The Kansas City Chiefs built a defense and signed a reserve quarterback who was good enough to preserve a victory.
Now, are they good enough to win on their own?
The Chiefs, who lost Patrick Mahomes in a concussion in the third quarter of Sunday’s divisional round win over Cleveland, may have to find out with their hopes of consecutive AFC titles and a repeat of the Super Bowl at stake.
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Mahomes maintained the league’s concussion protocol on Monday and coach Andy Reid declined to speculate on when he will be released.
“Because of the protocol, it’s a no-brainer,” explained Reid of the decision, which is not in his hands, but in the hands of the team’s doctors and outside experts. “You don’t even have to think about it. You just move on. You have an answer if he’s there and if he’s not there. I can’t answer you medically. I just don’t know.”
If Mahomes is unable to play, 35-year-old newspaperman Chad Henne will debut against Buffalo in the AFC title game on Sunday.
Henne took over when Mahomes suffered the concussion with the Chiefs leading 19-10, and he ended the race by taking Kansas City to a field goal. But more memorable will be the two moves he made in the fourth period, when the Chiefs tried to maintain a 22-17 lead and lose time for victory.
On the third and 14th in his own territory, Henne staggered to the left and found some open space, then sacrificed his body by diving for the first descent marker. Henne came soon, and when Reid chose to go after instead of punt, the coach put the game in his hands by calling a short pass to Tyreek Hill that gave Kansas City a first down.
“I thought Chad played with great composure, especially for this situation,” said Reid, “and going back to the last series, the big race was the sauce. He dusted off those old legs, made them move around a little bit, appeared short hair, came back and did a good bid for Tyreek to win him. “
This launch would not have been possible without a great defense of the Kansas City defense.
After allowing the Browns to convert their fourth loss with 5:30 left, they pushed Nick Chubb and forced Baker Mayfield to launch an incomplete failure. And when they faced Kareem Hunt for a defeat in the ensuing third-down pass play, the Browns were forced to punt at 4:23 am of the game.
They never had another chance with the ball.
“They trust each other to do that,” said Reid. “I would prefer it not to be like that, great leaders, but the end result is that you try to win the football game and you do it in the best way you can against the best competition in this league. Sometimes you have to reach out down, get a little deeper, and really, whatever the term, get in there and use that intestinal force to overcome the hump. “
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WHAT’S WORKING
The passing game continued to buzz even when Mahomes left the game. Henne made 6 of 8 for 66 yards, although he made a bad decision in an end zone interception. It helps to have tight end Travis Kelce (eight receptions, 109 yards and one TD) and Tyreek Hill (eight receptions, 110 yards and the most important first downhill in the game) helping him.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The Chiefs will need to put more pressure on Josh Allen of the Bills than on Mayfield, who liked to stand in a comfortable pocket most of the game. The only layoff Kansas City received came from L’Jarius Sneed in a cornerback blitz.
STOCK
The Chiefs expected to have Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the first time since he suffered a sprained ankle in week 15, but he was unable to go. Darrel Williams took the day off, loading 13 times in 78 yards against a robust Browns front.
STOCK DOWN
Harrison Butker received mixed reviews for his kicking performance. He lost an extra point in the Chiefs’ first touchdown, then missed a chip shot field goal later in the game – four points that would have taken a lot of pressure in the final minutes. But he also set a franchise playoff record by hitting a 50-yard marker before the break.
INJURED
Mahomes was not the only player to suffer a concussion on Sunday. Defender Bashaud Breeland left the game in the second half, and with reserve Rashad Fenton out due to an ankle injury, the Chiefs’ depth is limited in the defensive field.
KEY NUMBER
16 – Reid drew with Chuck Noll for the fifth biggest post-season win for a coach in NFL history. Two more wins would move him ahead of Joe Gibbs for fourth place, leaving only Bill Belichick, Tom Landry and Don Shula ahead of him.
NEXT STEPS
The Chiefs have time off on Tuesday before returning to training on Wednesday, at which point they hope to have a clearer idea whether Mahomes will be available against Buffalo on Sunday.