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Half a century transpired since the Chiefs found itself in the Super Bowl.
Tennessee led 10-0 with 5:52 left in the first quarter before Kansas City ripped off 21 consecutive points to lead, 21-17, and eventually defeated the Titans, 35-24 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
With the victory, the Chiefs (14-4) advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970 to face the winner of Green Bay/San Francisco game in Miami.
Receiver Tyreek Hill’s lateral reception resulted in a loss of two yards. Following quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 18-yard pass to tight end Travis Kelce, kindled the drive at the Titans 45. Four plays later reflected something great players do in crunch conditions. Mahomes called his number when he reached the edge, tight roped the sideline, and subsequently battled his way into the end zone to give the Chiefs its first lead of the game, 21-17 with 11 seconds left in the second quarter.
The moment altered the game and set Kansas City fans free as the stadium noise level rose.
Kansas City’s previous two possessions cover 63 and 74 yards. Mahomes connected with Hill on a ten-yard touchdown to pull the Chiefs within three points 17-14, with 4:03 left in the second quarter.
Mahomes led the Chiefs, finishing 23-of-35 with 294 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also added 53 ground yards and a score. Watkins caught seven passes for 114 yards and one touchdown.
Mahomes told one reporter, it’s amazing. “To be here, to be a part of Chiefs Kingdom and to be able to do it here at Arrowhead, these people deserve it. And we’re not done yet. “
With 46 seconds to go in the first quarter, Hill scored his first touchdown on an eight-yard jet sweep to cut the Titans lead, 10-7.
The Titans offensive surge appeared indomitable, scoring on its first two drives. Tennessee opened the game, marching 70 yards with Greg Joseph making a 30-yard field goal with 11:29 left in the first quarter. Its second series, bolstered by two offsides calls against Chiefs’ defensive tackles Chris Jones and Xavier Williams copulated with Jonnu Smith 23 yard reception at the Kansas City’s three-yard line, sprung a first and goal. The Titans’ led, 10-0 after Derrick Henry’s three-yard touchdown carry with 5:52 left in the first quarter.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw in his best, finishing 21-of-31 with 209 passing yards and two touchdowns.
In the third quarter, the defenses headlined, slowing the offenses while both teams suffered mistakes and exchanged possessions.
However, the speedy, shifty Hill wowed the home crowd when Mahomes spotted the star receiver at the three-yard line to set up the Chiefs’ fourth score of the game. Tailback Damien Williams carried the ball to the end zone as the score expanded, 28-17, with 14:50 remaining.
A sack ended the Titans’ first possession of the fourth quarter and shed light on Kansas City’s next scoring series.
Mahomes administered the Chiefs on its longest drive of the day, 88-yards. He concluded the drive four-of-four, tossing a pass to Williams and three to receiver Sammy Watkins, including a 40-yard touchdown dart. That increased the score, 35-17.
Time became a factor when Tennessee found its groove, converting an 80-yard drive supported by a fake punt as punter Brett Kern found Amani Hooker over the middle who roamed to the 49. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed his next two passes, one to tight end Jonnu Smith at the 42 of Kansas City and the other to receiver Cory Davis at the 20-yard line. After, Chiefs’ defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon sacked Tannehill at the 22. Still, Tannehill capped the Titans scoring with a 22-yard strike to tight end Anthony Firkser with 4:18 to go.
Tennessee’s defense would come up big, sacking Mahomes and stopping Williams for a loss of three yards and later forced a punt. But its offense suffered a false start infraction and a sack to hinder the drive as Kansas City took over as Mahomes knelt on the ball twice to run out the clock.
