James Cook has been the Bills' key player through three quarters, and his second touchdown of the game might end up being the play of the night.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook goes for a 33-yard rush against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

The Bills ran the option, and QB Josh Allen pitched it to James Cook. Cook looked dead in the water upon receiving the pitch as the Chiefs defense converged around him, but somehow he found just enough daylight to lunge for the end zone. Cook’s outstretched arm broke the plane before his knee hit, and the Bills had scored the game-tying touchdown.

The Buffalo Bills are in the AFC title game for the second time in the last five seasons. But if Josh Allen had been a bit more overzealous in a critical goal-to-go moment against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round last Sunday, Buffalo would probably be sitting at home right now.

James Cook has been a breakout star for the Bills this season and now it's time for Buffalo to give him what he deserves.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completes a 32-yard pass to Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

James Cook led Buffalo's backfield to 210 rushing yards against a Denver defense that ranked third-best in the NFL at stopping the run.

Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, James Cook scored on a 5-yard run and finished with 120 yards rushing, and the Buffalo Bills leaned on a balanced offensive attack in a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a wild-card playoff game.

Cook, Davis, and Johnson have been a three-headed monster for the Buffalo offense. Their play against KC can determine if the Bills can head to Super Bowl LIX

Here are three keys to a Bills win vs. the Chiefs: Mahomes is good enough in the pocket that he can beat you even when everyone is covered. He’s great at buying an extra second or two and finding someone uncovered down the field, and in the playoffs, tight end Travis Kelce has often been that person.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense just had an encouraging showing against the Houston Texans. Particularly as a pass rush and in the secondary, the Chiefs swung mo