lost possession.

Since the tie goes to the offense, Worthy was the beneficiary on that play. The Chiefs will certainly take it as well.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

Needing a miracle to save their season, the Buffalo Bills almost pulled it off, as quarterback Josh Allen lofted a desperation heave on fourth-and-5 with just under two minutes left in the game.

Waiting on the other end of the pass was second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid, who had the ball go into and out of his hands as he fell to the turf. It could have been a catch for the ages, but instead Kincaid’s drop became the lasting image of yet another painful Bills playoff loss – and the fourth one in the past five seasons to the hated Kansas City Chiefs.

‘Josh got the ball off. He was pressured, and it was hanging up there and I just wasn’t able to catch it,’ a tearful Kincaid told Syracuse.com.

‘Right now it obviously hurts a lot, and it’s going to linger for a while, but eventually you’ve got to move on. And hopefully you grow from this, and I believe that will be the case, but for the time being, it’s going to hurt a lot.’

Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY

Kincaid admitted he should have made the catch. However, he did have to adjust his pass route and come back for the ball in between several Chiefs defenders.

‘He gave it everything he had,’ Bills coach Sean McDermott said. ‘I love Dalton Kincaid. Sometimes those work out. He makes more of those than he doesn’t, and he’ll make the next one.’

Even after Kansas City took over on downs, the Bills still had a chance to get the ball back. But Patrick Mahomes completed a pair of passes for critical first downs and the Chiefs were able to run out the clock to advance to Super Bowl 59 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Get ready for the Super Bowl: Sign up for USA TODAY’s Sports newsletter.

Eagles-Chiefs.

The matchup for Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans is officially set, as the NFL wrapped up its conference championship weekend, and as Kansas City seeks to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Philadelphia sprinted past the Washington Commanders in a 55-23 drubbing to secure its fifth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. And as the Eagles have done all season long, they relied on All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley to power through in the rushing game.

In the AFC title game,  the Chiefs withstood a late Bills charge, as an all-out blitz from Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo forced a Josh Allen heave on fourth down that fell incomplete and sealed the game.

Here are the winners and losers from the NFL’s conference championship games.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

WINNERS

Patrick Mahomes’ legs

It’s clear that Chiefs coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy saw a mismatch they could exploit through the running ability of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who posted a season-high 11 carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns – also a season high.

The Chiefs dialed up a series of designed runs for Mahomes on rollouts, many of them on key third downs and plays in the red zone. By faking option handoffs, Kansas City got Buffalo’s defense to commit, and then Mahomes used his vision to accelerate into open space. That was most evident in Kansas City’s final touchdown of the game, a 10-yard rollout that gave the Chiefs a seven-point lead early in the fourth.

Philly ground and pound

While the Chiefs have a solid run defense — they ranked eighth in the regular season — the Eagles are on another level. After rushing for 229 against the Commanders, Philadelphia is now averaging 227.7 rushing yards per game in the postseason. It has also scored 10 rushing touchdowns after dropping seven on Washington. Four of those scores have gone for more than 40 yards.

In the playoffs, Saquon Barkley has run the ball 66 times for 442 yards and five touchdowns.

Chiefs overcome … again

Of the 12 games in the postseason thus far, all but one of the winning teams also won the turnover battle: the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. In fact, 10 of the 12 winners from this postseason played turnover-free football. The collective turnover margin of winning teams in the 2024 playoffs has been +18.

Yet Kansas City has now won 17 consecutive one-possession games, including 12 this season, counting the playoffs. There is no team better at situational football than the Chiefs, no team more clutch, no team whose strategies and play calls seem to foil opponents with more frequency.

The Eagles (finally) get A.J. Brown and the passing game going

Entering Sunday, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown was getting more pub for a book he read on the bench than for his on-field production. He had caught only three passes in Philadelphia’s previous two playoff games; against the Commanders, he erupted for six receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown.

It was thematic of Philadelphia’s approach to balance. In the first two Eagles playoff victories, Jalen Hurts threw for 131 and 128 yards. Against Washington, Hurts threw for 246. It was an encouraging sign for Philly’s passing game, even though the bulk of those yards — 226 of them (or 91.9%) — went to only three targets: Brown, tight end Dallas Goedert and receiver DeVonta Smith.

Steve Spagnuolo has a plan

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is widely considered one of the top assistants in the NFL, and his work in the playoffs consistently affirms that. Against the Bills, Spagnuolo seemed to have answers for most things the Bills threw at the Chiefs.

For instance, Spagnuolo understood Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen’s tendency to run behind his left guard on quarterback sneaks, and Spagnuolo crowded that space with some of Kansas City’s top defenders. Buffalo never appeared comfortable in short-yardage situations. And then, even though it is well known that Spagnuolo likes to blitz on third and fourth downs, he saved a complex one that disguised a corner blitz until the very end of the game, deploying it on a fourth-and-5 with two minutes left to play. Allen had to backpedal and heave a prayer that bounced off of tight end Dalton Kincaid’s hands.

LOSERS

Turnovers doom Washington’s hopes

For most of the season, Washington protected the ball, tying for eighth in giveaways (17). When they needed it most, however, the Commanders coughed up the ball. Washington turned the ball over four times, and Philadelphia scored 28 points off of them. In fact, if you factor in the turnover on downs — which doesn’t formally count as a turnover —  early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles actually scored 35 points off of “giveaways.”

The Bills still can’t get past Kansas City hurdle in the playoffs

Buffalo is now 0-4 against the Chiefs in the playoffs during the Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen era. Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to lose four playoff starts against another quarterback. Sean McDermott became the first coach to do the same to another head coach.

Against Kansas City, the Bills played mostly well, balanced football. They did not commit a single turnover. They scored touchdowns on all three red zone trips. Allen played extremely well, going 22-of-34 for 237 yards with two touchdowns and adding 39 rushing yards. Yet Buffalo needed him to do a little more as a runner, and against elite teams like the Chiefs, perfect games are required to win.

Commanders can’t stop Eagles avalanche

After Terry McLaurin scampered off with a 36-yard touchdown reception in the middle of the second quarter, Washington missed its two-point conversion attempt. The score was 14-12, with the Eagles holding the small lead.

The Commanders would go on to be outscored 41-11 the rest of the way. In the first four drives of the game, Washington put up 173 yards; in the final eight, that number was only 187.

After Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club suffered a loss in their debut match of TGL golf, Woods and company get an opportunity to bounce back Monday night. However, the matchup is particularly special as it will feature Woods’ Jupiter Links taking on Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf.

The pair are co-founders of the league and now get the opportunity to strut their stuff against one another. McIlory and his ‘Ballfrogs’, as he refers to his team, will feature McIlroy teaming up with Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley, with Hideki Matsuyama as backup. Woods’ team, meanwhile, will once again feature Kevin Kisner, but will opt for Tom Kim this time rather than Max Homa. 

Can Woods’ team earn their first win or will the debut of McIlroy’s Boston-based squad prove too much for Jupiter Links to overcome?

Follow along here as we bring you live results and highlights from Week 4 of TGL play.

When is the TGL match between Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s teams?

Tiger Woods and Jupiter Links Golf Club finally take on Rory McIlroy and Boston Common Golf in a much anticipated TGL match scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY

How to watch the TGL match between Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy

The TGL match between Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club and Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf will be televised nationally on ESPN with streaming available on ESPN+.

Live streaming is also available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch TGL action with a Fubo subscription

TGL: Jupiter Links GC vs. Boston Common Golf odds

Boston Common Golf are favorites to defeat Jupiter Links Golf Club, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Monday, Jan. 27

Moneyline: Boston Common Golf (-225); Jupiter Links Golf Club (+175)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.