28 January 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will defend their Super Bowl ring after a dominant 17-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship.
This will be the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl in five years.
The Chiefs started the game nearly flawless by holding the Ravens to a three-and-out and ending a 10-play, 86-yard drive with a back-shoulder Patrick Mahomes pass to Travis Kelce for a 19-yard touchdown.
It was the eighth straight opening-drive playoff TD for the Chiefs, the most since 1991.
Baltimore responded in six plays with a 30-yard TD from quarterback Lamar Jackson to rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Mahomes used a 16-play, 75-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter with a two-yard TD run from running back Isiah Pacheco.
After a back-and-forth lengthy second quarter, the Chiefs ended the quarter with a field goal to get a 17-7 lead at the half.
Kelce ended a monstrous first half with nine catches, 96 yards and a touchdown that helped him pass Hall of Famer Jerry Rice to collect the most postseason catches in NFL history at 152.
The Chiefs dominated possession in the first half by holding the ball for over 20 minutes and 43 plays compared to Baltimore’s 22.
Kansas City also had a holding penalty on right guard Trey Smith bring back a TD from rookie receiver Rashee Rice near the end of the half.
There was no score in the third quarter but the fourth quarter began with Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed forcing a Flowers fumble in the end zone and the Chiefs recovered the ball for a touchback keeping the game at 17-7.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs sealed the win with an interception from safety Deon Bush.
Mahomes ended the night with 241 yards (30 for 39) and a touchdown.
Kelce ended the night with 116 yards and a TD on 11 catches. Pacheco ended the night with 68 yards and a TD.
The Chiefs will face the winner of the NFC Championship between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.