NFL Champ Chiefs Overcome Mahomes Injury To Advance
Faizan Hashmi Published January 18, 2021 | 08:40 AM
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2021 ) :Reigning NFL champion Kansas City withstood a third-quarter concussion that sidelined star quarterback Patrick Mahomes to defeat Cleveland 22-17 on Sunday, moving one victory from a Super Bowl return.
Mahomes, last year's Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, completed 21-of-30 passes for 255 yards while throwing for one touchdown and running for another before exiting early in the Chiefs' home playoff triumph.
"We're one team, one heartbeat -- we play for one another," said Chiefs receiver Tyrann Mathieu. "When any of our teammates go down, we all step up for one another." Kansas City will entertain the Buffalo Bills, whom they beat 26-17 in October, in next Sunday's AFC Championship game with the winner advancing to the NFL title spectacle on February 7 at Tampa, Florida.
"Great team. Got playmakers all over the place," Mathieu said. "We've got a challenge in front of us next week." Mahomes' status for next week remains uncertain.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into New Orleans to face the Drew Brees-lead Saints in a later NFC playoff game. The winners visit chilly Green Bay next Sunday to face another veteran quarterback, Packers star Aaron Rodgers, for the other Super Bowl spot.
The Chiefs seized a 19-3 half-time lead but momentum swung in the second half after Harrison Butker missed a field goal attempt and Baker Mayfield marched the Browns 77 yards and flipped a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry to lift Cleveland within nine points.
On Kansas City's next possession, Mahomes was slammed down on a run by Browns linebacker Mack Wilson and left the game for good with a concussion, replaced by reserve Chad Henne.
The Chiefs added a 33-yard Butker field goal for a 22-10 lead, but the Browns responded by marching 75 yards on 18 plays in 8:17, converting on two fourth-down situations before Kareem Hunt's 3-yard touchdown run pulled them within the final margin.
The Chiefs drove within field goal range but Cleveland's Karl Joseph intercepted Henne in the end zone.
Kansas City forced the Browns to punt and Henne scrambled 13 yards to set up a fourth down and inches conversion play.
"HenneThingIsPossible," Mahomes tweeted after the victory.
Looking like they would try to lure the Browns into an offside penalty, Chiefs coach Andy Reid instead called for a Henne pass to Tyreek Hill and he completed the toss for five yards and a first down and Kansas city ran out the clock from there.
"That's why we love Big Red (Reid)," Mathieu said. "He's our spirit warrior out here. We know he always has a play under the table." The Chiefs opened with a 10-play, 75-yard march capped by a Mahomes 1-yard touchdown run 5:49 into the game, but the conversion kick failed.
With three consecutive playoff game rushing touchdowns, Mahomes matched Steve Young for the NFL record by a quarterback.
Cleveland halved Kansas City's lead on Cody Parkey's 46-yard field goal, matching his longest of the season.
But the Chiefs answered with a 75-yard drive and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce for a 13-3 Kansas City lead early in the second quarter.
The Chiefs, whose league-best 14-2 regular-season record earned a first-round bye and home-field playoff advantage, added a 50-yard Butker field goal.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
3 hours ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
1 day ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
2 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
2 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
2 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
3 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
4 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
8 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
9 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
9 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
12 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
15 days ago