For this reason soccer followers are perplexed by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and annoyed with them persevering with to win.
Kansas Metropolis didn’t play its greatest recreation within the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs. Not even shut. And that’s not new. There have been many video games this season, and final season too, when the Chiefs weren’t nice and nonetheless received. Dynasties annoy followers usually, much more when these groups usually are not dominant.
The Chiefs discovered a technique to win in Saturday’s divisional-round recreation towards the Houston Texans, as they virtually at all times do. Regardless of the Texans having greater than twice as many yards as them late within the third quarter, the Chiefs nonetheless led. Then there was a questionable pointless roughness name on successful to Patrick Mahomes, one of some calls that had non-Chiefs followers screaming on social media, that led to a Travis Kelce landing and an eight-point lead. Everybody knew how it will play out after that.
The Chiefs received 23-14 and are going to the AFC championship recreation for the seventh straight season. They’ll host the winner of Sunday evening’s Baltimore Ravens-Buffalo Payments conflict.
The Chiefs maintain successful shut video games as a result of they do many issues very properly. Mahomes is already an all-time nice quarterback. Andy Reid is a improbable coach who added win No. 300 to his résumé, becoming a member of legends George Halas, Invoice Belichick and Don Shula within the 300-victory membership. The protection has been excellent every of the previous two seasons and was once more Saturday.
However that received’t cease followers of the opposite 31 groups from complaining about how Kansas Metropolis retains successful even when it appears it is always on the ropes.
Texans have a foul begin
The Texans wanted to play their greatest to beat the Chiefs. On the primary play, they gave up a 63-yard kickoff return, cornerback Kris Boyd took a 15-yard penalty for throwing his helmet after the play and he shoved particular groups coordinator Frank Ross when he bought to the sideline. Not precisely the proper begin Houston wanted.
The Chiefs solely bought a area objective out of that huge return. Kansas Metropolis didn’t get off to an awesome begin offensively, however the Texans didn’t benefit from it. The Chiefs’ protection had an excellent first half, shopping for time for the large play from the Chiefs’ offense that may inevitably come.
And it did. Travis Kelce bought open in the course of the sphere and Mahomes discovered him. He rumbled 49 yards to the Houston 6-yard line. A number of performs later, Kareem Hunt scored to present the Chiefs a 13-3 lead. It was the primary time all season Kelce had a play with greater than 20 yards after the catch, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats. Final season, Kelce got here alive within the playoffs, and he began this postseason with seven catches for 117 yards and a landing.
It was a reasonably typical Chiefs recreation this season. They hadn’t performed significantly properly on offense. That they had simply 123 yards at halftime, and 49 of it got here on Kelce’s catch-and-run. However additionally they didn’t make any essential errors, and their protection performed properly. And regardless of some torpid offense, Kansas Metropolis led 13-6 on the half.
Chiefs lengthen their lead
The Texans had a powerful drive to start out the second half. They needed to acquire 101 yards on offense to offset 19 yards of penalties on the drive. It lasted 15 performs and 10:24 on the clock and ended with a Joe Mixon landing. That gave the Texans some momentum, which was shortly wiped away when Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the additional level vast proper. Nonetheless, Houston trailed 13-12 and appeared very a lot within the recreation. However the Chiefs are laborious to beat.
At that time Houston was outgaining Kansas Metropolis 275-123. The Texans had outplayed the Chiefs however have been nonetheless trailing. It feels hopeless to these rooting towards the Chiefs once they don’t play properly they usually transfer on within the playoffs.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes celebrates throughout a win over the Houston Texans on Saturdat in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Picture by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Photos)
Kansas Metropolis began to place it away after that. There was the questionable name on successful towards Mahomes, and the Kelce landing. The Texans made a mistake on fourth-and-10, being indecisive earlier than going for it after which speeding a play that led to a sack. A foul punt led to good area place and a Chiefs drive that resulted in a area objective and an 11-point lead.
The Texans had a shot at a area objective contained in the two-minute warning to chop Kansas Metropolis’s result in eight factors, after the Chiefs’ eighth sack of the sport, however it was blocked and that sealed the win.
The Chiefs are two wins from making historical past. No workforce has ever received three straight Tremendous Bowls. Kansas Metropolis went 15-2 this season, together with one loss wherein they rested all their key gamers, and have a spot within the NFL’s remaining 4 once more. Sooner or later it doesn’t matter the way it seems or in the event that they’re enjoying their greatest. In all however just a few uncommon circumstances within the Mahomes period, they’ve at all times been adequate to win the largest video games.
Followers who don’t root for the Chiefs won’t prefer it, however they get to spend one other convention championship weekend watching Mahomes attempt to make it again to a different Tremendous Bowl.
Kansas Metropolis is on to the AFC championship recreation after a 23–14 victory over the Texans. It is the seventh straight AFC title recreation for the Chiefs.
Chiefs take a security
Houston will get two factors on fourth down with Chiefs punter Matt Araiza working out of the top zone for a security on fourth-and-15.
However solely 9 seconds stay after a 4-yard rush by Kareem Hunt and two kneeldowns by Patrick Mahomes.
Texans’ area objective blocked
Down by 11, Houston opts to kick a area objective on fourth-and-14. However Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 34-yard kick is blocked by Justin Reid. What a technique to present everybody that he is again within the recreation and never injured.
George Karlaftis with one other sack
Again to again sacks for the Chiefs’ protection. After the 2-minute warning, George Karlaftis will get to C.J. Stroud once more, tackling him for a 4-yard loss.
Chiefs sack C.J. Stroud once more
C.J. Stroud completes an 18-yard cross to Nico Collins, then follows up with an 8-yard throw to Xavier Hutchinson to maneuver Houston to the Kansas Metropolis 5-yard line.
Nevertheless, Felix Anudike-Uzomah breaks by for a sack and 8-yard loss on second-and-2. We’re on the 2-minute warning.
Stroud to Schultz for 18 yards
Dalton Schultz made an 18-yard catch on third-andby the left sideline. The play was dominated a catch on the sphere and was upheld after replay evaluate.
George Karlaftis makes one other play for the Chiefs
A George Karlaftis sack places the Texans in a second-and-16 gap on an pressing drive for the Texans.
Subject objective: Chiefs 23, Texans 12
Kansas Metropolis opts for a area objective after Xavier Worthy will get a 9-yard catch on third-and-10 from the Houston 18-yard line.
Harrison Butker’s 27-yard area objective makes it a two-possession recreation for the Texans with 4:38 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Kareem Hunt working robust
Kareem Hunt positive factors 23 yards on two carries to get the Chiefs contained in the crimson zone. Kansas Metropolis has a primary down on the Houston 18-yard line.
Chiefs get good area place
Kansas Metropolis will get robust area place after forcing Houston to punt deep in its personal territory. After a 34-yard punt by Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs take over on the Texans’ 45-yard line with 7:35 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Justin Reid seems to be OK
Justin Reid seems to be all proper after a sideline collision on third down. Trainers got here out to test on him and teammates surrounded him on the sphere.
Massive defensive cease by Kansas Metropolis
The Chiefs give you a defensive cease, forcing Houston right into a 3-and-out. Joe Mixon gained 4 yards on first down, however C.J. Stroud threw incomplete passes on the subsequent two performs.
Justin Reid seems to be harm after making a play on Nico Collins to drive an incompletion on third-and-6 from the Texans’ 11-yard line.
Chiefs go 3-and-out
The Texans’ protection will get a much-needed cease, forcing the Chiefs right into a 3-and-out after gaining just one yard.
Matt Araiza kicks a 36-yard punt to pin Houston again at its 7-yard line with 8:32 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Texans fail to transform on fourth down
Nick Bolton forces C.J. Stroud to do away with the ball early on a deep throw to Jared Wayne. However he cannot make the catch. Wayne was vast open, however the throw was behind him.
That was adopted by an incomplete cross to Dameon Pierce on third-and-10. The Texans decide to go for it on fourth down, however Stroud is sacked by George Karlaftis.
Kansas Metropolis takes over on downs at its 44-yard-line.
Patrick Mahomes’ flop
Patrick Mahomes tried to attract one other pointless roughness penalty on the Chiefs’ final drive, placing just a little further mustard on a shove by Henry To’oTo’o as he ran out of bounds.
Contemplating how the officers have known as hits on him, it is in all probability troublesome to fault Mahomes for attempting to attract one other flag. However he did not get it this time.
Landing: Chiefs 20, Texans 12
Travis Kelce grabbed an 18-yard reception to get Kansas Metropolis into the crimson zone.
Three performs later (after Mahomes tried to attract a penalty by falling down on the sideline), Mahomes and Kelce join once more for an 11-yard acquire and a landing.
Chiefs convert on fourth-and-1
Patrick Mahomes’ cross to Noah Grey on third-and-4 goes for 3 yards, simply in need of the primary down. On fourth-and-1 from the Houston 37-yard line, the Chiefs decide to go for it and Kareem Hunt positive factors 3 yards.
One other Texans penalty on Patrick Mahomes hit
For the second time on this recreation, the Texans get known as for a questionable pointless roughness penalty upon hitting Patrick Mahomes.
This time, Henry To’oTo’o is flagged for successful on Mahomes as he is sliding.
Taylor Swift chatting with Caitlin Clark
Absolutely, Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark have been discussing Travis Kelce’s two catches on this drive for a mixed 27 yards.
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