Hobbling along on an injured ankle, Patrick Mahomes threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night, leading the Kansas city Chiefs to a 27-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and a spot in their fifth straight AFC title video game.
Mahomes ignored most of the 2d quarter after his ankle was landed on via a Jacksonville defender. but the All-pro quarterback returned in the second half and, counting on guts and guile, led the Chiefs on a 75-yard TD pressure within the fourth quarter that helped to make sure a date with the Bengals or expenses for a spot within the tremendous Bowl.
If Cincinnati win on Sunday, the AFC title video game might be performed at Arrowhead Stadium. If Buffalo win, it may be in Atlanta.
"I imply, it's a credit score to the blokes round me," Mahomes mentioned. "The offensive line saved me clear within the pocket, knowing that I couldn't movement, and guys made plays around me. That's what a fine crew does, is when somebody gets a bit banged up, everybody round them steps up."
Mahomes noted he may be fit for the Chiefs' next video game. "Yeah, X-rays have been poor and that they haven't clinically determined anything yet," he noted, "but I'll be respectable to move."
Travis Kelce had a profession-excessive 14 catches for ninety eight yards and two touchdowns for Kansas city. Isiah Pacheco ran for ninety five yards, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling hauled in the eventual clinching touchdown with about seven minutes left.
The Jaguars, who rallied from a 27-0 deficit to beat the Chargers within the wildcard circular, squandered two options to mount another late rally. the first ended when Jamal Agnew had the ball pop unfastened interior the Chiefs 5 with simply below six minutes to move, and the 2nd when Jaylen Watson made a leaping, one-exceeded interception to take the ball away once again. The Jaguars' closing-gasp probability ended when Kansas city recovered an onside kick with 24 seconds to head.
Lawrence comprehensive with 217 yards passing with a touchdown toss to Christian Kirk, who turned into in brief hurt halfway throughout the fourth quarter however lower back to conclude the game. Travis Etienne introduced sixty two yards rushing and a landing.
lengthy before Mahomes hobbled to the sideline in ache, he became at his inventive surest, using the Chiefs downfield on their opening possession. There become a shortstop-fashion sidearm sling to JuJu Smith-Schuster, a key third down flow to Kelce as he become being dragged to the turf, and the flip circulate to his tight end that gave Kansas metropolis a 7-0 lead.
The Jaguars got here correct back, taking skills of a huge kickoff return and a brief box. Lawrence, whose 4 touchdown throws helped to stun the Chargers closing week, proceeded to hit Kirk for the matching touchdown.
Then, the complexion of the online game changed.
Mahomes was moving up within the pocket when Key brought the entire weight of his body down on the quarterback's appropriate ankle. Mahomes hobbled to the huddle and managed to get through three greater plays to end the first quarter, then become on the container two extra plays earlier than Harrison Butker kicked a 50-yard box purpose.
during the Jaguars' ensuing possession, Mahomes – who had gotten his ankle taped – obtained into a heated argument with Chiefs instruct Andy Reid and the practicing personnel. He then threw down his coat and headed to the locker room, forcing Chad Henne to take over halfway in the course of the 2d quarter, a great deal as he did two years ago in a playoff win over Cleveland.
The 37-year-historic journeyman, who as soon as all started for the Jaguars, led Kansas city on a 12-play, ninety eight-yard touchdown force.
"Yeah, I did not want to go and they sort of gave me the ultimatum that I wasn't going again in except I went in there," said Mahomes, who cheered his group on from the sideline, donning a wintry weather coat on a chilly, sleeting night.
"They're making an attempt to cope with me. We've acquired loads of tremendous people over here, nevertheless it's going to take an awful lot to preserve me out of a football online game."
Then the fanatics suddenly were cheering for him once again.
That generic purple No 15 jersey trotted onto the field to birth the second half, his right ankle closely taped. Mahomes changed into nevertheless struggling to circulation round, but with ease his presence appeared to calm the Chiefs – and their angst-crammed fanbase.
Butker introduced a second 50-yard container aim late within the third quarter to lengthen their lead to 20-10.
however the Jaguars proved within the wildcard round that they can deal with deficits. And in place of wilt amid the crowd noise, they rose to the occasion, placing together a 75-yard landing pressure that stored them within the online game.
Their comeback ended, although, with two late turnovers and a failed onside kick.
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