The Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars played a game vastly different than expected after Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury in the first half.
Here are four takeaways from Saturday night’s entertaining Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium — a 27-20 Kansas City victory that put the Chiefs one win away from the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.
4 Takeaways From Jaguars vs. Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes did his best Willis Reed impression. Trevor Lawrence is gonna be really good. And the AFC Championship Game might have a peach infusion.
Patrick Mahomes, Battered and Bruised
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Patrick Mahomes is limping through the postseason.
Two years ago, a concussion knocked him from the Divisional Round, but turf toe was what lingered throughout the rest of the postseason. It was deja vu all over again when Mahomes went down with a scary ankle injury in the first half of Saturday’s game.
Mahomes suffered what’s been reported as a high-ankle sprain — which can keep players out for six weeks. Mahomes missed about six minutes.
The X-rays were negative, but so was the injury’s impact on Mahomes’ play upon his return. His mobility was gone, his accuracy was shaky, and the Chiefs’ offense was not the same. But considering he was hobbling around on one leg, any productivity was a gift.
Mahomes finished the game 22 of 30 for 195 yards and two scores. His six-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling midway through the fourth quarter put the game away.
But as the level of difficulty increases in each round, the Chiefs — who will either host the AFC title game or play the Buffalo Bills in Atlanta — could have a problem on offense.
Oh No, Agnew!
The Jaguars waited nearly 55 minutes to commit the game’s first turnover. It was crippling.
Down 10 but on the end zone’s doorstep, the Jaguars in general — and Agnew in particular — choked the game away. Agnew fumbled on the Kansas City 3-yard line, and that was that.
Game over.
That fumble will haunt Agnew all offseason. But he can take solace in knowing that the Jags wouldn’t have even been in the game without his 154 return yards.
Travis Kelce Needs an Advil
His back surely hurts today from carrying Kansas City’s diminished offense.
The NFL has been holding playoff games for more than eight decades, and never before has a tight end had a more prolific game. Kelce caught a record 14 passes on 17 targets on Saturday.
He caught two touchdown passes, including one from Chad Henne on a crucial second-quarter drive that covered 98 yards in 12 plays.
Kelce probably didn’t need to do anything more to secure his gold jacket. But Saturday night sealed the deal if it wasn’t already. He’s an all-time great.
Trevor Lawrence’s Future Is So Bright …
He needs BluBlockers. (He plays in Retiree Heaven, after all.)
Yes, his last meaningful pass was intercepted — by rookie Jaylen Watson, whose one-handed spear was the best catch of the night for either team — but he deserved better. That was desperation time. When the game was within reach, he made big-time plays.
MORE: NFL Divisional Round Results
Lawrence, who rallied the Jags from four scores back in the Wild Card round, is going to be a problem for the next decade-plus, particularly in the AFC South.
While the Jaguars couldn’t quite get over the hump Saturday night, Lawrence has hung in there in big back-to-back weeks.
Lawrence didn’t fail his teammates Saturday. They failed him.