The Chiefs kicked off the NFL’s divisional spherical with a 23-14 win over the Texans to advance to subsequent Sunday’s AFC Championship Sport.
Listed here are three takeaways from Kansas Metropolis’s seventh consecutive divisional-round win.
Knee-jerk response: The Chiefs can maintain getting away with it
Trying on the groups’ stats, one would assume the Texans gained. Simply. Houston was 10-of-17 on third downs — in comparison with Kansas Metropolis’s 4-of-11 mark. The Texans gained 336 yards whereas holding the Chiefs to 212, and so they had a considerable time-of-possession benefit, 33:26-26:34.
However but once more, Kansas Metropolis gained ugly. It hasn’t been simple for the Chiefs, who’ve 11 one-possession wins this season. Nonetheless, they seemingly all the time do sufficient to get by.
They may be the least convincing 16-win group in NFL historical past, however with one of many league’s finest defenses and three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes guiding the offense, they’ll simply journey into a 3rd consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
The Lions (15-2), Eagles (15-3), Ravens (13-5) and Payments (14-4) cross the attention check with increased marks, however it could be unwise to discredit Kansas Metropolis’s possibilities. Regardless of not often wanting just like the dominant pressure that it has been all through their dynastic run, the Chiefs are solely two wins away from one other championship. If we had been in Kansas Metropolis, we would clear our schedules for the Monday after the Tremendous Bowl. That get together will final all night time.
Sport MVP: Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce
The all-time playoff receptions chief had his finest sport of the 12 months on the excellent time. Kelce completed Kansas Metropolis’s win with seven receptions, 117 yards and a landing. It was his most receiving yards in a playoff sport since Kansas Metropolis’s 2020 Tremendous Bowl loss to the Buccaneers and solely his second 100-yard receiving sport this season.
Afterward, Mahomes spoke with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, who requested about Kelce coming by way of within the playoff setting.
“You realize 8-7 goes to indicate up at any time when it is a big-time second,” Mahomes stated. “Everyone was asking, ‘The place’s Travis Kelce?’ He confirmed the world the place he is at.”
Quote of the sport: “Oh, come on!”
ESPN “Monday Evening Soccer” commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman had been incredulous after a doubtful third-quarter penalty towards the Texans.
Mahomes slid late on a quarterback scramble as Texans defensive deal with Folorunso Fatukasi and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o converged on him. They had been concerned in a helmet-to-helmet collision simply above Mahomes, which drew a flag from officers.
“Oh, come on!” an exasperated Troy Aikman shouted in disgust as head referee Clay Martin known as pointless roughness on To’oTo’o.
