The Chiefs, having trailed at the break, delivered the perfect start to the second half when Kelce scurried outside before reaching for the pylon for a three-yard touchdown to hand Kansas City a 20-17 advantage after the extra point.

Allen and the Bills answered straight back as they reverted to the run game and converted on three third down situations, the last of which saw Buffalo’s quarterback throw a stunning 13-yard off-platform touchdown strike to Khalil Shakir, who showed tremendous hands to out-work L’Jarius Sneed and make the grab at the pylon.

The lead changed again moments later, Pacheco this time bulldozing his way into the end zone for a four-yard score to restore the Chiefs’ lead at 27-24.

Chaos ensued when Damar Hamlin was stuffed on a fake punt attempt on fourth down to hand the ball back to the Chiefs, who would fail to capitalise on the error as Mecole Hardman fumbled through the end zone for a touchback to keep the game alive.

Allen survived a fumble and converted on a fourth down while orchestrating a 16-play drive in response, only for Bass to misfire on his 44-yard kick attempt with 1.47 to play.

Pacheco was then on hand to ice the game with a first down run to plunge Orchard Park into silence at the sight of another missed opportunity in Buffalo’s agonising push for a Super Bowl.

Allen had given the Bills a 17-13 lead at the break when he powered over for a two-yard touchdown run, his 18th rushing touchdown of the season, to cap a 12-play 75-yard drive that saw Shakir make an outstanding contested catch to convert on third-and-five.

It served as the perfect reply to Kansas City moving on top after Mahomes picked out a wide-open Kelce for a 22-yard touchdown, prompting his shirt-less brother Jason to celebrate momentarily with fans in the crowd.

Buffalo had struck first on the night when they rounded off their 14-play opening drive with a 27-yard field goal from Bass, to which the Chiefs replied through a 47-yard kick from Harrison Butker.

Allen then found the end zone on a five-yard scurry to make it 10-3 early in the second quarter after an 11-play march during which the Bills ran the ball nine times.

Butker followed up by reducing the deficit to 10-6 with a 29-yard field goal before the sides exchanged touchdowns late in the half, Buffalo leading at that stage before a frenetic second-half went the way of the Chiefs.