New on SI: Texans Collapse, Chiefs Explode in Arrowhead

Patrick Mahomes throws five touchdowns as Chiefs score 41 unanswered points to defeat the Texans and advance to the AFC Championship

It was an amazing, awesome, astounding game at Arrowhead with the Chiefs coming back from down 24-0 in the first half to beating the Texans 51-31 and now advance to the AFC Championship game where they will host the Titans.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr was at Arrowhead Stadium for this AFC Divisional battle and noted the Chiefs fans were shell-shocked during the first quarter when they saw their hometown team go down 24 points. But Orr said, the Crowd came alive during the Chiefs historic second quarter performance and were elated after the game knowing the Chiefs now host the Titans for the AFC Championship.

Playoff History was made during the

chiefs instant classic comeback. They became the first team in league history to trail by 24 points but have a lead by halftime. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdowns in the second quarter, tying Doug Williams’ Super Bowl performance in 1988 as the only other passer with four scores in a single quarter. Three of those four touchdowns were caught by tight end Travis Kelce who became the first player in playoff history with three touchdown catches in a single quarter. The Chiefs also made post-season history by scoring a touchdown on seven straight drives. Mahomes finished with 321 yards and five touchdowns while Kelce caught 10 passes for 134 yards and the three scores.

For the Texans, DeShaun Watson finished with 388 yards and two touchdowns. Watson also ran for 37 yards and hit pay dirt on a five yard run. His leading receiver was DeAndre Hopkins who caught nine passes for 118 yards. 

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is once again under scrutiny after a controversial decision to kick a field goal on 4th and 1 when up 24 points which Orr says “flies against any sort of analytics decision making.”

As for the winning coach, Andy Reid’s team will make their second consecutive trip to the AFC Conference Championship, his seventh appearance in his coaching career.

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