The game — and the Chiefs’ historic charge toward an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat — was slipping away Sunday night in Kansas City. 

Midway through the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bills were doing the unthinkable: Controlling the Chiefs in their house, where they don’t lose. 

The Bills, after a dodgy start, had found their footing and found it in their running game, which was controlling the Kansas City defense, dictating play. Buffalo’s lead running back James Cook was having a day. 

Buffalo had just taken a tenuous 22-21 lead, and there was Steve Spagnuolo, the 65-year-old Chiefs defensive coordinator, marching up and down the Kansas City sideline, urging his defensive players to clamp down on the run.