Wow! What a weekend of games! In case you missed both of these absolute instant classics, here is a recap of the AFC Divisional Round.
Kansas City Chiefs 51, Houston Texans 31- If all you did was watch the first quarter of this game and conceded to the fact it was over, then you missed perhaps one of the grittier, more amazing playoff performances I have ever seen. Houston was clicking on all cylinders for the first 20 minutes. QB Deshaun Watson threw for 2 touchdowns, including a long TD pass to WR Kenny Stills who was wide open on a blown coverage by the Chiefs. Houston also added a blocked punt for a touchdown and a botched punt at the Kansas City 5 yard line which led to Watson’s 2nd TD pass. After 20 minutes into the game, the Texans led 24-0. For Kansas City, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Blown coverage on defense, fumbles on special teams, and a few big drops by wide receivers including 3 on big 3rd down plays. It was at this point Mahomes could be seen on the sideline rallying his troops yelling ” One play at a time”. Rally they did, in a huge way. The Chiefs led by QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce scored 4 straight touchdowns in the 2nd quarter and miraculously led 28-24 at halftime. It didn’t end there. The defense bore down led by LB Frank Clark who recorded 3 sacks. After halftime, they scored 3 straight touchdowns and for the last 40 minutes of the game, outscored the Texans 51-7 to advance to their 2nd straight AFC Championship. Mahomes finished with 321 yards and 5 Touchdowns. He was also the teams leading rusher with 52 yards. TE Travis Kelce had 10 catches for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kansas City will host the Tennesee Titans next Sunday.
Tennessee Titans 28, Baltimore Ravens 12- This was the biggest upset of the weekend, maybe even the year. No one saw this coming. Baltimore was “supposed to cruise to the Super Bowl and many even had them winning the whole thing. Enter Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel and RB Derrick Henry. The Titans defense had a plan to contain Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson and it worked perfectly. Baltimore struggled the entire game to get any offense going. They visibly frustrated Jackson, who could be seen throwing his helmet on the sidelines and throwing his arms in the air baffled at what was unfolding, all night long. The Titans defense picked Jackson off twice and had a strip sack fumble as well. The Titans LB’s led by veteran Wesley Woodward, held Jackson in check and made him try and beat them with his arm, which he could not do whatsoever. Jackson’s inability to throw the deep ball was on display all night, throwing duck after duck and missing his targets. The Titans offense was led once again by monster RB Derrick Henry who rushed for 195 yards and became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 180 yards in 3 straight games. QB Ryan Tannehill did exactly what he needed to do and that was protect the football and manage the game well enough to open things up for Henry and kelp their lead. This game was fun to watch. This Tennessee team is fun to watch. Can they beat Kansas City in their house next week and become the third team to ever beat the Number 1,2, and 3 seeds in their house en route to a Super Bowl? Well I would say they have a damn good chance the way they are playing right Now!
To The Rack With Mac 