Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) and teammates celebrate winning the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, 17-10, on Sunday in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE — The Kansas City Chiefs took the extended path — and the road journey — to Super Bowl LVIII.
But they will be there — thanks to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a defense that bottled up Lamar Jackson in Sunday’s 17-10 victory in the AFC Championship at M&T Bank Stadium.
KC’s Super Bowl appearance will be its fourth in the last five seasons.
The Chiefs made a 10-point halftime lead hold thanks to a defense that continued its second-half mastery.
L’Jarius Sneed made the biggest play to start the fourth quarter. With Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers about to extend the ball forward for a touchdown at the goal line, Sneed punched the ball out, with Trent McDuffie falling on it in the end zone.
Baltimore’s five second-half possessions went punt, punt, fumble, interception, field goal, with Deon Bush adding a fourth-quarter pick to halt a drive.
Mahomes sealed it with with help from Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the final drive. On third-and-9 from the Chiefs’ 46, Mahomes lobbed a ball deep down the middle to Valdes-Scantling, who caught it flat on his back for a 32-yard gain that iced the game
KC kneeled it three times after that to give itself a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champ in two weeks.
The Chiefs led 17-7 in a first half that Mahomes dominated.
KC’s QB went 10 for 10 for 86 yards in the first quarter, leading the Chiefs on touchdown drives of 81 and 75 yards, respectively.
There were highlight-reel moments as well. Mahomes rolled right to complete a fourth-and-1 pass to Kelce to extend one possession, then later, stepped up in the pocket on a third-and-1 to float a pass to Kelce, who caught it with full extension for a 6-yard gain.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs defense stifled Jackson after his second-drive 30-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. The Ravens punted on three of their five non-kneeldown drives in the first half, with another ended when KC’s Charles Omenihu strip-sacked Jackson on an edge rush, with George Karlaftis recovering.
Jackson finished the first half 5 for 12 passing for 67 yards. Baltimore’s second-leading receiver was Jackson himself, who pulled down a deflected ball and advanced it 13 yards.
Mahomes finished 30 for 39 for 241 yards passing with a touchdown. Kelce had 11 catches for 116 yards with a score.
Both teams were after each other before the game. Mahomes and Kelce had a pregame tiff with Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker when Tucker set up his gear in the middle of the Chiefs’ warmups. Mahomes kicked Tucker’s gear away, and just after that, Kelce threw aside Tucker’s kicking footballs and helmet.
Baltimore cornerback Arthur Maulet and KC defensive back Jaylen Watson also had to be separated by officials after jawing back and forth before the game.
The Chiefs will play in Super Bowl LVIII against either the San Francisco 49ers or Detroit Lions at 5:30 p.m. Central on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
