‘We’re changing the culture here’
Kansas City puts end to playoff frustration by rolling past Colts and into AFC championship
KANSAS CITY — The snowy and slippery conditions made it difficult to drive in Missouri’s largest city on Saturday.
For everybody, that is, except the Kansas City Chiefs offence.
With their first possession, the Chiefs drove 90 yards on five plays for a touchdown. With their second, they drove 70 yards on eight plays for another major score. And on their last possession of the first half, they capped a 75-yard, 10-play drive with their third visit to the end zone.
Their 24-7 halftime lead turned into a 31-13 final over the Indianapolis Colts that puts the Chiefs into the AFC Championship Game, where they will host either the New England Patriots or Los Angeles Chargers in one week.
It was the first playoff home victory for the Chiefs since January 1994, a drought that covers six prior disappointments.
“This is a new era,” said Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones. “New team, new mindset. We’re changing the culture here.”
The real story was the Chiefs defence. Ranked 31st in yards allowed and 24th in points surrendered during the season, the Chiefs stymied the Colts in a victory that chased demons from Arrowhead Stadium.
The defence kept Andrew Luck off balance all day. The Colts didn’t pick up their initial first down until there was just over a minute left in the opening half. Their only firsthalf score was on a blocked punt. Luck, who didn’t complete his first pass of the day until the Colts were down 17-0, had just a miserable time. He finished with 19 completions on 36 attempts for just 203 yards.
“I think some of the young guys are maturing right in front of our eyes and playing well,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
First-year starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes — expected to be named the league’s regular season MVP — was outstanding in his playoff debut. In steering the Chiefs to the victory. Mahomes completed 27 of 41 passes for 278 yards, 195 of which came in the first half.
Surprisingly, he didn’t throw a single TD pass, but he scored the third Chiefs touchdown on a four-yard run around the right end.
“It was a great win,” said Mahomes. “The defence stepped up big, played great all game. On offence, we started fast and had kind of a dry spell, but we finished it off in the end.”
It started right after the opening kickoff. On the Colts’ first snap, running back Marlon Mack was tackled for a three-yard loss. Two plays later on third down, usually reliable tight end Eric Ebron dropped a Luck pass at the first down marker.
On his next series, Luck had two throws knocked down at the line and a third batted away by cornerback Charvarius Ward.
“I don’t think I responded well after those first couple of drives to get something going,” Luck said. “Some batted balls hurt, some incompletions and some throws that I am not happy about, that I wish I could have back.”
Mahomes pecked away with short passes before connecting with Sammy Watkins for a 34-yard gain that was extended by a horse collar tackle out of bounds.
One play later, running back Damien Williams had a strong 10-yard touchdown run, cutting up the middle and past tacklers after initially starting towards the right. Williams finished with 25 carries for 129 yards.
The Colts’ opening half touchdown was scored with 5:56 left in the second quarter. With Kansas City punting from its own 19-yard line, linebacker Najee Goode burst through to get the block, while Zach Pascal jumped on the loose ball for the score.
It was the only Goode thing happening for the Colts. They tried to put some more points on the board before the break, but kicker Adam Vinatieri hit the left upright with a fieldgoal attempt from 23 yards out on the last play.
Luck finally put together a scoring driving in the fourth quarter, ending it with a 29-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton. By then, however, it was too late.
The fans, many of whom entertained themselves by throwing snowballs, could finally go home to celebrate a playoff win — the first one in five tries for the Chiefs against the Colts, no less.