Chiefs' chase for perfection is over, but pursuit of a 3rd straight Super Bowl title continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid made it perfectly clear what he thought about the end to his team's pursuit of perfection.

"I don't really care about all that crap,” Reid said Monday, less than 24 hours after the Bills beat Kansas City 30-21 in the latest down-to-the-wire showdown of AFC rivals, which also ended the Chiefs' 15-game winning streak going back to last season.

“I just try to go forward," Reid said, "and I try to exhaust what team we're playing, and I present that to the players that way, and I expect them to do the same. So I don't really hear a lot of talk from them, or that they care too much about that.”

The reality is that the Chiefs (9-1) merely dropped to ... first place in the AFC. As in, they still have the best record and control their own fate for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and lone first-round bye. All that changed was the margins — they are now just a half-game ahead of Buffalo (9-2) and do not have the tiebreaker over one of their regular postseason opponents.

As for the pursuit of perfect, well, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sounded similar to Reid after the defeat.

“I'm not going to say we were relaxed. But at the same time, I feel like we were just coming away with these wins at the end of games,” Mahomes said. "And I think it's going to spark us to have more urgency, especially with the offense.

“The hope is this is a spark for us, that we can play better football throughout the rest of the season and into the postseason.”

There's reason to believe the Chiefs will do that, and two of them are likely to return this week. The first reason is Isiah Pacheco, their all-energy running back, who has been sidelined since Week 2 with an ankle injury. The second reason is Charles Omenihu, who has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL sustained in last season's playoffs.

Both returned to practice last week. Both could see the field as soon as Sunday at Carolina.

“You got to dig in, man. These should hurt. You spend a lot of time in preparation for these games. You've got to reach inside, as coaches and players,” Reid said. “You can't just say, ‘Everything is going to be OK.’ That's not how this works. You have to dig in and check the ego at the door and do some self-evaluation there.”

The Chiefs passing game continues to trend upward, even if Mahomes threw two picks against Buffalo, as DeAndre Hopkins gets more involved in the offense. Mahomes simply needs the time to find someone open downfield against deep shell coverages.

Ahem, Mahomes needs time to find someone open downfield. The offensive line struggled against the Bills, and the left tackle position continued to be a particularly big problem against Von Miller and Co.

Chamarri Conner had seven tackles and an interception in another nice performance in the defensive backfield, though even his day was far from perfect. The key for him is consistency from play to play as he fills in for the injured Jaylen Watson.

While the defensive line buttoned up the Buffalo run game, it was unable to sack Bills quarterback Josh Allen. And its inability to get to the quarterback has been a season-long issue. They have 19 sacks, better only than three teams in the NFL.

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah hurt his hand at the end of the Buffalo game but continued to play. He may be losing snaps regardless to Omenihu should the veteran pass rusher be ready to go this week in Carolina.

30 — That's the number of points it took to finally beat Kansas City. It was the most allowed by the Super Bowl champions since a 41-31 victory over Tampa Bay on Oct. 2, 2022.

The Chiefs visit the Panthers on Sunday. They are 11-point favorites to win on the road, according to BetMGM.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt is unable to score as he leaps short of the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles away from Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) slips past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (13) to score on a 26-yard run during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is requesting nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and other natural disasters, telling lawmakers that the money is “urgently needed.”

The letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson comes as lawmakers meet during a lame-duck session to finish key priorities before making way for a new Congress and the incoming Trump administration. Biden said he has met firsthand with those harmed by the storms and he heard what residents and businesses needed from the federal government.

"Additional resources are critical to continue to support these communities,” Biden said.

The largest share of the money, about $40 billion, would go to the main disaster relief fund at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The fund helps with debris removal, repairing public infrastructure and providing financial assistance to survivors.

Biden said the fund would face a shortfall this budget year without additional money. He said that would not only affect the agency's ability to provide lifesaving assistance to survivors, but also would slow recovery efforts from prior disasters.

An additional $24 billion would help farmers that have experienced crop or livestock losses, and $12 billion would go toward helping communities recover through block grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Some $8 billion more would help rebuild and repair highways and bridges in more than 40 states and territories. The administration is also seeking $4 billion for long-term water system upgrades to mitigate future damage from natural disasters.

The Small Business Administration has run out of money for a program that provides low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits and homeowners trying to rebuild after a disaster. Biden is seeking $2 billion for that program. Several other agencies would also receive emergency funds if Congress agrees to the full request.

Lawmakers were expecting a hefty number from the administration. Johnson, R-La., said Congress will evaluate the request and “we’ll make sure we deliver for the hurricane victims and the people that have suffered from that.”

Johnson had also visited western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene to assess the damage. At the time, he said Congress would act in a bipartisan fashion to help communities recover, but he also said it would be ”the appropriate amount that the federal government should do.”

With many Republicans campaigning on reducing federal spending, there could be some debate about portions of Biden's request. The federal government doesn't help with every disaster. It generally gets involved only if the needs are above the ability of a community or state to handle.

Republicans are also outraged that a FEMA employee directed workers helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting Donald Trump's presidential campaign. The agency's leader, Administrator Deanne Criswell, said the employee was fired and the directive was a clear violation of the agency's core values to help people regardless of political affiliation.

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to hear Wednesday from the heads of several of the government agencies that would receive funding through Biden's request. It's possible that emergency aid could be attached to any spending bill designed to keep federal agencies operating after current funding expires Dec. 20.

Biden noted that Congress had provided more than $90 billion in aid after Hurricane Katrina nearly two decades ago, and more than $50 billion after Hurricane Sandy in 2013. He urged Congress to take “immediate action.”

“Just as the Congress acted then, it is our sworn duty now to deliver the necessary resources to ensure that everyone in communities reeling from Hurricanes Helene and Milton — and those still recovering from previous disasters — have the Federal resources they need and deserve,” Biden wrote.

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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

FILE - With President Joe Biden aboard, Marine One surveys areas affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida, from Tampa to St. Petersburg, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks following a briefing by federal, state, and local officials in St. Pete Beach, Fla., during a tour of areas affected by Hurricane Milton, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Buck Paulk, property manager of Shiloh Pecan Farm, after he spoke at the farm in Ray City, Ga., Oct. 3, 2024, as part of his trip to see areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Looking on at right is Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden, right, greets people in Keaton Beach, Fla., Oct. 3, 2024, during his tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)