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Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are friends. Get over it: A history of their rivalry and friendship

Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·7 min read

Josh Allen is hoping the third time's a charm.

The Buffalo Bills quarterback has been knocked out of the playoffs twice by counterpart Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. But this time they'll meet in Highmark Stadium.

The Divisional Round game at 6:30 p.m. Sunday will be Mahomes' first true road playoff game, adding intrigue to a highly-anticipated duel between the superstars that's already included "13 seconds," the Kadarius Toney offsides and "wildest f---ing call I've ever seen".

Here's what to know about the Allen-Mahomes rivalry that's becoming the NFL's best since Tom Brady-Peyton Manning.

What is Josh Allen's record against Patrick Mahomes?

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are 3-3 against each other, including the postseason. Allen is 3-1 head-to-head in the regular season but 0-2 versus Mahomes in the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, hugs with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, hugs with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Are Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes friends?

Yes.

Allen told reporters in 2022 that he first hung out with Mahomes outside of football at the Masters golf tournament. Mahomes also texted and FaceTimed Allen to meet up at F1 in Miami.

"I know people want us to kind of hate each other for what we do and who we play for and how many times we've played against each other," Allen said. "But, it's hard to hate such a good dude."

Earlier this year, Allen said Mahomes still owes him from a friendly bet after Allen's alma mater, Wyoming, defeated Mahomes' alma mater, Texas Tech in the college football season opener.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts with Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts with Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

What did Patrick Mahomes say to Josh Allen in outburst about refs?

The Bills won the most recent matchup against the Chiefs when Kadarius Toney was flagged for offsides, which negated his stunning throwback touchdown from Travis Kelce that would've given the Chiefs the lead late in the fourth quarter in Week 14. Buffalo held on for a 20-17 win, and Kansas City was furious with the call. Mahomes blasted the referees with a tantrum on the sideline, during his postgame handshake with Allen and after the game to reporters. A TV camera caught Mahomes telling Allen "wildest f---ing call I've ever seen. Offensive offsides on that play, man. F---ing terrible."

Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady pose for a photo before The Match VI.
Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady pose for a photo before The Match VI.

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes were teammates in The Match golf exhibition

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes haven't always been adversaries. They teamed up to take on Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers in an all-quarterback iteration of The Match golf event in 2022. Rodgers made a birdie putt on the 12th hole to give the veteran quarterback team the victory at in the televised exhibition at Wynn Las Vegas.

Bills vs. Chiefs history with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes

Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard park, N.Y., Monday Oct. 19, 2020. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard park, N.Y., Monday Oct. 19, 2020. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Oct. 19, 2020: Chiefs 26, Bills 17

Rookie first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a huge game with 161 yards rushing. Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns to Travis Kelce and became the fastest quarterback to reach 90 touchdown passes, doing it in 37 games and passing Dan Marino's mark of 40 games. Kansas City dominated time of possession by more than 15 minutes and ran for 245 yards. Josh Allen had his lowest passing yardage total and completion percentage of the season. It was the second straight loss for the Bills, who were on a short week after losing 42-16 to the Tennessee Titans in a game that was pushed back due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the Titans. There were no fans in attendance in Orchard Park due to the pandemic.

  • Josh Allen: 14/27, 122 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 8 carries, 42 yards

  • Patrick Mahomes: 21/26, 225 yards, 2 TDs; 10 carries, 36 yards, 1 fumble

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs stands on the field after the AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 38-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs stands on the field after the AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 38-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Jan. 24, 2021: Chiefs 38, Bills 24, AFC Championship

Patrick Mahomes carved up Buffalo's secondary and the defending Super Bowl champions advanced to their second straight Super Bowl. Travis Kelce finished with 13 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Tyreek Hill added nine catches for 172 yards, becoming the first duo in NFL history with consecutive games of at least 100 yards receiving each in a single postseason. It was the Bills' first AFC title game since beating the Chiefs at home on Jan. 1, 1994. They had won 11 of 12 games since losing to Kansas City in Week 6. Josh Allen's frustration boiled over with 3:19 to go, when Allen was getting sacked by Tanoh Kpassagnon. Alex Okafor finished off the tackle, and Allen pitched the ball in his face in anger. Offensive linemen Jon Feliciano and Dion Dawkins rushed in and leveled Okafor, resulting in a flood of offsetting personal foul penalties. Kansas City lost 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two weeks later in Super Bowl LV.

  • Josh Allen: 28/48, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 7 carries, 88 yards

  • Patrick Mahomes: 29/38, 325 yards, 3 TDs; 5 carries, 5 yards

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills leaps over the defense of L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of a game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills leaps over the defense of L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of a game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Oct. 10, 2021: Bills 38, Chiefs 20

Josh Allen hurdled a defender, finished with four total touchdowns, Micah Hyde returned an interception for a touchdown off Patrick Mahomes, and the Bills won a rematch of the AFC championship. Allen completed seven passes in the first half but they went for 219 yards and two scores. Emmanuel Sanders had two TD catches for the Bills. Buffalo had two picks off Mahomes, who also lost a fumble for three truvnoers.

  • Josh Allen: 15/26, 315 yards, 3 TDs; 11 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD

  • Patrick Mahomes: 33/54, 272 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT; 8 carries, 61 yards, 1 fumble lost

Bills quarterback Josh Allen heads off the field after a 42-36 overtire loss to the Chiefs knocked them out of the playoffs.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen heads off the field after a 42-36 overtire loss to the Chiefs knocked them out of the playoffs.

Jan. 23, 2022: Chiefs 42, Bills 36 OT, AFC Divisional Round

It was one of the greatest NFL playoff games ever played. There were 25 points scored and three lead changes over the final two minutes of regulation, a field goal as time expired forced overtime and Kansas City won the overtime coin toss and marched for the game-winning touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce.

Josh Allen threw a go-ahead touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 to Gabriel Davis with 1:54 left in regulation. Patrick Mahomes responded with a 64-yard touchdown to Tyreek Hill as the Chiefs retook the lead. Davis made another touchdown grab, his playoff record fourth TD catch of the game, with 13 seconds left in regulation. Buffalo elected to send the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, which didn't take any time off the clock. Mahomes completed passes to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce and Harrison Butker made a 49-yard field goal with no time remaining. It was the Bills' ninth straight road playoff loss and second straight year Buffalo was eliminated from the playoffs by Kansas City.

  • Josh Allen: 27/37, 329 yards, 4 TDs; 11 carries, 68 yards, 1 fumble

  • Patrick Mahomes: 33/44, 378 yards, 3 TDs; 7 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD

Oct. 16, 2022: Bills 24, Chiefs 20

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)

Josh Allen threw the go-ahead touchdown to Dawson Knox with 1:04 left as Buffalo won at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium less than nine months after its heartbreaking overtime playoff loss. Allen had a stretch of 13 straight completions in the game. The Bills halted Mahomes' bid for a game-winning drive. Cornerback Taron Johnson jumped a pass intended for Skyy Moore for an interception with 51 seconds remaining.

  • Josh Allen: 27/40, 329 yards, 3 TDs; 12 carries, 32 yards, 1 fumble lost

  • Patrick Mahomes: 25/40, 338 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 4 carries, 21 yards

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Dec. 10, 2023: Bills 20, Chiefs 17

This Bills win kickstarted a six-game winning streak that has spanned the regular season and opening round of the playoffs. It made winning the division and hosting Sunday's divisional game possible. The victory almost didn't happen. Patrick Mahomes completed a pass to Travis Kelce, who lateraled the ball across the field to Kadarius Toney for a 49-yard go-ahead touchdown with just more than a minute left. The score was called back by an offside penalty on Toney. Kansas City instead turned the ball over on downs to end the game and the Chiefs were furious with the penalty call.

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes stats head-to-head

Josh Allen: 134/220 (60.9%), 15 TDs, 3 INT; 59 carries, 321 yards (5.4 avg.), 2 TDs, 2 fumbles, 1 fumble lost

Patrick Mahomes: 166/245 (67.8%), 13 TDs, 5 INT; 35 carries, 200 yards (5.7 avg.), 1 TD, 2 fumbles, 1 fumble lost

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Chiefs history in the Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes era