NFL AFC Divisional Round Match Review- Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs

This Divisional Round playoff game was crucial all the way to the end. The Chiefs won in a way you would not believe in a million years. The Browns stayed in the game all the way but were outplayed by the defending Super Bowl Champions. It was an intriguing game, suspense after suspense. The rematch between Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes was a close one again but this time Mahomes got his revenge. The Chiefs now host their third straight AFC Conference championship game and are one game from the Super Bowl. 

1st Half-

1st Quarter- The Browns won the toss and deferred so Kansas City started off with the ball. They took advantage of getting the ball first and got points on the scoreboard quickly. They got down the field and struck. Mahomes ran an option play from the one yard line and kept the football to himself. He walked into the end zone for 6 points. Harrison Butker missed the extra point so it remained 6-0. The Browns started their drive strong also. Mayfield set up a simple screen to their tight end David Njoku who turned it into a 27 yard pickup. An easy play turned into a big gain. They couldn’t keep the momentum going and reached a 4th down. Cody Parkey converted the 46 yard field goal to half the deficit as it made it 3-6. The Chiefs next drive was even better. They reached the red zone and then Mahomes hit his record breaking tight end Travis Kelce who muscled his way through and got tackled into the end zone for a 20 yard score. Butker converted the extra point to make it 13-3. Kansas City scored on their first two possessions and that pretty much ended the first quarter.

2nd Quarter- The Browns started the quarter with a punt. They couldn’t get a touchdown against this Chiefs defense. The next drive for KC was not ideal as the other two but still good. They were penalized plenty but still managed to get into field goal range. Butker made the 50 yarder to make the margin between Cleveland and Kansas City greater. 16-3 as Cleveland couldn’t seem to get points on the board. Cleveland’s next drive had many notable moments. Mayfield led his offense down the field close to the Chiefs 30. He then passed to the rookie Rashard Higgins who kept on going. He reached for the pylon as Daniel Sorenson came flying in to make the tackle. Higgins lost the football and the ball rolled out of bounds so therefore it was a touchback. The Browns lost the ball, couldn’t score points, and gave the ball back to Kansas City before the half. But here is the twist, Sorenson made a helmet to helmet hit which is a penalty but the referees did not see it. It was an unreviewable play and this call was in favor of the Chiefs. Kansas City took advantage and they quickly got down the field and took a field goal within 10 seconds. Butker added three more points to the scoreboard for the Kansas City Chiefs to make it a dominant 19-3 as the half ended. The Browns got unlucky with that big decision and couldn’t get something going as Kansas City played their usual good football. 

2nd Half-

3rd Quarter- The Browns second half started terribly. Mayfield threw an interception to the Pro-Bowler Tyrann Mathieu who had made some great tackles to stop the run earlier and now got a takeaway for Kansas City. Thankfully for Cleveland, Kansas City didn’t get more points on the board. Harrison Butker hit the left post from 33 yards and couldn’t extend their lead more. He had missed the extra point previously also from 33 yards and missed from that spot yet again. It remained 19-3 in this ballgame. Baker Mayfield finally found a firm footing in this drive for Cleveland. They got into the red zone and cashed in. Baker Mayfield threw a perfectly accurate throw in the side of the end zone to Jarvis Landry who got his two feet in bounds to get the Browns first touchdown of the afternoon. I thought they would go for the 2 point conversion to make it a 8 point game but they went for the kick and converted to make it 10-19. The next drive for Kansas City had mixed feelings. They were on a 3rd & short and Mahomes ran the play which he got the rushing touchdown from and it ended up negatively. Mahomes didn’t get the 1st down and took an extremely hard hit to the helmet. He got up shakily and dizzy and went to the medical tent. He suffered a concussion and missed the rest of the game due to that injury. It was devastating for the Chiefs and was a major blow to the team. The 35 year old Chad Henne came into the game and his first play was an important 4 & inches. He converted the play with a toss to the Chiefs running backs Darrel Williams who surged ahead for 12 yards. They couldn’t produce a touchdown but still got 3 points. Butker finally made the field goal from 33 yards to make it a 12 point game. 10-22 Chiefs. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the Browns were ready to respond. Once again, they went down the field and scored. Kareem Hunt, the Browns second string running back fought through and scored for a 4 yard rushing touchdown. Parkey made the extra point as Cleveland was back into the game. 17-22 Chiefs. That pretty much ended the third quarter and things were getting close at Arrowhead Stadium. 

4th Quarter- The Chiefs started the quarter badly. Henne made his first big mistake as he launched a deep ball intended for Tyreek Hill. It was well overthrown and right into the hands of Karl Joseph who was just standing in the end zone made a pretty simple catch. The Browns got the ball back but couldn’t capitalize. They ate some time of the clock and didn’t even score. They punted and hoped to get the ball back for one final chance in the game. Their wish did not come true. The Chiefs wasted time on the clock and the game came down to this;  a huge 4th & inches. The Chiefs could punt and give the ball back to the Browns with 2 minutes remaining or go for it and secure the win if they got it. If they didn’t the Browns would get the ball at midfield with plenty of time. They went the hard way as Henne scrambled and passed to Hill who slid onto the turf to keep the clock running. That play won the game as the Browns playoff dreams were eliminated. I thought the Chiefs would try to draw the Browns offsides and not snap it but I was wrong. They didn’t run the ball to be safe but passed it. That was most surprising to me because any coach would have not done what the Chiefs did especially with a backup QB. Andy Reid trusted Henne to win the game for the fans and team which was really brave of him. The Chiefs won this AFC Divisional Round game 22-17.

It was an intense game, every minute key to the game and it was a great game in Kansas City, Missouri. The 6th seed Browns could not upset the favorites. Final Score- Cleveland Browns 17 and the Kansas City Chiefs 22.

THE END