Kelce, protection top Chiefs year the Ravens again to the Tremendous Bowl

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is predicted to be named MVP for his implausible common season, however Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has stored his highest paintings for the playoffs.

Teaming up with All-Professional tight finish Travis Kelce on Sunday, Mahomes received his 2d immediately street postseason recreation with a 17-10 AFC Championship Sport victory over the top-seeded Ravens. The protecting champion Chiefs go back to the Tremendous Bowl for the fourth past since 2019, on the lookout for their 3rd name.

Later given up a landing on Baltimore’s 2d ownership, the Chiefs’ protection led the best way, because it has finished a lot of the season. Refuse play games was once extra noteceable than L’Jarius Sneed‘s fumble cure finally zone early within the fourth quarter.

Kansas Town Chiefs

The Chiefs, who for many of this common season appeared extra susceptible than at any past since Mahomes become their establishing quarterback in 2018, are going again to the Tremendous Bowl.

The Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and upcoming old a splendid defensive recreation plan to overcome the Ravens.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Kelce’s recreation. Kelce, who mentioned right through the era he sought after to win this AFC Championship Sport “more than I’ve ever wanted one in my life,” performed find it irresistible. Kelce stuck 11 passes, together with the Chiefs’ first landing, for 116 yards. He poised an NFL file for postseason catches with 152, breaking the mark held through Jerry Rice.

QB breakdown: Mahomes was once on level. He was once content material to pluck most commonly shorter throws however was once ready to assemble them paintings. Mahomes was once 30-of-39 for 241 yards and a landing. Throwing simply to Kelce, he was once 11-of-11.

Pivotal play games: Mentor Andy Reid had the Chiefs struggle to transform on fourth-and-2 from the Baltimore 41 on their first pressure of the sport, and Mahomes finished a 13-yard move to Kelce to retain the pressure alive. The Chiefs went on to attain the sport’s first landing — and not trailed. — Adam Teicher

Then recreation: Tremendous Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 vs. winner of San Francisco vs. Detroit.

Baltimore Ravens

Jackson should wait every other 12 months till he can ship on his draft-day assurance in order a Tremendous Bowl to the Ravens.

Jackson and the Ravens offense melted unwell with with 3 yieldings, which ended the season for the AFC’s Refuse. 1 seed and led to the primary house AFC Championship Sport in Ravens historical past to finish in sour unhappiness. The Ravens have no longer reached the Tremendous Bowl since successful it in 2012.

The Ravens are 0-8 in group historical past when committing 3 or extra yieldings in postseason.

Jackson epitomized the struggles of the Ravens offense when he slammed his helmet into the farmland nearest throwing into triple protection and getting intercepted finally zone within the fourth quarter. The Ravens additionally became the ball over on Jackson getting stripped from at the back of within the first half of and vast receiver Zay Flowers fumbling alike the function order. The one alternative past Baltimore had became the ball over 3 times was once Year 5 in a loss to the Steelers.

The NFL MVP favourite, Jackson completed 20 of 37 for 272 yards, a TD and interception as Baltimore secured a season-low with 10 issues.

QB breakdown: Jackson struggled essentially the most in extending drives. He was once 1-of-6 for seven yards and two sacks on 3rd downs. This was once a reversal of fortune for the Ravens, who transformed 42% in their 3rd downs within the common season, which ranked Refuse. 9 within the NFL.

Pivotal play games: Vegetation’ fumble alike the function order within the fourth quarter. With Baltimore unwell 17-7, Vegetation dove towards the top zone with what gave the impression to be a landing however upcoming were given the ball punched out through Sneed. It marked the primary fumble of the season for Vegetation, a rookie first-round select who was once visibly distraught at the sideline. It was once additionally an uncharacteristic mistake through Baltimore as a group. This was once the Ravens’ first red-zone yielding since Year 5.

Troubling pattern: Jackson trailed through double digits for most effective the 5th past in his six-year profession, nevertheless it’s the 3rd past this has came about towards the Chiefs.

It was once a malicious past for Jackson and the Baltimore offense to assemble their slowest get started of the season. Apart from the season finale (when Jackson didn’t play games), the Ravens totaled first-half lows of issues (seven), yards (110) and completions (5).

It wasn’t simply the offense that struggled. The Baltimore protection allowed touchdowns at the first two drives for the primary past since 2021 towards the Vikings.

Ocular-popping stat: Jackson delivered essentially the most distinctive spotlight of the sport in the second one quarter, when he stuck his personal move. The 13-yard Jackson-to-Jackson connection was once the longest of completion through a participant to himself within the postseason within the Tremendous Bowl week.

On 2d down-and-five at his personal 18-yard order, Jackson had his move tipped on the order through protection Justin Reid, which led to the ball to bounce top within the breeze. He ran downfield to tug within the move, which was once the longest of completion through a participant to himself since Kent Graham did so in 1998 with the New York Giants.

However, 4 performs upcoming, the Ravens ended up punting, which was once a theme for the sport. — Jamison Hensley

Then recreation: Season over.