(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO -- The defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs came out firing in their first playoff game of the season. Mahomes drove down the field with ease on the opening drive and finished it off with a touchdown. Down 16 to 3 with under two minutes to go in the second quarter, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield finds Rashard Higgins on a deep ball down the sideline, after roping in the catch Higgins reached out for the pylon and got drilled, fumbling the ball into the end zone for a Chiefs touchback. Despite a late second half push by the Browns, Kansas City was able to hang on and secure the win over the Browns by the final score of 22-17 to move on to the AFC Championship game.
Former MVP Patrick Mahomes came up wobbling in the first half with an apparent toe injury, and was later removed from the game with a concussion. While bootlegging off the right tackle, Mahomes got wrapped up by Mack Wilson and banged his head into the turf. Coming in off the bench having to lead his team to the Championship game was former Michigan QB Chad Henne, and he did not shy away from the moment. Faced with a 3rd and long situation in the waning moments of the game, Henne stepped up in the pocket and scrambled for 14 yards, falling inches short of the first down. With the game on the line, Chiefs coach Andy Reid chose to leave the offense on the field, and ran a quick hitting passing play to Tyreek Hill to secure both the first down and the victory.
The Cleveland Browns averaged 5 yards per carry but did not stick to the running game, giving Chubb and Hunt a combined 19 touches. Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 37 passes for a total of 204 yards, tossing one touchdown and one interception. Rashard Higgins led the Browns in receiving with 5 catches for 88 yards. Jarvis Landry caught the lone passing touchdown on a short goal line route.
The Kansas City Chiefs survive and advance in the NFL Playoffs and will host the pesky Buffalo Bills in Arrowhead Stadium on next Sunday. A special Browns story was put to an end on Sunday afternoon, but will look to be back and better next season. Check out highlights from today's game below!