The first playoff game of the weekend between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs featured a closer-than-expected matchup, a worrying injury to Patrick Mahomes and just two turnovers. In the end, talent and experience won out and the Chiefs snatched a 27-20 victory on Saturday.
The light has been on the young quarterbacks for some time. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are part of an exceptional generation. They represent the future of the NFL. However, the present is called Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs star is still the best quarterback in the NFL.
Flanked by versatile and explosive receivers, the 27-year-old leads the most consistent team on the circuit.
The challenge was gigantic for the Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Although quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a record of 37 wins and no losses since high school on Saturday, the Chiefs were too well-honed to leave any room for doubt.
Mahomes was flying downfield early in the game. The Jaguars applied a blitz and a lot of pressure to each sequence, but the number 15 always found a way to spot one of his receivers. Sometimes even with one or two players on the back.
Mahomes could have hit his targets even blindfolded and being chased by an army of wolverines.
For a very rare time in Kansas City, the stadium was silent at the very end of the first quarter. Linebacker Arden Key dropped on Mahomes’ right ankle. The pain was palpable. On every play until halfway through the second quarter, the guard limped around. He hopped before, during and after the games. Clearly, something was wrong.
Reserve Chad Henne took over for the last 10 minutes of the first half, while a disgruntled Mahomes had to retreat to the locker room to be assessed.
Even on one leg, Mahomes is superior to the majority of his colleagues. He returned after halftime. Without running and without being able to rely on his back foot to fire off his usual missiles, he did what was necessary to make his team win. The captain finished the game with two touchdowns, 195 yards and 22 completions of 30 attempted.
Dominion of Kelce
Travis Kelce has once again shown why he is alone in his category. The best tight end in the league is also one of the most reliable and skilled receivers.
No doubt Mahomes wouldn’t have the same aura without his yellow-gloved sidekick.
Even if all the opposing defenses know his powers, Kelce always finds a way to be forgotten or to find the breach to shine.
He caught two touchdown passes during the game. Twice in the paying zone, where he makes his opponents suffer most of the time. No NFL player is more dangerous in the end zone.
With his 14 receptions, Kelce broke the NFL record for most catches by a tight end in a playoff game.
He’s not known for his blocking skills though, but he’s also done a lot of work in the trenches to help the ground game. Kelce shone like the four stars on his uniform.
Two costly mistakes
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars played a good game. However, to hope to beat the Chiefs at home in the playoffs, you have to play a very good game.
The collective statistics are extremely similar, almost equivalent, between the two teams.
The second-year quarterback has little to be ashamed of. He can thank his offensive linemen. Their work against the heavy Chiefs defense was colossal.
Lawrence was only joined twice. Running back Travis Étienne Jr also orchestrated superb streaks giving his team good positioning each time.
Nothing has exceeded. Their pencils were sharp. It was just two turnovers in the fourth quarter, the only two in the game, that significantly reduced the Jaguars’ chances.
First, a fumble recovery from receiver Jamal Agnew provoked by Nick Bolton at the goal gate with less than six minutes left in the game. Then, in the final stretch of the game, Jaylen Watson intercepted Lawrence’s throw.
A flawless match, from which the Jaguars can come out with their heads held high, despite everything. The Chiefs will be watching Mahomes with interest, because the All-American champions will have a tough challenge in the Conference Finals. The kind of duel where they will not have room for error.