The AFC Championship Game report card for the Chiefs: In a single word, Super
The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to Miami for Super Bowl LIV. So how bad could this week’s grades be?
The Chiefs got the job done against the Tennessee Titans after falling behind 10-0 early at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday.
The grades will reflect their tenacity.
KC Star of the Game
In the biggest game of his short NFL career, Patrick Mahomes could hardly have been better. Three touchdown passes, a dazzling 27-yard touchdown run, calm in the face of another deficit ... Mahomes did it all. He became the second Chiefs quarterback to win a conference championship, joining Len Dawson, who did it in 1962 (with the Dallas Texans), 1966 and 1969.
His 11 touchdown passes without an interception are the most for an NFL player at the start of his career. The Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship hopes ride with their young, dynamic quarterback. He looked up to the task again Sunday.
Reason to hope: Mahomes is just 24 years old.
Reason to mope: The start was slow, again. And the Chiefs didn’t finish cleanly. With a 35-17 lead, the Chiefs fell victim to a fake punt that led to a touchdown. On the first play of drive with about four minutes remaining, running back Damien Williams went out of bounds, saving the Titans a timeout. But a bigger Tennessee mistake, a pass interference call flag on Tremaine Brock, gave the Chiefs a first down.
Next: For first time in five decades, the Chiefs will play in the NFL’s final game. The Super Bowl is Feb. 2 in Miami and will televised by Fox.
Report Card
Passing offense: A
Mahomes was on target, as usual. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill was perfectly placed. He was well protected by the offensive line and finished 23 of 35 for 294 yards and a 120.4 passer rating. His final touchdown pass was a beauty: scrambling to his right, he spotted Sammy Watkins breaking free in the middle of the field. Mahomes dropped it in perfectly for the longest playoff touchdown pass of his career.
Rushing offense: A
Mahomes didn’t have a rushing attempt in the Chiefs’ loss at Tennessee, his first game back from the dislocated kneecap he suffered at Denver in Week 7. There’s been nothing wrong with his legs in the playoffs, though.
In both playoff games he’s been the Chiefs leading rusher. The 27-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown just before halftime is one of his greatest plays. On the drive that gave the Chiefs a two-score lead early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs kept it on the ground for 10 of the 13 plays. That was a battle of wills possession won by the Chiefs.
Also big in this game, the Chiefs’ didn’t commit a turnover. In their loss at Tennessee, Damien Williams lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. On Sunday, he scored a touchdown of his own.
Passing defense: A
The Chiefs got their first sack early in the fourth quarter. The pocket collapsed and Tanoh Kpassagnon got there first. Ryan Tannehill and the Titans were effective with play-action, and the Chiefs surrendered some pass defense to stop the rushing bull, Derrick Henry. That strategy paid off. Frank Clark finished the day with a sack. The Chiefs took over and went into victory formation.
Rushing defense: A
Wow. Henry finished with just 69 yards on 19 attempts. This after crushing opponents in the second half of the regular season, including the Chiefs, and the playoffs. The Chiefs threw bodies at Henry, whose longest run went for 13 yards. The Chiefs outgained Tennessee 112-85 on the ground and 404-295 for the game.
Biggest hit of the game? Daniel Sorensen on a Tannehill scramble.
Special teams: B
One error. The Titans converted a fake punt that kept alive the drive that resulted in a late touchdown. Otherwise a solid game. Mecole Hardman had a 35-yard return in the second quarter. Harrison Butker made all of his extra points and it was important that the Chiefs scored touchdowns and didn’t settle for field goals.
Coaching: A
Want to nit-pick the slow start? Go ahead. The Chiefs are AFC champions for the first time in five decades.
Andy Reid and staff, take a bow.
