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The Kansas City Chiefs moved one step closer to an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ while Washington upset the Detroit Lions in a thriller in the NFL play-offs.
As the number one seed in each Conference, Kansas City and Detroit earned a bye to week two of the post-season, the Divisional Round.
The Chiefs returned to action with a 23-14 win at home to the Houston Texans on Saturday but a historic season for the Lions came to a surprise end as they were stunned 45-31 at home to the Commanders, the NFC’s sixth seed.
After a 4-13 record last season, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has led Washington to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1992, when the Redskins – as they were previously known – claimed their third Super Bowl win.
Kansas City kept alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.
Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have reached the NFL’s championship game four times in the past five years, winning it three times.
Last season, they became the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005, and they are back within one win of the big game.
The Chiefs will play in their seventh straight AFC Championship game next week against either the Baltimore Ravens or the Buffalo Bills, while the Commanders will visit the Philadelphia Eagles or the Los Angeles Rams.
Commanders prevail after second-quarter shootout
Detroit were the NFL’s highest scorers this season, setting a host of franchise records including a 15-2 record.
Washington were the fifth highest scorers, and after a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown in the first quarter for Detroit, the two teams produced a thrilling second quarter.
Brian Robinson Jr’s score for Washington sparked a run of six touchdowns and 42 points in just over nine minutes – making it the highest-scoring quarter in play-off history.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta made a one-handed catch at the back of the end zone, before Terry McLaurin took a Daniels screen pass and burst through a gap to run in a 58-yard score.
Two plays later, Quan Martin returned an interception for a 40-yard touchdown to give Washington a lead they would not relinquish.
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had to be assessed after being clattered with a block on that play, and although back-up Teddy Bridgewater stepped in during the next drive, the Lions dialled up a thrilling run play, which saw Jameson Williams get round the outside before following blockers to jog in a 61-yard score.
A Zach Ertz touchdown gave Washington a 31-21 lead at half-time, with the Lions having turned the ball over three times.
Gibbs’ second touchdown in the third quarter cut the gap, but Robinson and Jeremy McNichols both got in from a yard in the fourth quarter to seal victory.
Detroit ultimately had five turnovers, including three interceptions, while Washington did not have any. Daniels was not sacked and passed for two touchdowns and 299 yards to continue his fine rookie season.
Swift & Clark show support for Chiefs
Taylor Swift was at a chilly Arrowhead Stadium to watch her partner Travis Kelce play for Kansas City and WNBA star Caitlin Clark, a lifelong Chiefs fan, was a guest in Swift’s suite.
Like Patrick Mahomes, Kelce has been pivotal to Kansas City’s dynasty. The 35-year-old tight end tends to save his best for the play-offs and clinched the win early in the fourth quarter with his 20th touchdown catch in the post-season – second only to Jerry Rice (22).
The Chiefs made a flying start as Nikko Remigio returned the kick-off for 63 yards and they led 6-3 after three field goals in the first quarter.
Mahomes then found Kelce down the middle and he kept running for a 49-yard gain, setting up the chance for running back Kareem Hunt to punch it in from a yard and help Kansas City to a 13-6 lead at half-time.
Houston’s Joe Mixon ran it in from 13 yards to make it 13-12 in the third quarter, but the Chiefs stretched their lead on the next drive.
Mahomes found Kelce three times before demonstrating his athleticism by making an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kelce – while leaning forward at a 45-degree angle.
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn spurned two chances to draw the Texans level, sending a field goal well wide at 6-3 and an extra-point attempt narrowly off target at 13-12.
His dismal day continued as a late field goal was blocked before the Chiefs conceded a safety at the death, as Kelce finished with 117 receiving yards – his highest total all season.
Photo Caption: Travis Kelce (20) is second on the all-time list for touchdown catches in the post-season, behind only Jerry Rice (22)
Culled from BBC
19th January, 2025.C.E
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