Three turnovers by the Bills offense kept it a closer game than it should have been, but a strong defensive takeaway effort by Buffalo coupled with solid rushing from Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch lifted the Bills to a 16-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

With Buffalo’s offense again struggling to stay on the field, it was the defense that made the plays down the stretch with four second half interceptions including one with the Chiefs threatening to take the lead with under three minutes remaining.

Down 16-10 the Chiefs put one of their longest drives of the game together marching down to the Bills 21-yard line with 2:24 left on the clock. But after a dropped pass by Chris Chambers at the Buffalo one-yard line on 3rd-and-10, a Matt Cassel pass on 4th-and-10 intended for Chambers was tipped by Bryan Scott and intercepted by Jairus Byrd at the Buffalo five-yard line.

The game was thought to be over, but with the Bills unable to convert a third down on their possession after the Byrd takeaway, the Chiefs got the ball back for one last ditch chance to win. However, Matt Cassel’s Hail Mary pass as time expired was intercepted in the end zone by George Wilson.

The Bills had a chance to put the game away midway through the third quarter, but Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted in the end zone on a second-and-three from the Chiefs five-yard line. Buffalo’s defense would quickly force a three-and-out getting the ball back.

Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson pounded out 25 yards on the drive, but it stalled at the Chiefs six-yard line, forcing the Bills to settle for a 24-yard field goal and a 13-3 lead.

The Chiefs had a quick response, as Jamaal Charles took advantage of a gaping hole on 1st-and-10 from his own 24 and sprinted 76 yards to the end zone to pull Kansas City to within three (13-10) late in the third.

Buffalo’s offense could not sustain drives even against the league’s 31st ranked defense converting just three of their 12 third down opportunities.

Again the defense would deliver a big play as Paul Posluszny caught a deflected pass intended for Chris Chambers on a 3rd-and-3 play returning it to the Chiefs’ 35-yard line. The Buffalo offense however, could only move into field goal range, but Lindell’s 36-yard field goal put the Bills up 16-10 with eight minutes left to play.

Buffalo’s defense set the tone early sending the Chiefs three-and-out on their opening drive. Following what looked to be a costly turnover, the Bills defense would come up with a big play. Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked and fumbled inside his own 10-yard line and Kansas City recovered setting up 1st-and-goal at the Buffalo nine.

After three straight carries by Jamaal Charles got the Chiefs to the one-yard line, Kansas City chose to go for it on fourth and goal. Matt Cassel ran a bootleg out to the left, but Aaron Schobel beat him to the corner dragging him down for a sack and turnover on downs to keep the game scoreless.

The Bills offense then turned in a big play on the first play of their ensuing possession as Marshawn Lynch reversed his field on 1st-and-10 from his own eight-yard line, got a great block from Fitzpatrick and rumbled 47 yards to the Chiefs 45.

Fitzpatrick then hooked up with Shawn Nelson for a 17-yard gain to move the Bills to the Chiefs 23. Three plays later Fitzpatrick hit Terrell Owens on a crossing pattern and Owens did the rest ducking inside the right front pylon for a nine-yard touchdown play.

It was Owens’ 146th career score putting him in sole possession of fourth place on the NFL’s all-time touchdown list.

The Chiefs drove deep into Buffalo territory on the next series, but Jairus Byrd and Paul Posluszny teamed up for a big stop on a third-and-three at the Bills five-yard line, holding Chris Chambers to a two-yard gain on a receiver screen to force a 21-yard field goal attempt. Kansas City was only able to cut the Buffalo lead to 7-3 with 10:25 left in the first half.

The Bills would answer with a field goal drive of their own as Fred Jackson accounted for 43 of the 59 yards gained before Rian Lindell put a 41-yard attempt through the uprights for a 10-3 Bills advantage with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter.

Buffalo wraps up their division slate next Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium when they play host to New England for a 1 pm kickoff.