Winners, losers from Vikings’ OT win over Saints in wild-card round
The game went into overtime, giving Kirk Cousins a chance to quiet the critics.After a thrilling opening to the playoffs on Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints delivered another nail-biting finish on Sunday. Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins each had the chance to silence the skeptics, but only one stepped up when it mattered.
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The Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans battled in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game with a trip to Super Bowl LIV at stake. The clash of conference powers provided plenty of entertainment, but one team emerged victoriously to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
The Titans got rolling early with Derrick Henry powering through the Chiefs defense before finding the end zone. After jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, NFL fans wondered if Kansas City might be in trouble.
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Patrick Mahomes then proved why he’s the best player on the planet. Fighting for a chance to compete in the Super Bowl, the 24-year-old quarterback made plays that left everyone speechless. When halftime arrived, the Chiefs turned a 10-point deficit into a 21-17 lead.
Here are the winners and losers from the Chiefs’ 35-24 win over the Titans in the AFC Championship Game.
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We’re out of adjectives to describes Mahomes’ greatness. Just when you thought he couldn’t make a more jaw-dropping play than this 20-yard touchdown strike, he makes one of the best plays of the NFL season. There are no words that capture the absurdity of Mahomes’ game-tying touchdown; you just have to watch it.
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Mahomes needed just one half to become the first Chiefs player to throw multiple touchdowns and rush for a score in a postseason game. He returned after halftime and kept picking the Titans defense apart. The Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl, and Mahomes is playing at a level that might help them win it all.
The Chiefs provided Henry with bulletin-board material this week. After rushing for 377 yards against two of the NFL’s best defenses, Henry seemed to disappear after being called out. When the Titans needed him the most, the 6-foot-3 running back came up small.
He rushed for 32 yards and a score on Tennessee’s first two drives. Following those eight carries, Henry struggled to rack up 37 yards and averaged 3.3 yards per carry. Once Kansas City jumped out to a two-score lead, Henry’s inability to contribute on passing downs proved costly. Henry’s incredible run in December and into the postseason was fun to watch, but he crashed hard in the AFC Championship Game.
Hill made headlines for all the wrong reasons before the game. Fortunately, he backed up his pregame gesture with a dominant first-half performance. He helped snap Kansas City’s offense out of its cold spell early with a lightning-quick touchdown. Tennessee didn’t learn its lesson.
Nobody is catching Tyreek Hill
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/n9QPq1vwzB
— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2020
Then Hill’s ridiculous speed helped him create just enough separation over the middle and haul in his second touchdown of the half. While he might not have posted breathtaking numbers, he made his opportunities count. We can’t wait to see what the Chiefs draw up for Hill with two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are celebrating right now, but Breeland is the reason this game wasn’t an even bigger blowout. When the game was tight and the Chiefs needed a spark, Breeland’s two gaffes proved costly early.
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First, he dropped an interception that hit him right in the hands. Instead of giving the ball back to Mahomes, Breeland’s drop kept the Titans offense on the field, and they found the end zone six plays later. He committed pass interference on the next drive, which turned a failed third down into a new life and another touchdown a few plays later.
The return of Chris Jones made the difference. Playing through a painful calf injury, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle made his presence felt on nearly every snap. Of course, he also helped create opportunities for his teammates.
TK brings down Tannehill pic.twitter.com/8UhpzFCbtS
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020
Defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon racked up two sacks, and defensive tackle Mike Pennel came up with huge stops against Henry. The Titans came into this game with their offensive line dominating opponents, but the Chiefs simply overpowered them. If this entire unit can be healthy for the Super Bowl, they will do serious damage against whomever they face.
Tannehill deserves plenty of credit for how well he played this season. However, it also can’t be ignored that the Titans hit their ceiling with him at quarterback. Once this game turned into a shootout, Tennessee’s offense was exposed with the game on Tannehill’s shoulders.
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He threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns. While the numbers are solid, he also benefited from multiple dropped interceptions and Kansas City playing a prevent defense in the final minutes. Tannehill will still get paid this offseason, but the Titans hit their peak with him.
Everyone’s favorite NFL coach is going back to the Super Bowl. After years of being haunted by some poor decisions, especially in key moments, Reid’s team executed everything in this game. Reid didn’t panic when the offense struggled early, he stuck to his plan and trusted in Mahomes.
This team, fan base and coaching staff went through so much heartbreak last year, but it’s all worth it now. The Lamar Hunt Trophy is now headed home. Reid and the Chiefs are headed to Super Bowl LIV with a great shot at bringing a title back to Kansas City.
Related slideshow: The best and worst result in the history of each 2019 NFL playoff team (Provided by Yardbarker)
The best and worst result in the history of each 2019-20 NFL playoff team
Every NFL organization has playoff pasts it remembers fondly as well as some games the franchise would prefer to forget. From early exits to long runs and championship seasons, the postseason has seen it all.Here are the best and worst playoff results in the history of this year's playoff teams.(Dates reflect the teams' regular seasons.) Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens best: won Super Bowl (2000, 2012)
Baltimore's elite defense led the team to a 34-7 win over the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Linebacker Ray Lewis got a proper send-off 12 years later when the team beat San Francisco, 34-31, in Super Bowl XLVII, a matchup between head coach brothers John and Jim Harbaugh. Harry How / Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens worst: lost wild-card weekend games (2003, 2018)
The Ravens lost their wild-card weekend games to Tennessee, 20-17, at home in 2003 and again in 2018, as rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled in a 23-17 loss to the Chargers. Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images
Buffalo Bills best: reached Super Bowl (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Buffalo's well-documented, four-year streak of Super Bowl defeats defined playoff disappointment in the 1990s. The Bills' closest chance came in 1990 when kicker Scott Norwood notoriously missed a game-winning field goal attempt wide right against the Giants. Those Bills teams, led by Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith, are still fondly remembered despite never winning the big one. Mike Powell / Getty Images
Buffalo Bills worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1996, 1998, 1999, 2017)
Unfortunately Buffalo's last four playoff appearances have been one-and-done in the wild-card round. They disappointed three times in four years in the late 1990s under Marv Levy and Wade Phillips. Most recently, Buffalo lost a 10-3 offensive struggle at Jacksonville in 2017. Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images
Green Bay Packers best: won Super Bowl (1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)
The Packers franchise is known for its history of greatness and won the first two Super Bowls ever. More recently, Brett Favre led the team to a 35-21 win over the Patriots in 1996 and Aaron Rodgers won his only Super Bowl, in 2010, with a 31-25 win over the Steelers. Rob Tringali / SportsChrome / Getty Images
Green Bay Packers worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1998, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2013)
Green Bay's more recent history has been defined by losses in the playoffs, including five defeats in the wild-card round over the last 21 years. The team's more recent wild-card weekend exit was a 23-20 defeat while hosting San Francisco in 2013. Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
The Texans organization has been to the playoffs only five times in its 17-year history and has never advanced past the divisional round. Houston's most recent division round appearance was a 34-16 loss at New England in 2016, after quarterback Brock Osweiler threw three interceptions. Elsa / Getty Images
Houston Texans worst: lost wild-card weekend games (2015, 2018)
Houston was blown out, 30-0, at home against the Chiefs in 2015. Last year's result wasn't much better, as the Texans lost at home, 21-7, to the Colts, getting their only points in the fourth quarter. Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images
The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV over the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7. Len Dawson starred with his 142 passing yards and a touchdown, and Mike Garrett also scored a touchdown on the ground. Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2017)
The Chiefs have become synonymous with early playoff exits in recent seasons. Their most recent wild-card weekend loss was a heartbreaker vs. Tennessee in which they led the Titans, 21-3, at halftime before losing, 22-21. That was only slightly better than their 45-44 wild-card round loss to the Colts in 2013, after leading 31-10 at halftime. Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images
Minnesota Vikings best: reached Super Bowl (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976)
Minnesota had some dominant teams in the late 1960s and 1970s, but they failed to win the big one with head coach Bud Grant and star quarterback Fran Tarkenton. In fact, the team lost all four of their Super Bowl appearances by double digits. Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2008, 2012, 2015)
The Vikings have suffered numerous wild-card exits since 1992. Their most recent loss was under head coach Mike Zimmer in 2015, when Seattle closed a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to win, 10-9, as Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining. Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images
New England Patriots best: won Super Bowl (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
The Patriots dynasty continues with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, who have teamed up to win all six of the franchise's Super Bowls. The most recent win was a dominant defensive performance in Super Bowl LIII, beating the Rams, 13-3. Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images
New England Patriots worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1982, 1994, 1998, 2009)
It's tough to feel sorry for Patriots fans given their five recent Super Bowl wins, but they had been snakebitten prior to the Belichick-Brady era. New England's most recent wild-card round loss was tough, losing 33-14 at home to Baltimore as Brady threw three interceptions. Baltimore Sun / Getty Images
New Orleans upset the favored Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV, putting on its back a city that was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Drew Brees had a great game, recording 288 passing yards and two touchdowns. Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images
New Orleans Saints worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2010)
New Orleans lost in the wild-card round three years in a row, including a second-half collapse to the Eagles at home in 1992. However, the Saints' loss in 2010 was an even bigger upset. As defending Super Bowl champs, they lost, 41-36, to a 7-9 Seahawks squad. Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images
The Eagles were a Cinderella story two years ago, beating the favored Patriots, 41-33, in Super Bowl LII behind the great play of backup quarterback Nick Foles. It was the organization's first Super Bowl win in three tries. Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images
Philadelphia Eagles worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1978, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2009, 2010, 2013)
The Eagles have eight wild-card round losses in franchise history. Their most recent was a 26-24 loss to the Saints in 2013 under head coach Chip Kelly. Al Bello / Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers best: won Super Bowl (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994)
San Francisco had quite a run in the 1980s and early 1990s. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana led the team to their first four Super Bowl wins, while Steve Young "got the monkey off his back" with a historic 49-26 win over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. Focus on Sport / Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1985, 2001)
Following up a Super Bowl win, San Francisco lost, 17-3, to the Giants in the wild-card round back in 1985. Sixteen years later, the Niners fell, 25-15, to the Packers. Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
Seattle's great defense and efficient offense dominated the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Peyton Manning was hampered all night, and Russell Wilson threw for 206 yards and two scores in the 43-8 win. Of course, the Seahawks had a chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls, but a Malcolm Butler interception at the goal line destroyed their hopes in Super Bowl XLIX against New England. Rob Carr / Getty Images
Seattle Seahawks worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1987, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2018)
Seattle has lost five times in the wild-card round, most recently last year, 24-22, at Dallas, as they struggled to contain the Cowboys running game. Doug Benc / Getty Images
The Titans fell short against the Rams, 23-16, in Super Bowl XXXIV on a Mike Jones goal line tackle of Kevin Dyson at the end of regulation. Of course, the fact Tennessee was in the game to begin with was quite an accomplishment, given that the Titans needed the "Music City Miracle" kickoff return vs. Buffalo to get out of the wild-card round. Tom Hauck / Getty Images
Tennessee Titans worst: lost wild-card weekend games (1980, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2007)
Dating back to their days as the Houston Oilers, the Titans franchise has lost five times in the wild-card round. Their most recent was a 17-6 defeat at San Diego under head coach Jeff Fisher with Vince Young at quarterback. Icon Sportswire
Patrick Mahomes credits Big 12 for Super Bowl win .
The Super Bowl MVP credited his college conferece for helping to instill the mentality that allowed him to engineer the Chiefs' fourth-quarter comeback.The Big 12 has long been regarded as being below the caliber of the SEC and some of the other top Power-5 conferences in college football, but it has now produced a Super Bowl champion quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. And Mahomes actually believes playing in the conference contributed to his championship.
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