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The Kansas City Chiefs had lost Patrick Mahomes to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game.
Then their defense and Chad Henne kept their Super Bowl hopes alive with a 22-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns that led them to the AFC Championship game.
With their star quarterback reduced to a spectator, the Chiefs ‘often-overlooked defense against Mahomes’ powerful offense forced the Browns to pitch in the dying minutes. Then his 35-year-old replacement showed a bit of moxie with a long run on the third and a fourth down at Tyreek Hill when Andy Reid decided to do it with just over a minute left, giving the Chiefs a first. trying and allowing them to run out of time.
“That’s why we love Big Red. He’s always on time, ”Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said of the decision to qualify for the fourth down. “We always knew he had a game on the table.”
Mahomes hadn’t played in 21 days, since the Chiefs clinched the AFC seed in Week 16, but he barely missed a beat before leaving midway through the third quarter. He finished 21 of 30 for 255 yards and touchdowns while passing and running.
Harrison Butker added three field goals for the Chiefs, who nearly lost a 19-3 lead but remained the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference championship games. They will face the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.
Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Browns, who had come off their first playoff win since the 1994 season. But their inability to drive for the winning touchdown – they kicked with 4:23 to left in the game – prevented them from winning two playoff games in one season for the first time since 1950.
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