Mahomes amazes again to lead Chiefs to AFC Championship
January 23, 2022 | Football
Texas Tech legend and the Chiefs will host the AFC Championship game for an NFL record fourth-consecutive season next Sunday
LUBBOCK, Texas – The legend of Patrick Mahomes II added yet another memorable chapter Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes, faced with a pair of fourth-quarter deficits under the two-minute warning, helped the Kansas City Chiefs force overtime with a memorable final drive before finding Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown pass in overtime to move past the Buffalo Bills, 42-36.
The victory pushes the Chiefs back to the AFC Championship for a fourth-consecutive season, marking the longest streak in NFL history where a franchise has played host for a shot at the Super Bowl. The Chiefs will face the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday back in Kansas City in a meeting between the AFC's No. 2 and 4 seeds.
Mahomes went back-and-forth with Bills quarterback Josh Allen throughout the epic battle between young signal callers, throwing for 378 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also rushing seven times for 69 yards and another score. Ironically, both quarterbacks were each team's leading rusher as Allen threw for 329 yards and four scores and rushed for 68 more yards.
It was Mahomes, however, that will be best remembered as he threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns and completed his final 10 passes over the final 114 seconds of regulation and overtime. The two teams combined for an astounding 31 points during that span with Mahomes finding Tyreek Hill on a slant that went 64 yards for a score with 1:02 remaining in regulation and then the back-shoulder toss to Kelce in overtime.
Before he could even think about that final game-winning drive, Mahomes had to get the Chiefs to overtime. Allen hit Gabriel Davis for a 19-yard touchdown strike with 13 seconds remaining to shock the capacity crowd at Arrowhead, giving the Bills a 36-33 lead. The two previously connected on a 19-yard touchdown with 1:54 remaining in regulation.
Mahomes didn't flinch, though, connecting with Hill for 19 yards on the ensuing drive and then Kelce for a key 25-yard strike up the middle to set up a successful Harrison Butker 49-yard field goal as time expired. According to NFL research, it was the first playoff game in league history with three go-ahead touchdowns scored in the final three minutes of regulation.
With a win next week against the Bengals, Texas Tech can extend its streak of a letterwinner reaching the Super Bowl as part of the official team roster to 13-consecutive seasons. Texas Tech entered the playoffs with 10 Red Raiders represented in the postseason, not counting coaching staff members.
Besides Mahomes, the San Francisco 49ers are represented by two Red Raiders on their staff in wide receivers coach Wes Welker and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. The 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game next Sunday.
Kickoff for Mahomes next Sunday against the Bengals is slated for 2 p.m. with television coverage provided on CBS.
Ballgame! @PatrickMahomes #RaidTheLeague | https://t.co/K3IW90Syeo pic.twitter.com/X1qNlMa140
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 24, 2022
?? @PatrickMahomes #RaidTheLeague | https://t.co/K3IW90Syeo pic.twitter.com/l5cMuqMhcZ
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 24, 2022
Mr. Improv pic.twitter.com/pP3gDvlmDK
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 24, 2022