Patrick Mahomes hit Travis Kelce seven times for 117 yards and a touchdown as Kansas City rolled to a 23-14 victory Saturday that sent the two-time defending Super Bowl champions to the AFC title game for the seventh consecutive season.
The Chiefs are the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. They will try to change that at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend against the Buffalo Bills who hung on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday.
Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a score and improved 16-3 in the postseason, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins by a starting QB in NFL history behind Tom Brady. That includes his peerless 7-0 mark in divisional playoff games.
Meanwhile, Mahomes and Kelce helped Andy Reid become just the fourth coach in NFL history with 300 career wins.
C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards but was sacked eight times, while Joe Mixon ran for 88 yards and their only touchdown.
Travis Kelce talks about the benefit of getting a bye round and getting some time to get healthy. A reporter asks if he feels like he’s 25 again, and Travis pays tribute to Taylor Swift: “22 baby… 22.”
After their loss, the Houston Texans said they were up against both the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL referees at Arrowhead on Saturday night. Fans are upset that Patrick Mahomes benefited from two huge calls on the night, including when Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr was penalized for tackling the Chiefs quarterback a split-second after he released the ball. Will weighed in after the game: “We knew it was going to be us against the refs going into this game.”
Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdowns, and the Washington Commanders stunned the Detroit Lions 45-31 on Saturday night to reach the NFC championship game for the first time since winning the Super Bowl 33 years ago.
The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl favorite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts as they did all season with a rookie quarterback, new coach and general manager.
Detroit, the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time, hurt its chances by turning it over five times.
Washington rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, including one on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into coverage off a reverse in the fourth quarter. And Quan Martin returned a pick 40 yards for a touchdown.
Jared Goff threw three picks and lost a fumble, turning it over three times in the first half.
Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, and — just as important — didn’t turn the ball over.
He became the second rookie quarterback to knock off a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee on Jan. 10, 2009.
**Washington will play the Philadelphia Eagles game next Sunday on the road for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn intercepts Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. This interception allowed the Commanders to end the game and send them to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell fights back tears after losing to Washington Commanders: “It’s my fault…”
Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns and the Buffalo Bills defeated Lamar Jackson and a Baltimore Ravens tram, 27-25, in an AFC divisional game.
Baltimore turned the ball over three times in the loss, but had a chance to tie the game in the final two minutes. However tight end Mark Andrews dropped a pass from Jackson on a 2-point conversion. Andrews lost a fumble, as well, earlier in the quarter.
The Bills will take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game for their fourth playoff matchup in five years. The Chiefs have defeated the Bills three straight times in the playoffs, including the conference title game four years ago in Kansas City.
The Chiefs (16-2) advanced on Saturday with a 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews drops the game-tying two-point-conversion catch vs. Buffalo Bills.
