11 winners and 1 huge loser from the Chiefs’ AFC Title win over the Payments

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are going to the Tremendous Bowl…

…for the third straight season, for the fifth time in six years, with an opportunity to make historical past.

They earned that proper by beating the Buffalo Payments for the fourth time within the final 5 postseasons. They earned it by overcoming the second-best quarterback within the NFL. They earned it with fourth-down stops, two-point conversion stops and straightforward execution on offense.

It have to be completely depressing to not be a Chiefs fan at this level (and we’ve seen it and heard all of it week). This was a whole group win by a championship franchise that is aware of precisely what it takes, they usually received it achieved.

How can I name anybody in that constructing a loser this week?

Winners

Picture by Brooke Sutton/Getty Pictures

Extensive receiver Xavier Worthy: There’s one thing poetic about watching the undersized broad receiver come down with a contested catch down the sector and go Superman-style on the pylon. The identical receiver that the Payments didn’t need, in order that they traded with the Chiefs on this yr’s draft. Sure, Xavier Worthy was excellent on Sunday, with over 100 yards of offense and a landing. He regarded like a man who was extra gifted and needed it greater than the opposite man. The Chiefs drafted, developed and found out get him concerned — and he’s paying huge dividends as a rookie.

Extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster: For those who wager the over on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s receiving yards this week, you in all probability received some great odds. He’s considerably of a forgotten man now that the Chiefs broad receiver room options Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins, however Smith-Schuster made two of the largest cross performs of the night, exploiting the house within the Payments secondary. It’s a must to really feel good for Smith-Schuster, who got here again this season and helped the Chiefs overcome the lack of Rashee Rice, solely to be leapfrogged by these different guys — till it mattered most.

Linebacker Nick Bolton: By no means recognized for his cross protection, Nick Bolton did what he does finest on Sunday. He made some great tackles, none larger than a fourth-quarter cease of Josh Allen on fourth-and-1. The Payments tried to select on him in protection (and it labored for a bit), however Bolton made a play on a cross to Dalton Kincaid that helped pressure a three-and-out and a Chiefs landing drive.

Defensive lineman Chris Jones: The Payments dared to dam Chris Jones one-on-one 11 occasions within the first half. Jones responded with a unprecedented seven quarterback pressures. There was a two-point conversion the place Jones terrorized the offensive lineman and hit Josh Allen’s arm to close it down. I anticipate that upon rewatch, we’ll see Jones within the combine on the largest performs of the sport. He sheds and causes tears — Jones is one of the best there may be.

Defensive linemen Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu, Turk Wharton and George Karlaftis: Jones wasn’t the one member of Sack Nation to step up within the AFC Championship sport. Mike Danna recorded a sack and two quarterback hits. Charles Omenihu continued his playoff run with a deal with for loss and a batted cross. Turk Wharton had a sack on first-and-goal, and George Karlaftis hit Josh Allen thrice, together with the ultimate defensive play of the sport. It was an amazing defensive effort all afternoon.

Kansas Metropolis’s teaching workers: Coming into the sport, we questioned if the Chiefs may blitz Allen — or if there was any solution to cease him on quarterback sneaks and designed runs. Steve Spagnuolo discovered a approach. Probably the most embellished coordinator in NFL historical past placed on a clinic with superbly timed and executed blitz calls and a well-prepared protection. It was a legacy sport for Spagnuolo, however we will’t overlook what Andy Reid has completed and in-built Kansas Metropolis. This franchise is endlessly modified by the dynasty Reid began. He rebuilt the teaching workers, entrance workplace and roster in his personal picture, and the remainder of the league can solely attempt to poach and replicate. Reid additionally known as a masterful sport on offense — the execution, preparation, poise and play-calling regarded easy. However we all know it was because of the efforts of this workers day in and day trip.

Kick returner Nikko Remigio: The Chiefs solely compelled one returnable punt. Remigio took it 41 yards to arrange a first-half landing drive. He bounced again from what regarded like an harm and didn’t miss a return, averaging 26.8 yards on kickoff returns. The previous undrafted free agent has grow to be a dependable playmaker on particular groups as of late, and nothing turns a playoff sport fairly like a giant return.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: In a record-breaking profession, Patrick Mahomes has put collectively two of his finest, best video games on this playoff run. Some may see 245 yards and one passing landing and assume a mediocre final result. However Mahomes averaged 9.4 yards per try — effectively above his profession and even postseason customary. He did so with out an enormous sport from Travis Kelce or DeAndre Hopkins and plenty of explosive performs. Mahomes was surgical in his decision-making and execution this week. Oh, and when he wanted to run, he grew to become essentially the most completed dashing quarterback in playoff historical past, recording his first sport with two dashing touchdowns. Mahomes did all of this with a peaceful presence that certainly made each groups really feel he was inevitable.

Losers

Picture by Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures

The justifications: All we heard all week was speak concerning the Chiefs benefiting from favorable calls and a few imaginary conspiracy that enables a small-market group to construct a dynasty. It couldn’t presumably be that they’ve constructed a confirmed winner round a Corridor of Fame coach, coordinator, quarterback, defensive lineman and tight finish. It couldn’t be that they put together and apply, they struggle by accidents, they reload the roster after they need to, they draft effectively, they’ve the suitable leaders within the locker room. To go to a few straight Tremendous Bowls and 5 in six years, one thing needs to be rigged. Allen mentioned it finest after the sport: “To be the champs you have to beat the champs, and we didn’t do it tonight.“ He added, “You can either get it done or you can’t, and we didn’t get it done.”

Right here’s to hoping the remainder of the NFL group could be extra like Allen and perceive that the Chiefs know get it achieved.

Be aware: Making use of the labels “winners” and “losers just isn’t supposed to be a judgment on the expertise or character of any of those individuals. It’s only a easy solution to grade their efficiency in a single sport. No disrespect is meant.