KC Chiefs: 10 likes and dislikes from AFC Championship win vs Titans

Likes, 6-10

6. Hill & Watkins

Tyreek Hill had a relatively quiet game against the Texans last weekend, but he made up for it against the Titans. He finished the game with five receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns, plus one rushing attempt for seven yards. He scored each of the team’s first two touchdowns.

Then there’s the much maligned Sammy Watkins, who hadn’t scored a touchdown since early September. He led all Chiefs in both receptions (seven) and receiving yards (114) while scoring the knockout punch on a 60-yard completion in the fourth quarter with time winding down to put the Chiefs up 35-17.

7. Chris Jones

Jones missed last week’s game due to a hamstring injury he reportedly suffered in practice the Thursday before the game. While he tried to give it a go before the Divisional Round, he was held out.

It was a coin flip whether he’d play today, but a little bit before kickoff, reports came out that he was active. And not only that, he played a key role in the Chiefs win, wreaking havoc along the line while pressuring Tannehill. He may not have finished with incredible stats, but his appearance and energy seemed to spread to the rest of the defense.

8. Third- and Fourth-Down Efficiency

On third downs, the Chiefs went 6-for-10 while they converted their only fourth-down attempt. Those seven conversions helped keep the football in Mahomes’ hands, which, I mean, come on: that’s not fair to the other team.

9. Drive Summaries

For the game, the Kansas City Chiefs had nine possessions. Let’s toss the one at the end of the game, since it consisted of two kneel downs to finish things. So, here are how the other eight possessions went:

Punt, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, punt, touchdown, touchdown, punt.

When this offense gets going, it’s tough to stop. Last week, it was seven touchdowns on seven drives while this week consisted of five touchdowns within a series of six drives.

That’s tough to beat.

10. No. 15

That Patrick Mahomes dude is great, right? He never panicked against the Titans, much like he didn’t against the Texans. Despite a dud of a first drive, Mahomes rallied his troops for a thrilling touchdown drive to make it 10-7. Then he calmly led a quick drive that ended with a strike to Hill to get the Chiefs back within three.

In the second half, he shook off a disappointing first drive to lead the team on a 13-yard, 73-yard drive that ended with a Damien Williams rushing touchdown and put the Chiefs up 28-17.

But his other two touchdowns were the best. At the end of the first half, down 17-14 but getting the ball back to start the second half, Mahomes couldn’t find an open receiver so took off, angling toward the sideline. Instead of stepping out, he turned out up field, and completed the game’s most exciting play by falling into the end zone and putting the Chiefs up for the first time.

Then in the fourth quarter, instead of playing it safe and continuing to milk the clock, Mahomes went for the kill-shot, connecting with Sammy Watkins on a 60-yard touchdown pass that iced the ballgame.

What a player.