Goin' Sixty With Me-Super Bowl or Bust
A chance to win the trophy that bears the name of the team founder and longtime owner, and father of the current head man. An opportunity to play in the biggest game in the sport for the first time in fifty years in the one hundredth year of the NFL. And a chance for Andy Reid to a second crack at the one thing in his storied coaching career that has eluded him, a Super Bowl title, and to do it by beating the sixth seed in the AFC. Ecstasy, or another heartbreak for long-suffering fans, is what is on the line.
That was what lies ahead of the Chiefs as they get set to take on the Tennesee Titans of a frigid day where thousands of people could care less about the climate. The crowd is absolutely roaring and even a solid Derrick Henry run, and a big play action gainer on play action can’t quell it. But the Titans aren’t fazed early as they repeat the same thing on the next series of downs to grab another first down and hit the red zone.
The Chiefs bow up however, and Chris Jones, who will be a third down specialist in this game, pressures Ryan Tannehill on third and six. It forces the first field goal attempt in the post season for the Titans. It’s very easy think that field goals won’t get it for Tennessee, but they will no doubt be at least a bit satisfied with a 3-0 lead.
Patrick Mahomes runs a bootleg and an RPO on the first two plays and it’s no go, and for the second straight week, a three and out happens as a Mahomes to Kelce bid comes up empty, this time more the throw than the lack of a Kelce grab. Tennessee now has the lead and good field position.
The first officiating tipping point comes after Henry powers the Titans into Chiefs territory. Bashaud Breeland’s great effort for a pick is overturned on replay. It hurts even more when Chris Jones jumps offside on third and four and the drive gets a second boost. The Titans are forced into a fourth down and two, take Henry off the field and throw for it successfully. Two plays later Derrick Henry is in the end zone on a direct snap that totally bamboozles the Chiefs, who now have laid out an early challenge for themselves. 10-0 Titans. At this point, the Chiefs fans mantra is that the second quarter has been magic for their squad.
The Chiefs get a fourth down of their own in about the same spot on the field and it looms big here late in the first quarter. The Titans have stopped fourth downs on all five occasions in the post season. The Chiefs have Travis Kelce, and a four-yard gain seems so sweet as they convert. Each team’s fourth down conversion turns into a touchdown. The Chiefs comes on a Tyreek Hill jet sweep on first and goal delightfully called against a blitz, and the Chiefs cut the lead to 10-7. And they do it BEFORE they head to their money quarter.
The Titans however start the quarter moving the football. The Chiefs third offside jump brings up a third and two at the Chiefs 32. Tannehill is looking sharp and he throws for it. There is plenty of Derrick Henry, too, as he is getting plenty of yards even BEFORE contact. But a VERY timely holding call on a play that Henry had moved to the two yard line created a major roadblock. Turnabout becomes fair play as Breeland is called for pass interference on a hopeless 3rd and 22, and the drive continues….to a touchdown on a trick play action pass to a fat guy who is very open. Dennis Kelly really isn’t all that fat, but at 321 pounds becomes the heaviest man to catch a post season touchdown pass. Fifteen plays and nine minutes, and a Titans 17-7 lead.
Possessions are going to be at a premium, and the Chiefs don’t waste their next one. On a key drive with Tennessee holding some cards, Patrick Mahomes steamrolls the Chiefs down the field in lightning fashion, capping it with a real touchdown pass to Hill (the first was called one on the little flip). Right back at ya. 17-14.
The Chiefs respond by actually stopping the Titans, giving the ball to a Chiefs offense that is clearly finding rhythm. Big chunk plays roll the Chiefs deep, converting a couple of key third downs on the way. The drive looks dead as Mahomes is chased toward the sideline on third and two from the 27. Another Mahomes miracle is hatched, as he leaves half the Titans defense shaking their heads as he weaves, tightropes, dances, and fights into the end zone. The first touchdown allowed by Tennessee in the last two minutes of the half this season gives the Chiefs the lead at the half 21-17. The Titans executed their game plan virtually to perfection, and yet they are losing. If they aren’t frustrated in the locker room, they are tougher than most.
A big early chance for the Titans comes when on 3rd and 3 when Watkins is called out of bounds, but Reid challenges and the overturn continues the drive. The Titans are making things a little more difficult and on 3rd and 10, Hill stops his route a little early and can’t hang on to a catchable ball, and the tide has been, stemmed. Seems like delayed might be the actual thing occurring, though. It seems more that way when the Chiefs get a quick stop, and do it after a 1st and 5 and get the ball back.
The Chiefs switch the script and feature the run on the next drive, but the biggest plays are turned in by Mahomes feet, as methodically, a word not often associated with the Chiefs, they grind the ball down the field, with Patrick scrambles, a key factor. From three yards out, Damien Williams appropriately lugs it in for his seventh touchdown run in four playoff games as Andy Reid plays switcheroo and gives the Titans a dose of their own medicine. 28-17.
You can start to feel it now, and only the Titans doing something special, and soon, can change it. The only special things are being produced by the Chiefs. One first down is the limit, as Kansas city harasses Ryan Tanehill, and finishes off the possession with a sack. One step closer. It becomes a virtual reality when the Chiefs then return to what they do best, and ride Sammy Watkins (remember him?) to a lightning strike. 35-17 and the party, which was only muted for about an hour in the first half, is really on.
The Chiefs have tossed in quite a few mistakes for what will be a comfortable win. They somehow allow a fake punt to be converted when it was as obvious as perhaps any fake in NFL history, and it leads to a touchdown. It seems like only the final score will be affected, and that becomes truth when the Chiefs stay aggressive on a 3rd and 10 and go deep and draw a flag. It’s only a matter of getting to 0:00.
One of the myriad joys of making it to the Super Bowl is that you get two full weeks to celebrate your team, your season, and your chance for the ultimate prize. But this prize, this AFC title, this Lamar Hunt Trophy, is more than enough for the moment . Yes, you do not ever assume you are going to be back to the Super Bowl, you have to grab the moment.
But that is for February 2nd. The time until then is your time Kansas City. Love every minute of it.