In a recreation that had all of the makings of an on the spot basic, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs outlasted the Buffalo Payments, 31-28, in one other thrilling AFC Championship showdown at Arrowhead Stadium. The victory marks Kansas Metropolis’s fifth AFC Championship up to now six years and sends them to the Tremendous Bowl for the third consecutive season.
After the sport, head coach Andy Reid praised his workforce’s resilience throughout Sunday’s back-and-forth affair.
“This got here proper right down to an inch, actually,” Reid mentioned. “If it was going to be forwards and backwards, whoever had the ball final was in all probability going to come back out within the lead and with the win. So, I’m happy with our guys battling like they battled.”
Whereas the 2 groups traded blows all through the afternoon, the turning level within the recreation got here from the Chiefs’ protection, which delivered two game-changing fourth-down stops within the fourth quarter. Buffalo had been excellent on fourth down, changing all 4 of their earlier makes an attempt, however the Chiefs got here by way of when it mattered most.
The primary and maybe most controversial cease got here on an important fourth-and-inches quarterback sneak by Payments’ quarterback Josh Allen. The Chiefs’ defensive position held agency, and after a assessment, the officers dominated Allen simply in need of the first-down marker.
Then, on the Payments’ remaining possession, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialed up a wonderfully timed blitz, forcing an incomplete move to provide the Chiefs offense again the ball.
“I’m at all times nervous at any time when the soccer is just not in my hand,” admitted quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the sport. “However, I’ve a lot belief in that protection. They’ve performed all of it 12 months. I do know that’s an excellent offense that they’re going up towards and Josh (Allen) has made a variety of nice performs all evening, all season lengthy, however I belief that (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) goes to name the fitting blitz or name the fitting protection and the fellows are going to execute the project.”
With lower than two minutes remaining, the Chiefs’ offense compelled the Payments to burn their remaining two timeouts. Mahomes then iced the sport with a clutch third-and-9 completion to operating again Samaje Perine for one remaining first down.
“Coach Reid trusted us,” Mahomes mentioned. “He trusted us rather a lot tonight, and we have been capable of go on the market and make a play occur.”
Mahomes as soon as once more proved why he’s one of the best quarterback within the league, placing on one final present in entrance of the Arrowhead crowd for this season. He completed with 245 passing yards, one landing by way of the air, and 43 dashing yards on 11 makes an attempt. He additionally added two essential dashing touchdowns as his dashing capability acted as the most important distinction maker within the recreation.
“They at all times give me choices to tug the ball and run it,” Mahomes defined. “They have been taking part in man protection a variety of the day, they usually have been simply placing a variety of consideration on Travis (Kelce). So, with them pushing that security and pushing their linebackers to Travis, it opened up completely different lanes for me to run. and I used to be capable of run the soccer and pull a few of these reads that I’ve had all season lengthy.”
The victory marks Mahomes’ seventeenth postseason win, persevering with to cement his legacy as one of many NFL’s best postseason performers. As for Reid and the remainder of the Chiefs, the ultimate goal stays clear: another win.
“What an excellent expertise, however we’re not performed,” Reid remarked. “We bought one other recreation towards an actual good Philadelphia Eagles workforce, and we’ve bought a variety of preparation to go earlier than we now have an opportunity to play them.“
