Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City made up a 0:24 deficit against the Houston guests shortly after the start of the second quarter and clearly won the game 51:31. The chiefs are now in the American Football Conference (AFC) championship game for the second time in a row. Green Bay returned to the National Football Conference (NFC) final for the first time in four years, beating Seattle 28:23.
The Chiefs will once again host the Tennessee surprise team at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday. The Nashville outsider, the last team to slip into the AFC play-off, prevailed 28:12 on Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens, the best team in the basic round. The Titans had already eliminated defending champion New England Patriots in the first round. Green Bay, number two of the NFC, is traveling to the showdown for the top seeded 49ers, who sent the Minnesota Vikings on vacation with 27:10.
Two quarters, two faces
In Kansas City, after the first 15 minutes, it looked like the Texans would be hosting the AFC conference final in a week, rather than the chiefs. Led by quarterback Deshaun Watson and with the vigorous help of the chiefs, who not only allowed a touchdown after a blocked punt, but also in person from Tyreek Hill after a punt of the Texans dropped the ball, Houston drew 24: 0.
In the second quarter, however, the tide turned spectacularly in favor of the hosts. Young star Mahomes and his offensive turned the game around with four touchdowns and subsequently pulled away. Tight end alone Travis Kelce caught three Mahomes touchdown passes in the second 15 minutes, setting a new record. Running back Damien Williams contributed three more touchdowns to the ultimately clear victory. The Chiefs managed a total of seven attack series en suite, which ended in a touchdown – also a new play-off record.
Mahomes catches up with legend
“It was incredible, everything worked,” said Mahomes, who ended up getting five touchdown passes. After 0:24 after 15 minutes the result of the remaining 45 minutes was 51: 7 from the Chiefs’ point of view. Mahomes immediately equalized another record. Only Doug Williams in the 22nd edition of the 1988 Super Bowl played four touchdown passes in a quarter in a play-off game at 42:10 of the Washington Redskins over the Denver Broncos. Williams was the first African American to lead his team to the title as quarterback.
At the Texans, coach Bill O’Brien had to put up with the criticism of having given the game out of his own hands. When the score was 21-0, the coach on the Chiefs 13-yard line took no risk on a fourth attempt, although only a few centimeters were missing for a new series of attacks. Then O’Brien risked a trick play deep in his own half, but it went wrong and gave Kansas City a short way to the end zone. “We had the feeling that we had to continue to produce points (despite the clear leadership, note). Unfortunately it didn’t work, ”said a consternated O’Brien.
Seattle is struggling
In Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, the Packers’ duel against the Seahawks after the first half also looked like a “g’mahten Oktoberfest” for the hosts. At break, after a touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams – who set a new club record in play-off with a total of 160 yards of space – Green Bay was clearly 21: 3 in the first series of attacks and two touchdown runs by Aaron Jones Ahead.
However, the Seahawks, who won seven out of eight away games this year, fought their way through the second half with three touchdowns in a row led by playmaker Russell Wilson and running back Marshlow Lynch, who was brought on from NFL retirement due to acute injury concerns. Lynch made two short runs in the end zone in the scorer list.
Controversial decision
But at the crucial moment, the defense of the Packers held, after two seasons without play-off participation this year under neo-coach Matt LeFleur with 13 wins and only three defeats. In the final phase, Rodgers reminded of old times and with his passports prevented his opponent Wilson from getting his hands on the ball in the last two minutes.
Rodgers’ crucial pass on Jimmy Graham, however, caused a sour expression on Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Because Graham, who was still in Seattle two years ago, seemed to miss the third attempt by the Packers to try a new series of attacks by a couple of inches. However, the referees decided on a new first down for Green Bay even after repeated video evidence, thereby sealing Seattle’s play-off.
“I’m going to treat myself to a nice glass of scotch,” said Rodgers after leading Green Bay to a conference final for the fourth time in his career. The 36-year-old could only win in Chicago in 2011 when he then led the Packers to the last title to date. Wilson mourned a great opportunity: “We made it at least exciting and exciting. It’s a shame that we couldn’t take the victory with us. “
National Football League
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