For the first time in what seems like forever, the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and company finally brought an end to the upstart Tennessee Titans and now have the chance to take home football’s ultimate prize. The Chiefs will face off against the winners of Sunday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
Kansas City Chiefs Defeat Tennessee Titans, Advance to Super Bowl LIV
First Quarter
Ryan Tannehill and company started with the ball and immediately drove the ball down the field. Highlighted by a 37-yard pass to A.J. Brown, the Titans made it into Kansas City’s red zone after just four plays. However, Kansas City’s defense held strong and held the Titans to a field goal.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense took the field, but Tennessee held them to a three-and-out. The Titans faced a 4th and 2 on the ensuing possession yet decided to go for the conversion instead of sending on the field goal squad. That aggressiveness paid off, as Tannehill connected with Adam Humphries for a new set of downs. Two plays later, Derrick Henry took a direct snap into the endzone to make it a 10-0 game.
The Chiefs, who apparently enjoy falling into deep playoff deficits, finally got to work on the ensuing possession. Kansas City converted a 4th and 2 conversion of their own to get the ball into Tennessee’s red zone. A few plays later, Mahomes found Tyreek Hill on a touch pass for an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Second Quarter
The Titans made sure they wouldn’t go the way of the Texans and drove right back down the field. Aided by a few untimely defensive penalties, the Titans made it right back into the red zone while taking over nine minutes off the clock. Tannehill capped off the drive with a one-yard pass to swing tackle Dennis Kelly to take a 17-7 lead.
The Chiefs answered Tennessee’s scoring drive by showing why they’re the most explosive offense in the league. Mecole Hardman started things off with a 35-yard kick return. Mahomes proceeded to connect with Demarcus Robinson for 33 yards before finding Tyreek Hill for a 20-yard touchdown. In total, the Chiefs drove 63 yards in just five plays to make it a 17-14 game.
The Titans took over with four minutes left in the half and clearly wanted to run out the clock. After starting off the drive with two ineffective Derrick Henry runs, Tannehill turned to Dion Lewis on a 3rd and 9 screen pass. Lewis couldn’t pick up the first down and, ironically, the Titans ended up giving the ball back to the Chiefs with two minutes left to go in the half.
Starting at their own 14, the Chiefs ran one of the best two-minute drills of the entire season. Mahomes started off the drive with two passes to Damien Williams before finding Tyreek Hill for a loss of two yards. Kansas City converted the ensuing third down to Travis Kelce and Mahomes capped off the drive with a 27-yard touchdown scramble with 11 seconds left in the half. Just like that, the Chiefs entered halftime with a 21-17 lead.
Second Half
The Chiefs started the second half with the ball and the chance to build a two-score lead. However, Mahomes and company came away empty after Tyreek Hill dropped what would have been a huge gain on 3rd and 10. The Titans only picked up one first down on their ensuing possession and had to punt it back to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs wouldn’t be stopped for a second straight drive. Taking to the ground, Kansas City made it into the red zone thanks to the legs of Darwin Thompson, Damien Williams, and Patrick Mahomes. Once in the red zone, Mahomes targeted Tyreek Hill to move the ball down to the Tennessee 3-yard line as the third quarter expired. Two plays later, Damien Williams took it the rest of the way to give Kansas City a 28-17 lead.
The Titans desperately needed a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but Kansas City’s defense held strong. Tennessee’s drive stalled at their own 35 and the Titans had to give the ball back to the Chiefs. Kansas City proceeded to ice the game when Mahomes found Sammy Watkins deep for a massive 60-yard score. Just like that, the Kansas City Chiefs essentially punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIV.
The Titans added on some garbage time points at the end, but the outcome was never in doubt. Tennesse had a chance to get the ball back with four minutes left and make things interesting, but the Chiefs drew a questionable pass interference on 3rd and 10. Given the free set of downs, Kansas City held onto the ball until there was just 2:08 left in the game. Trailing by nine, the Titans didn’t have enough time to mount a final comeback.
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