Leodis McKelvin donnie henderson

Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) is greeted by defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson after a play during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

(Joed Viera | Special to syracuse.com)

Orchard Park, N.Y. — The play ended up swinging the game.

The Buffalo Bills were leading the Kansas City Chiefs 13-10 midway through the fourth quarter when Bills punt returner Leodis McKelvin fielded Dustin Colquitt's 53-yard punt at Buffalo's 31-yard line. As he tried to turn it up field, Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman swatted the ball out of his hands, and the Chiefs recovered the fumble.

McKelvin's first thought?

"Oh (expletive), I fumbled," said McKelvin, who also plays cornerback for the Bills. "(I say), I got to get (back) out on the field. I mean what are you supposed to do in that situation right now? You fumble the ball, you fumble the ball. As a defensive player, (getting back on the field is) what I do. That's why I play. So I'm going to get out there and do whatever I got to do to get us off the field. Especially in that situation, they're already in the red zone. Either I'm going to force a three-and-out or I'm going to get the ball back. That's point, blank, period."

The Bills didn't force a three-and-out or a turnover, though. Instead, the Chiefs scored a touchdown and took their first lead of the game, a 17-13 lead they did not surrender for the rest of the afternoon.

"(Expletive) happens," McKelvin said. "(Expletive) happens. Got to move on to the next game. That's what it is."

But if you think McKelvin didn't take his fumble seriously, think again.

"If you (expletive) up on any kind of thing you've got going on ... this is my job. It's my job. I take this (expletive) to heart."

McKelvin's fumble wasn't the only squandered opportunity for the Bills, who had six points on four trips to the red zone and had numerous chances to put the Chiefs away.

"I mean, (expletive), we had opportunities. You know what I'm saying? ... You know, we put ourselves in great field position. We had to be able to go out and score and our defense is supposed to be able to go out there and stop. Turnovers happen in the game. (Expletive), look at that (expletive) happened to me. That happened to me. As a defense, we supposed to go out there and get off the field. Either force a three-and-out or get off the field."

For McKelvin, who has been with the Bills since 2008, the missed opportunity to improve to 6-3 and position themselves for a playoff run feels familiar. He hasn't lost any confidence in his team but admits it's frustrating.

"I mean that's what y'all say," McKelvin said. "We're supposed to be getting over the hump but we're not. I feel like we're a great team. I feel like we're a great team we just have to minimize our mistakes and go out there and play football. We're a great (expletive) team. I feel confident in the guys I'm playing with, the guys that block for me, the guys on the offensive line, the guys running the ball, the guys throwing the ball, the guys catching the ball. You know, we're going to go out next game and it's going to be trouble."

Now the Bills play on a short week against the Miami Dolphins, who have the same 5-4 record. There's no time to get caught up in this game.

"I ain't lose no sleep, man. (Expletive), take that home, go to sleep, wake up the next morning ready to go. (Expletive), it's time to go out and play against the Dolphins. (Expletive), we're going to go out and beat their (expletive). Point, blank, period."