Kelce, defense lead Chiefs past the Ravens back to the Super Bowl

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson should be named MVP for his incredible regular season, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes saved his best work for the playoffs.

Teaming up with All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce on Sunday, Mahomes won his second straight playoff game on the road with a 17-10 victory in the AFC Championship Game against the top-seeded Ravens. The defending champion Chiefs are returning to the Super Bowl for the fourth time since 2019, seeking their third title.

After giving up a touchdown on Baltimore's second possession, the Chiefs defense led the way, as it has for much of the season. No play was more important than L'Jarius Sneed's fumble recovery in the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs, who for most of this regular season have looked more vulnerable than ever since Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, are heading back to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and then used a superb defensive game plan to beat the Ravens.

Describe the game in two words: Kelce dominates. Kelce, who said during the week that he wanted to win this AFC championship game “more than I've ever wanted to in my life,” played like that. Kelce caught 11 passes, including the Chiefs' first touchdown, for 116 yards. He set an NFL record for postseason catches with 152, breaking the mark held by Jerry Rice.

QB breakdown: Mahomes was there. He stuck to mostly shorter throws, but was able to make them work. Mahomes was 30 of 39 for 241 yards and a touchdown. Just throwing to Kelce, he was 11-for-11.

Crucial game: Coach Andy Reid had the Chiefs try to convert on fourth-and-2 from the Baltimore 41 on their first drive of the game, and Mahomes completed a 13-yard pass to Kelce to keep the drive alive . The Chiefs then scored the first touchdown of the game – and never trailed. –Adam Teicher

Next game: Super Bowl LVIII, February 11 against winner of San Francisco/Detroit

Baltimore Ravens

Jackson will have to wait another year before he can fulfill his draft day promise of bringing the Ravens a Super Bowl.

Jackson and the Ravens offense collapsed with three turnovers, ending the season for the AFC's No. 1 seed and causing the end of the AFC Championship Game 1 at home of the Ravens' story of bitter disappointment. The Ravens haven't reached the Super Bowl since winning in 2012.

The Ravens are 0-8 in team history when committing three or more turnovers in the playoffs.

Jackson punctuated the Ravens' offense's struggles when he slammed his helmet into the ground after throwing into triple coverage and being intercepted in the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Ravens also turned the ball over on Jackson getting picked off from behind in the first half and wide receiver Zay Flowers fumbling near the goal line. The only other time Baltimore turned the ball over three times was in Week 5 in a loss to the Steelers.

Jackson, the NFL's MVP favorite, finished 20 of 37 for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception as Baltimore tied a season low with 10 points.

QB Breakdown: Jackson had the hardest time extending drives. He was 1 of 6 for 7 yards and two sacks on third down. It was a reversal of fortune for the Ravens, who converted 42 percent of their third downs in the regular season, which ranked 9th in the NFL.

A crucial game: Flowers' fumble near the goal line in the fourth quarter. With Baltimore leading 17-7, Flowers dove toward the end zone with what appeared to be a touchdown, but then received the ball hit by Sneed. It was the first fumble of the season for Flowers, a 2023 first-rounder visibly distraught on the sideline. It was also an uncharacteristic mistake for Baltimore as a team. It was the Ravens' first red zone turnover since Week 5.

Disturbing trend: Jackson trailed by double digits for just the fifth time in his six-year career, but it was the third time it's happened against the Chiefs.

It was bad timing for Jackson and the Baltimore offense to have their slowest start to the season. Excluding the season finale (when Jackson did not play), the Ravens totaled the lowest points (seven), yards (110) and completions (five) in the first half.

It’s not just the offense that has struggled. Baltimore's defense allowed touchdowns on the first two drives for the first time since 2021 against the Vikings.

Mind-blowing statistic: Jackson had the game's most unique highlight in the second quarter, when he caught his own pass. The 13-yard Jackson-to-Jackson connection was the longest completion by a single player in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era.

On second-and-5 at his own 18-yard line, Jackson saw his pass deflected toward the line by safety Justin Reid, who deflected the ball high in the air. He ran down the field to catch the pass, which was the longest completion by a single player since Kent Graham in 1998 with the New York Giants.

But four plays later, the Ravens ended up punting — which was the theme of the game. — Jamison Hensley