Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Mahomes guides champions to fourth Super Bowl in last five years | NFL News

He did it once more. They did it once more. They had been doubted; they cared not for doubts. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in the last five years after shattering the desires of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens with a 17-10 victory in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Jackson threw an finish zone interception whereas chasing the sport in the fourth quarter and Zay Flowers misplaced a fumble on the Chiefs goalline as a battle of the league’s elite quarterbacks developed right into a battle between the Ravens’ play-caller and Steve Spagnuolo’s phenomenal Kansas City protection.

Travis Kelce and Isiah Pacheco every scored first-half touchdowns because the defending Super Bowl champions constructed a defining 17-7 benefit on the break on their method to reserving a spot in Las Vegas, the place they are going to face the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV.

Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passing for 241 yards and a rating as he and the Chiefs now look to turn out to be the primary group because the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Kelce in the meantime continued to make a reputation for himself in the file books with 11 catches for 116 yards and a landing, surpassing the nice Jerry Rice for many postseason receptions in NFL historical past.

Trailing 17-7 with seven minutes remaining, Jackson was intercepted by Deon Bush whereas forcing a harmful throw to his tight finish Isaiah Likely behind the tip zone, prompting Baltimore’s quarterback to slam his helmet in frustration amid a sport of expensive errors from the hosts.

The Ravens had been inches away from making it a one-score sport in the third quarter when L’Jarius Sneed continued his glowing marketing campaign by punching the ball out of the arms of Flowers because the rookie tried to dive for the goalline, with the Chiefs recovering in the tip zone for a touchback.

It capped a turbulent drive for the first-round decide, who had value his group 15 yards after being flagged for taunting Sneed following a 54-yard catch that may have set the Ravens up on the 10-yard line.

Baltimore’s messy day continued on the Chiefs’ ensuing drive as Jadeveon Clowney’s roughing the passer penalty prolonged a drive that finally chewed 4 invaluable minutes off the clock.

Justin Tucker’s 43-yard area purpose with 2.34 remaining saved the Ravens alive, till Mahomes delivered one ultimate sucker-punch with a 32-yard go to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to ice the sport on third-and-nine.

What had been billed by Jackson as a heavyweight bout wasted little time in delivering its first wave of jabs as Kelce out-wrestled All-Pro security Kyle Hamilton in the nook of the tip zone to haul in a 19-yard landing strike that may cap the Chiefs’ 10-play 86-yard opening drive.

The makings of an epic had been teased earlier in the possession when Mahomes dared to float a go in the direction of his star tight finish on a crossing route on fourth-and-one, Kelce leaping to make the 13-yard seize on Hamilton because the pair ignited their fascinating game-long duel.

Back got here Baltimore. Back got here Lamar. The Ravens had been stage on the very subsequent drive when their possible MVP quarterback prolonged the play amid a chaotic backfield earlier than heaving a 30-yard finish zone strike to Zay Flowers, having moments earlier transformed on fourth-and-one with a 21-yard burst that had threatened to turn out to be a home name had been it not for L’Jarius Sneed.

The Chiefs reverted to the run in a bid to restore management of the clock, a 16-play 75-yard marathon march lasting 9 minutes and culminating in Pacheco’s two-yard speeding rating.

Kansas City had the chance to prolong their benefit once they recovered a fumble from Jackson, solely to flip it over on downs after Pacheco was stuffed on fourth-and-one from the Ravens’ 13-yard line.

Jackson magic adopted as he scurried to catch and carry his personal deflected go for 13 yards in a drive that may come up empty, earlier than Harrison Butker tacked on a 52-yard area purpose to make it 17-7 on the break.

For Jackson and the Ravens it could function one more painful playoff exit after that they had entered the postseason because the AFC’s No 1 seed and the consensus Super Bowl favourites.

For the Chiefs, it was the extension of a drastic flip in type because the begin of the playoffs after a season of struggles on offense that had contributed to them shedding 4 of six video games in a stretch from the tip of November to Christmas Day. Playing in their sixth straight AFC Championship Game, they discovered a method but once more.

Stats leaders:

Kansas City Chiefs

• Passing: Patrick Mahomes, 30/39, 241 yards, 1 TD
• Rushing: Isiah Pacheco, 24 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
• Receiving: Travis Kelce, 11 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD

Baltimore Ravens

• Passing: Lamar Jackson, 20/37, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing: Lamar Jackson, 8 carries, 54 yards
• Receiving: Zay Flowers, 5 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD

Score abstract

What was mentioned?

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes: “It’s been a heck of a year, we’re not done yet, but this is the way to get there. We’ve been underdogs for the last few games, but we never feel like underdogs and we’ve got a lot of guys who know how to win.”

Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce: “The Chiefs are still the Chiefs. And believe it – you’ve got to fight for your right to party! Believe it, baby, we’re going to Las Vegas.”

Sky Sports NFL’s Ndamukong Suh: “They showed the reason they should be in the Super Bowl because they were calm, collected, and their composure was right there when they needed plays.”

Sky Sports NFL’s Jason Bell: “They’ve got the best quarterback in the league and that’s what’s important. They had to change, they had to evolve, and they’re playing their best football at the moment.”

What’s subsequent?

The Chiefs transfer on to face the 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday February 11. Build-up begins at 10pm stay on Sky Sports NFL forward of kickoff at 11.30pm from Allegiant Stadium.