The Kansas City Chiefs are hosting the AFC Championship Game for the fifth season in a row, after defeating Jacksonville by a score of 27-20 on Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished with 195 yards passing and two touchdowns, all the while battling an injury later identified as a high ankle sprain from early in the first half.
In Mahomes’ second quarter absence, back-up Chad Henne fired passes with pinpoint efficiency in leading a 98 yard touchdown drive that earned him a game-ball in the postgame locker room.
Kansas City earned a home date after the Cincinnati Bengals, the AFC’s #3 seed, rolled to a victory over Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. A potential Chiefs-Bills contest would have been played in Atlanta.
Mahomes has vowed to be ready for next week against he Bengals win in a rematch of the 2021 AFC title tilt won by the Bengals 27-24. In the past four AFC title games, the Chiefs are 2-2, with losses to Cincinnati and New England, and wins over Tennessee and Buffalo.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 217 yards passing with a touchdown toss to Christian Kirk, who was briefly hurt midway through the fourth quarter but returned to finish the game. Travis Etienne added 62 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Now the chatter and discussion in Kansas City through the next week will involve the health of Mahomes’ ankle, and how it may affect his mobility against an agile and tough Bengal defense. Kickoff for the AFC Championship Game will be 5:30 PM on Sunday, January 29th on CBS.
