Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs persevere to win conference titles
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in another thrilling play-off game, keeping them on track to make it to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years.
Following the AFC rivals’ thrilling play-off classic two years before, in which the Chiefs prevailed 42-36 in overtime, Sunday’s divisional round matchup was highly anticipated.
And the rematch lived up to the expectations, with a nerve-wracking quarterback battle between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes until the defending champs hung on for a 27-24 victory.
Kansas City has eliminated the Bills from the playoffs for the third time in the last four years, and they did it in Buffalo this time.
With their sixth consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship game, the Chiefs are aiming to make NFL history by being the first club to win back-to-back crowns since the 2003 and 2004 campaigns.
The Detroit Lions, who had earlier defeated the Tampa Bay Bucs 31–23, earned a trip to the NFC Championship game for only the second time.
On Sunday, they and the Chiefs will each visit the team with the best record in their conference. Kansas City will play the Baltimore Ravens at 20:00 GMT, while Detroit will play the San Francisco 49ers at 23:30.
Jason Kelce (centre) of the Philadelphia Eagles, whose brother Travis Kelce is in a relationship with pop singer Taylor Swift, celebrated a Chiefs score by removing his shirt.
Before their most recent game, people wondered whether Mahomes and Allen might become a rivalry similar to that of renowned quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. After their spectacular 2022 game, Mahomes and Allen were anticipated to play each other many more times in the postseason.
Given the Chiefs’ recent success, Allen had his finest opportunity yet to defeat his off-season golf friend in the playoffs. Mahomes’ 16th play-off game was his first away from home.
Although 27-year-old Allen ran for two scores in Buffalo’s 37 minutes of possession—14 more than the visiting team—Mahomes made the most of his passing chances, finding Travis Kelce for two touchdowns and 215 yards.
Following a cautious beginning, Allen found the end zone for the first time in the second quarter, and the Chiefs’ second field goal brought the score to 10-6.
The following twenty minutes saw five different quarterbacks exchange the lead. Kelce started the sequence with a 22-yard touchdown after leaping into the corner, and just before halftime, Allen scored to give the Bills a 17–13 lead.
With only three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Mahomes, 28, led the Chiefs downfield and back into the lead with a score from Kelce. With this play, the duo surpassed both Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady in the record book most play-off touchdown hookups (16).
Isiah Pacheco charged over to put the Chiefs ahead early in the fourth quarter after Allen had completed a drive that lasted over eight minutes with a 13-yard laser to Khalil Shakir.
Buffalo mishandled the ball on downs, setting up a suspenseful conclusion, and Mecole Hardman of Kansas City fumbled while reaching for the end zone.
With fewer than two minutes remaining, the Bills maintained the drive and lined up a 44-yard field goal try, causing Buffalo to exhale with relief as the Chiefs were unable to recover an Allen fumble.
However, Tyler Bass missed the attempt wide right, exactly as Scott Norwood did when the Bills lost the first of four consecutive Super Bowls in 1991. The latest setback to the Bills, in a game against Kansas City, prolongs their absence from the NFL championship game.
Ravens and 49ers triumph to advance to the conference championships.
NFL Playoff Schedule and BBC Broadcasting Schedule
Lions only make it to the NFC Championship game twice.
Highlights of the NFL Playoffs: Detroit Lions defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Lions are one of only four teams to never participate in the Super Bowl. Detroit, like the Bills, has won several NFL titles, but all of them were before the first Super Bowl in 1967.
Last week, Detroit hosted its first playoff game in thirty years, and the long-suffering Lions supporters rejoiced over their team’s first play-off victory in thirty-two.
That guaranteed another home game against the unstoppable Buccaneers, an in-form club, in the divisional round.
Another thrilling night in the Motor City saw defences dominate for the bulk of the game. Josh Reynolds’ touchdown was negated by Tampa Bay’s Cade Otton touchdown, making the score 10-10 at the half.
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Three punts opened the third quarter before former top selections in the draft, quarterbacks Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield, found their rhythm.
The Lions’ Craig Reynolds ploughed into the end zone from a yard out, but the Bucs answered when Baker Mayfield found Rachaad White for a 12-yard touchdown.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Detroit took the lead again thanks to a 31-yard rush into the corner by Jahmyr Gibbs, and they had breathing room after Amon-Ra St Brown’s score.
With two minutes remaining, Tampa Bay scored again when QB Mayfield found Mike Evans to keep the game alive. However, Detroit secured the win when linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted Mayfield, the QB’s second pick of the contest.
After leading the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl in 2019, Goff, who ended with 287 passing yards and two touchdown passes, now has the opportunity to play in his second Super Bowl.
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