Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had strong first-half performances, and the Kansas City defense produced another masterpiece against Lamar Jackson and Baltimore, helping the Chiefs to a 17-10 win. Reaching the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. The AFC Championship Game is Sunday.
Kelce caught 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, and the 34-year-old is at his best when it really matters. In the process, Kelce broke Jerry Rice’s NFL career postseason reception record. He now has 156 points in 21 playoff games.
Kansas City will face San Francisco or Detroit in next month’s Super Bowl, and a win would make the Chiefs the first team to win back-to-back championships since the New England Patriots 19 years ago.
The emergence of Kelce’s partner Taylor Swift has made the Chiefs more attractive than before, but the performance on the field this season has been more blue-collar. Outside of Kelce, Mahomes doesn’t have the receiving playmaker he’s favored over the past few years.
Instead, defense was a big reason why Kansas City won the AFC West and ultimately the division title in back-to-back playoff games against Buffalo and Baltimore.
“[The Ravens] We were going to challenge us and guys stepped up and made plays,” Mahomes told CBS after the game. “We accept the challenge and we will do better.”
The Chiefs led 17-7 at halftime, with Justin Tucker’s 43-yard field goal with 2:34 remaining the only score of the second half. Baltimore went deep after that, and on third-and-9, Mahomes connected with Max Valdes-Scantling, one of his most maligned receivers, for 32 yards. Passed the ball and sealed the game.
Mahomes went 30-of-39 for 241 yards and a touchdown.
“We’ve been at a disadvantage the last few games, but we never felt like we were at a disadvantage,” Mahomes said. “We have a lot of guys on this team who know how to win. When the playoffs come, I know we’re going to get there.”
Jackson could win his second MVP after leading Baltimore to the league’s best record and point differential in the regular season, but the Ravens allowed a touchdown on Kansas City’s first two possessions and looked a little spooked at times since. .
Baltimore made undisciplined mistakes all game long, and Kansas City looked to be in its sixth straight conference title game appearance.
With the Ravens trailing by 10 points in the third quarter, rookie Zay Flowers caught a 54-yard pass from the Kansas City 10 before being flagged for teasing after the game. Moments later, he fumbled near the goal line and the Ravens ended up scoreless.
It was one of several frustrating moments for Baltimore fans heading into the AFC Championship Game for the first time since the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders in January 1971.
Jackson went 20-of-37 for 272 yards and a touchdown, but Baltimore never really capitalized on their advantage on the ground. Jackson had a 13-yard reception in the first half on a tip of his own, but he also fumbled twice, including forcing a pass in the end zone that blocked the ball with 6:45 left. . game.
Mahomes, meanwhile, completed his first 11 pass attempts, and although the Ravens essentially shut down Kansas City after that, the damage was done on a rainy day in Baltimore.
There was some unpleasant behavior before the game, including Ravens defensive back Arthur Mollett and a group of Kansas City players having to be separated.
The Chiefs then forced a 3-and-out on their first drive of the game and scored an 86-yard touchdown. Kelce caught a 13-yard pass from Mahomes at midfield on fourth-and-2. The tight end then beat All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
Jackson gave the answer in his own unique way. He broke free on a 21-yard rush as Baltimore went on a fourth-and-1 drive from its 34. The quarterback then evaded a sack by Leo Chenal, backed up a bit and launched a 30-yard score. Flowers scored, and he celebrated with his teammates doing a “swag surf” dance, just as Swift and Chiefs fans did during a recent game.
Kansas City was unaffected. Mahomes led the team 75 yards in 9:02 — Kelce made an acrobatic diving catch on his third pass — and Isiah Pacheco Capping off a 16-play run with a two-yard touchdown run.
The Chiefs actually missed an opportunity to extend their lead. A sack by Charles Omenihu forced a fumble on Jackson, giving Kansas City the ball at the Baltimore 33. But Kelce nearly got caught on third down, and Pacheco was stopped at the 13 on the ensuing fourth down.
After several personal fouls by Baltimore helped Kansas City drive through midfield late in the half, the Chiefs were tagged with back-to-back defensive penalties, the second of which capped Rashee Rice’s 33-yard run. Pass blocked. touchdown.
Kelce’s 9-yard pass set up Kansas City’s Harrison Butker 52-yard field goal to make it 17-7.
