A winter classic
Chiefs’ snowy win eases their playoff frustration as Mahomes leads way
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs’ defense had heard the chorus of critics all season long, the ones that claimed their sievelike line and shaky backfield would undermine young superstar Patrick Mahomes and cost them a chance to chase their first Super Bowl appearance in decades.
Well, that defense is a big reason the Chiefs are one step away.
With persistent snow turning Arrowhead Stadium into a winter wonderland, the Chiefs successfully shut down Andrew Luck and the potent Colts on Saturday.
Mahomes and their own highpowered offense took care of the rest, rolling to a 31-13 divisional round victory to end 25 years of playoff frustration.
“We’re such a different team,” said Mahomes, who threw for 278 yards and ran for a score. “We have such young players. We have such confidence we’re going to win every single game.”
Damien Williams plowed through snow and muck for 129 yards and another score, and Tyreek Hill had 72 yards receiving and a touchdown run as the Chiefs beat the Colts for the first time in five playoff meetings to earn their first AFC title game appearance since January 1994.
Meanwhile, Luck was held to 203 yards passing for the Colts, while Marlon Mack was a nonfactor on the ground. He had 46 yards rushing before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a hip injury.
The AFC West champions will play the winner of Sunday’s game between the Chargers and Patriots next weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
“We wanted to light up the city,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said.
“We didn’t want to take the road down memory lane.”
The Chiefs set out to change history from the opening minutes, when they forced a three-and-out and then waltzed right over a Colts defense that nearly shut out the Texans a week ago. Mahomes and Co. scored on their first three possessions, then again just before halftime to take a 24-7 lead.
If there was any question whether this would be the Chiefs’ day, it was answered when Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a 23-yard field-goal try off the upright just before halftime. It was the first time in 22 postseason attempts that he’d missed from that close.
Not that the Chiefs thought they had it wrapped up. They’ve had bigger playoff meltdowns against the Colts.
There was the 10-7 loss in which Lin Elliott missed three field goals when the Chiefs were the No. 1 seed, and the loss at Arrowhead Stadium in 2003 in which nobody punted. Five years ago, they blew a 38-10 second-half lead against Luck and the Colts to spoil Andy Reid’s first season with the team.
But not this time.
Even when the Colts caught a break and Sammy Watkins fumbled late in the third quarter, they were quick to give it back. Dee Ford stripped Luck, and fellow linebacker Justin Houston plopped on the ball, ruining another red-zone opportunity.
The party in the stands already had begun.