Kansas City books second straight Super Bowl trip 

For the first time since drafting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs had to hit the road for an AFC Championship game.

They started the game off with no problems, forcing a three-and-out by Baltimore, then went on an 86-yard drive down the field, finished off by Travis Kelce’s 19-yard touchdown reception, resulting in a 7-0 lead.

The Ravens bounced back the next drive when Lamar Jackson evaded pressure and found rookie receiver Zay Flowers downfield for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7.

After their first drive lasted ten plays, the Chiefs took 16 plays and over nine minutes on their second drive. 

This time, it was running back Isiah Pacheco who scored for the Chiefs, taking a handoff into the end zone from two yards out, regaining the lead 14-7.

Once again down seven, the Ravens could not answer as Chiefs’ defensive end Charles Omenihu stripped Lamar Jackson, and rookie George Karlaftis jumped on it for the first turnover of the day.

Set up at Baltimore’s 33-yard line, the Chiefs were primed to extend the lead, already being in field goal range. 

Facing a fourth and one inside the 15, Kansas City elected to run the ball, but the Ravens defense turned them away, keeping the score at 14-7.

After good displays of defense by both teams forced a combined three straight punts, the Chiefs had possession of the ball at their own 11-yard line with 1:46 left in the half.

Chunk plays and a roughing the passer call got them down to the Baltimore 23-yard line in less than 80 seconds, but back-to-back holding penalties, one of which nullified a touchdown, killed the drive. 

The Chiefs had to send out kicker Harrison Butker for a 52-yard field goal attempt, and he nailed it, making the halftime score 17-7.

The first five drives of the third quarter featured a grand total of 69 yards and five first downs. Every drive resulted in a punt.

Baltimore looked like they were ready to finally put some points on the board when Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers wide-open downfield, followed by a nice run after the catch to get all the way down to the 10-yard line. 

However, the rookie must have forgotten there were referees watching because he decided to push down Chiefs’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, then proceeded to toss the ball down next to him and stand over Sneed and celebrate. 

To no one’s surprise, he received a 15-yard penalty for taunting.

Sneed would get the last laugh, though, when just a few plays later, he punched the ball out of Flowers’ arms just before crossing the goal line for a touchdown. 

Kansas City recovered the ball in the end zone, and the score stayed 17-7.

Running out of chances, the Ravens forced yet another Kansas City punt, but it was a good one, as fourth-year punter Tommy Townsend pinned Baltimore back at their own one-yard line.

The Ravens embarked on a 12-play 74-yard drive, but as he has done multiple times in his postseason career, Lamar Jackson threw a costly interception. 

At the Kansas City 25-yard line, he dropped back and floated one into triple coverage in the end zone. 

Chiefs defensive back Deon Bush got the interception, which was the Ravens’ third turnover of the day.

Again, the Chiefs punted, and Baltimore, now with just a few minutes left to score twice, had to rush down the field. 

They had to settle for a 46-yard field goal by Justin Tucker, and he made it, cutting the score to 17-10 with 2:34 left.

On a third and nine on their own 46, Patrick Mahomes threw a deep ball to receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling to ice the game. 

Kansas City kneeled the final two minutes out and will head to their fourth Super Bowl in the last five years. 

San Francisco overcomes 17 point deficit, scoring 27 in second half

The Lions came out ready to play, appearing to be the team that was more prepared. 

Their first drive took just 1:42, and it was second-year receiver Jameson Williams, on an end-around, who broke tackles and took it 42 yards to put Detroit up 7-0 early.

San Francisco responded with a methodical drive that got them into Detroit territory, but it ended up stalling out, and on the twelfth play of the drive, rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a 48-yard field goal.

Detroit’s second possession took much longer than their first but still resulted in a touchdown after going 62 yards in 11 plays while using up five minutes and twenty seconds.

Now down two touchdowns at home and with their defense nowhere to be found, the 49ers’ offense was in need of a score, and that’s exactly what they got.

Early in the second quarter, running back Christian McCaffrey scored on a 2-yard run, cutting the score to 14-7.

Detroit again appeared to have no issue moving the ball downfield, but a sack by defensive end Nick Bosa put the Lions way behind the sticks with a third and 15, which then turned into the first punt of the game.

The Lions would get the ball back just five plays later when San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw an interception to Malcolm Rodriguez.

Detroit took advantage, taking the ball 46 yards in five plays, capped off by running back Jahmyr Gibbs breaking multiple tackles on his way to a 15-yard touchdown run, making the score 21-7.

San Francisco was unable to answer, going three-and-out and giving the Lions the ball back with just under five minutes left in the half.

Detroit went on a long 17-play drive that ate up nearly the rest of the first half, but it did not end with a touchdown.

Facing a fourth and goal at the three, coach Dan Campbell thought about keeping his offense on the field but elected to kick a chip shot field goal to push the lead to 24-7 at halftime.

The Niners came out of halftime and cut the lead back to 14 with a 43-yard Jake Moody field goal, then got the ball back when Dan Campbell decided to go for a fourth and two at the San Francisco 28-yard line but was unsuccessful. 

Two plays later, receiver Brandon Aiyuk set up the 49ers with first and goal when he caught a pass that was deflected by defensive back Kindle Vildor.

Three plays later, Aiyuk finished off the drive with a touchdown reception to bring the home team back within seven.

The Lions continued to unravel when running back Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled on the first play of the ensuing drive.

Four plays later, Christian McCaffrey scored on a one-yard rush, bringing the Niners all the way back to tie the game at 24-24 in the third quarter.

The Lions’ offense continued to sputter, going three-and-out and being forced to punt.

San Francisco burned over seven minutes going on an 11-play, 65-yard drive to take their first lead of the night off of Jake Moody’s 33-yard field goal.

With just over half a quarter left, Detroit faced another fourth and short situation inside 49ers territory. 

Down 27-24, they went for it, passing up a potential game-tying 47-yard field goal. 

Quarterback Jared Goff was forced to roll right and eventually threw it in the direction of Amon-Ra St. Brown, but it was off the mark, and again, the Lions came up empty.

San Francisco essentially sealed the game on their next drive, taking it 70 yards in 7 plays, and it was running back Elijah Mitchell scoring on a handoff from three yards out to go up 34-24 with three minutes left.

Detroit kept their dwindle of hope alive when they scored on an 11-play drive that was finished off by Williams’ three-yard reception on fourth and goal.

With their only hope left in the onside kick, kicker Michael Badgley gave it his best shot. 

The ball took a high bounce but was recovered by San Francisco’s tight end, George Kittle, to end the game.

After losing in the NFC Championship game each of the last two seasons, the 49ers will head back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2019-20 season. 

Four years ago, the Chiefs and 49ers met in Super Bowl LIV, and this will be the eighth rematch in NFL history in the Super Bowl era. 

On Feb. 2, 2020, San Francisco held a 20-10 lead with seven minutes remaining in the game; however, the NFL world got a warm welcome to the Mahomes’ magic. 

After scoring 21 unanswered points during the quarter, the Chiefs lifted their second Lombardi trophy, and the then 24-year-old quarterback won his first Super Bowl MVP. 

The game will be on CBS at 6:30 pm on February 11th.

Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].