Kansas City out-did the run-oriented Tennessee Titans and star back Derrick Henry for a 35-24 victory Sunday in the AFC championship. At last, for the third time overall, the Chiefs (14-4) are Super Bowl bound.
In two weeks in Miami, they will play San Francisco, which rolled to a 37-20 win over Green Bay in the NFC title game.
A week after they overcame a 24-0 deficit against Houston, the Chiefs had to rally again. Down 10-0 and 17-7, Kansas City didn’t flinch, building a 35-17 lead while controlling the clock with a strong ground game. Naturally, Mahomes complemented that with sharp passing, spreading the ball on short and deep throws. The dagger came with a 60-yard completion to Watkins for the Chiefs’ 28th straight point midway in the final period.
Henry was held to 69 yards on 19 carries after rushing for 588 yards in the past three games as an unstoppable force.
The Chiefs easily outrushed the Titans on Sunday. Mahomes led the way with 53 of those yards and also was 23 for 35 for 294 yards passing.