A team that at one point late in the season looked like they might not be able to win a playoff game has now won three, two away from home. What a wild ride this season has been. Have the Chiefs been toying with us all season?
Between the near wins, near losses, decisive wins, losses, drops, and penalties, this season had everything. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have been on the edge of my seat for the last half of the season.
Now, let’s get to the subject: the AFC Championship.
The Ravens were favored in the betting and heavily favored by the national media and fans (outside the Chiefs Kingdom). The Ravens’ defense was too good, and ours was (more or less) chopped liver. It was going to be a bloodbath. The Chiefs weren’t good enough. Blowouts were predicted as high as 41 points for the Ravens.
The Chiefs didn’t get the memo.
They came out and put it all on the field. The offense got them off to an early lead. Kelce had his best game all year. Rice, Pacheco, and MVS all provided nice supporting plays. Patrick had an excellent game, going 30/39 for 241 yards with a 100.5 passer rating, and he tacked on six carries for 15 yards because he’s Mahomes
While the Chiefs certainly had opportunities to be a little better, it never felt like the game was out of their control (a luxury not quite present in the Bills game).
The defense was the actual story, though. They were down a few bodies on defense. Willie Gay and Joe Thuney were inactive. Charles Omenihu left in the second quarter, and Mike Edwards getting taken out of the game didn’t stop them.
Players were coming from every angle on Lamar Jackson. Justin Reid, Drue Tranquil, George Karlaftis, Tershawn Warton, Chamarri Conner, Trent McDuffie, Chris Jones, and Charles Omenihu (before he left the game) sacked or hit the Ravens starting quarterback.
Perhaps two of the biggest came from our (should be) all-pro corner L’Jarius Sneed, causing a fumble on what would’ve been a touchdown and Deon Bush preventing another one with an incredible interception.
The Ravens’ defense was tough shutting down the offense in the 2nd half, but our defense got the turnovers. They played like this game was between them and their last meal, and they were starving.
The Chiefs’ elite defense got the trip to the Super Bowl they deserve, and I’m here for it! The Lamar Hunt Trophy is home again soon after Norma’s passing, and there’s a genuine possibility we will win Super Bowl LVIII. How sweet that would be in the year of Derrick Thomas’ jersey number.
Mahomes has the dawg in him, and it looks like it, but the rest of the team does, too. The 49ers will have their work cut out for them, keeping this Chiefs team (perhaps the most doubted in the Mahomes era thus far) from another Lombardi.
We’re Super Bowl-bound again, Chiefs Kingdom. Enjoy this moment!
