The Kansas City Chiefs had lost Patrick Mahomes due to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game.
Then their defense and Chad Henne kept their Super Bowl hopes alive with a 22-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, which led them to the AFC championship game.
With its star defender reduced to a spectator, the Chiefs ‘often overlooked defense, opposed to Mahomes’ powerful attack, forced the Browns to kick in the final minutes. Then, his 35-year-old reserve showed some courage with a long run of third descent and completion of fourth descent to Tyreek Hill when Andy Reid decided to go ahead with just over a minute remaining, giving the Chiefs a first descent and allowing them to run out of clock.
“That’s why we love Big Red. It’s always on time,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said of the decision to go for the fourth downhill. “We always knew he had a game at the table.”
Mahomes had not played for 21 days since the Chiefs won the AFC seeded title in week 16, but he hardly wasted any time before leaving in the middle of the third quarter. He finished 21 of 30 for 255 yards and touchdowns passing and running.
Harrison Butker added three field goals for the Chiefs, who almost lost the 19-3 lead, but held on to become the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference championship games. They will face Buffalo Bills next Sunday.
Baker Mayfield shot for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Browns, who came from their first playoff victory since the 1994 season. But their inability to drive for the victory touchdown – they kicked in with 4:23 left of the game – prevented them from winning two playoff games in one season for the first time since 1950.