Mahomes Postseason Tourney Round 2A: Chiefs/Titans 2020 vs. Chiefs/Bills 2021

[Chiefspants]

We’re now to Round 2 of the 2023 edition of the Mahomes greatest postseason victory tournament. The first game of Round 2 features the 4 Seed Chiefs/Titans AFC Championship Game against the 5 seed Chiefs/Bills AFC Championship game. VOTE for your favorite game of the two, the winner (poll closes Monday), will advance to the next round against the winner of Tuesdays Chiefs/Eagles vs. Chiefs/Colts matchup.

Game A: 4 seed AFC Championship Game: Chiefs vs. Titans: Arrowhead Stadium, January 19, 2020

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DTWfDWAep98" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In true AFC Championship form, the Chiefs were in a redemption game against an old playoff nemesis, Derrick Henry. The Titans had additionally completed a dagger, come from behind win against us in the regular season, and Henry had continued his dominance in upset victories against the Patriots and the Lamar Ravens that postseason. The Titans jumped out to a 10-0 lead using the same formula the Patriots had used to beat us the previous year — but then Mahomes took over. In what was the most important game in Arrowhead history, Mahomes turned in iconic plays that rose to the moment like “The Run” and the 60 yard, crowd assisted bomb to Watkins to seal the game. “The Run” was perhaps the wildest live moment I had ever experienced (see above), it was like 50 years of playoff anxiety was over in a single, cathartic play - and any worry that this would be a repeat of last year’s game disappeared with that unforgettable end to the first half — a feeling that proved true as we punched our ticket to a Super Bowl for the first time ever at home in Kansas City.

Game Highlights Here:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8vsregtUhM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Game B: 5 seed AFC Championship Game: Chiefs vs. Bills: Arrowhead Stadium, January 24, 2021

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;When we have that type of team-effort from everybody in the building, we can&#39;t be stopped.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/Bridgestone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bridgestone</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RunItBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RunItBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/3GpZ3gJJoK">pic.twitter.com/3GpZ3gJJoK</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1354111862896353281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A year later, the Chiefs faced off with their media declared heir apparent, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills; (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/the-bills-are-the-team-no-one-including-the-chiefs-wants-to-see-in-the-playoffs-plus-week-17-insider-notes/) The media’s new, enthusiastically crowed “Brady-Manning rivalry” (the fifth time in three years Mahomes was declared to have a “Manning like” rival). With the injuries to the Chiefs offensive line, Buffalo was the trendy pick coming into the game. There was also a lot said about Sean McDermott’s past with Andy Reid, famously being one of the few examples of someone getting fired from Andy’s coaching tree.

All of the media build-up quickly turned into one of the most satisfying Kansas City asskickings in recent memory. The Chiefs, who had been criticized for playing with their food throughout the season, turned in a dominant performance which resulted in them being up 38-15 by the fourth quarter. Though a lot was made of this being a redemption game for McDermott, Reid outcoached Sean at every corner of the game — a game that ended with Buffalo having a classic, on field meltdown in front of a national audience. Diggs famously promised he’d be back after this game — setting the stage for an iconic rematch a season later.

Game Highlights Here:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_FojDFDN99U" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For the full UPDATED bracket and rules, see here:

https://i77.servimg.com/u/f77/20/00/22/83/mahome10.png

It's the offseason. I'm bored. It kind of hit me like a brick this weekend that assuming Patrick Mahomes wins the QB competition over Blaine Gabbert and starts the first game of the 2023 season, Patrick will officially have been the starting quarterback for KC longer than Alex Smith. That doesn't feel right, but nonetheless it's made me reflect on what Patrick has brought to this franchise that I had never experienced before him: postseason dominance. This best appreciated by the fact that in KC’s first 49 years of existence, they did not host a single AFC Championship Game. In Patrick’s first 5 years as a starter, they’ve hosted 5.

Thinking about this has led to me making a bracket of all of Patrick Mahomes' postseason wins with Kansas City. I will make each competition into a thread, and Chiefsplanet will vote on what their favorite postseason victory was in each round... until finally we get to a winner.

A thread like this would have been insane to even fathom here before the Mahomes era, so I wanted to make this in celebration of his time so far in Kansas City.

Here's the seeding:

1 - Chiefs 38 - Eagles 35 SB57 22-23
2 - Chiefs 31 - 49ers 20 SB54 19-20
3 - Chiefs 23 - Bengals 20 AFCCG 22-23
4 - Chiefs 35 - Titans 24 AFCCG 19-20
5 - Chiefs 38 - Bills 24 AFCCG 20-21
6 - Chiefs 42 - Bills 36 OT AFCD 21-22
7 - Chiefs 22 - Browns 17 AFCD 20-21
8 - Chiefs 27 - Jaguars 20 AFCD 22-23
9 - Chiefs 31 - Colts 13 AFCD 18-19
10 - Chiefs 51 - Texans 31 AFCD 19-20
11 - Chiefs 42 - Steelers 21 AFCWC 21-22

Seeding was determined as follows: the deeper in the postseason it was, the higher the seed. Tiebreakers were determined by how close the game was. The closer the game, the higher the seed. Overtime games, since ending at a tie in regulation, automatically went the highest in the seeding for that round in the playoffs..

If 1. Rain Man hasn't already done this, and 2. Chiefsplanet doesn't tell me to suck a big ol' chili dog, the first game in the bracket will start tomorrow (6 Seed Chiefs vs. Bills Divisional vs. 11 seed Chiefs vs. Steelers Wild Card). The matchups for Round 1 can be found below.

BYES:
1 - Chiefs 38 - Eagles 35 SB57 22-23
2 - Chiefs 31 - 49ers 20 SB54 19-20
3 - Chiefs 23 - Bengals 20 AFCCG 22-23
4 - Chiefs 35 - Titans 24 AFCCG 19-20
5 - Chiefs 38 - Bills 24 AFCCG 20-21

First Round Matchups:

Monday:
6 - Chiefs 42 - Bills 36 OT AFCD 21-22 vs. 11 - Chiefs 42 - Steelers 21 AFCWC 21-22

Tuesday:
7 - Chiefs 22 - Browns 17 AFCD 20-21 vs. 10 - Chiefs 51 - Texans 31 AFCD 19-20

Wednesday:
8 - Chiefs 27 - Jaguars 20 AFCD 22-23 vs. 9 - Chiefs 31 - Colts 13 AFCD 18-19

[smithandrew051]

That Titans game felt like busting a huge nut after edging for years

[ThaVirus]

These are two heavyweights

EDIT: Never mind. I realize that this is the Bills AFCCG from the 2020 season. Damn these playoff games technically being played in the following calendar year.

[ThaVirus]

I’ve said it a million times, but that Titans AFCCG has my favorite call of all time. The long bomb TD to Sammy Watkins to ice the game late in the 4th: “Slings it way down the field to Watkins…. Saaaaammmyyyyyy Waaatkiiiiins for the touchdown!”

Obviously actual Super Bowl wins are the true prize, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt as untouchable as I did at the moment of that play with Mahomes throwing his hands up Gladiator-style for the roaring KC crowd.

[Chiefspants]

These are two heavyweights

EDIT: Never mind. I realize that this is the Bills AFCCG from the 2020 season. Damn these playoff games technically being played in the following calendar year.

Yep -- makes it a ***** to title the thread without it being a novel.

The heavyweight fight this round will be the Buffalo "13 seconds" Divisional vs. the Bengals AFC Championship Redemption Game.

[DJay23]

Goddamnit, every time I watch the Watkins TD I get choked up. The crowd going absolutely bananas behind the shot of Mahomes, arms outstretched as if to say, "I am here to save you, follow me."

[Rainbarrel]

The fast jack
Is back!

[Bearcat]

Kind of a fitting match up... spotted each team 9 and 10 points in the AFCCG, yet neither game ever seemed to be in danger.

I really wanted that Bills game, given all the hype and on top of that, all the TBD douchebags who infested CP that year. However, it was dampened a bit by covid and after going back to KC for the Patriots and Titans, I stayed home to watch that one. In the end, it didn't really live up to the hype... the 9-0 deficit was far more about the Chiefs mistakes and they dominated after that.

The Titans were an underwhelming match up for an AFCCG, yet oddly between the two teams, it was the Titans that extended the game a bit by responding to make it 17-7 after the initial deficit. The Run was fucking magical. I had first row upper deck seats centered behind the end zone, watching Mahomes run towards me (as well as screaming "GET IT TO TYREEEEEK!" on the TD before that). That's when you basically knew they weren't losing the game, and of course with the touchdown late as well when you really knew for sure that they were finally headed to the Super Bowl.

Had the Bills game lived up to the hype, I might vote for that one, especially given how much I wanted them to beat those fuckers.... but, being at Arrowhead for their first AFCCG victory in eons was pretty damn special, even if it was relatively expected against an inferior opponent.

[siberian khatru]

Goddamnit, every time I watch the Watkins TD I get choked up. The crowd going absolutely bananas behind the shot of Mahomes, arms outstretched as if to say, "I am here to save you, follow me."

I cried more winning that game than I did the Super Bowl.

[siberian khatru]

League circles are saying it’s gonna be the Titans game

[KC Hawks]

Gonna have to vote for the Chiefs again

[wazu]

I cried more winning that game than I did the Super Bowl.

Yep, definitely a lot of frozen tears in the stadium that day as the Lamar Hunt trophy was presented to Clark for the first time ever.

[Zebedee DuBois]

Getting that SB berth for the first time in 50 years!

[FloridaMan88]

Titans game because it broke the 50 year curse to reach the Super Bowl and featured this play…

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BeautifulPlumpDalmatian-size_restricted.gif

[Chiefspants]

Titans game because it broke the 50 year curse to reach the Super Bowl and featured this play…

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BeautifulPlumpDalmatian-size_restricted.gif

I’ve only been to 6 games, but this was the loudest I have ever heard Arrowhead.

[Gary Cooper]

Definitely the Titans game. After the loss to New England in 2018, losing another AFC Championship would have sucked. That was a major hurdle to overcome. Also, arguably Mahomes greatest play.

The game against Buffalo was like been there, done that. It was all about the Super Bowl that year and repeating.

[Best22]

No contest

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8501602/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3726x2096+0+194/resize/1200x675!/quality/80/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Fd4%2F0e58db554786bfaa9b57c65f2679%2Fhttps-delivery.gettyimages.com%2Fdownloads%2F1200602587.jpg

Mahomes was perfect, best player in the stadium. Take away a drop by Hill and another by Kelce on 3rd down, we might have scored 49 points

[MMXcalibur]

Chiefs/Titans

We broke through the glass ceiling and after (personally) 27 years of frustration, it was so goddamn worth it to just MAKE a Super Bowl.

[Sassy Squatch]

LMAO It's the Titans game and it shouldn't even be close.

[redfan]

Sammy, 'Reek, and "The Run".

[Rainbarrel]

2-3 playoff Tannehill over 4-4 Josh Allen ALL DAY

[Basileus777]

It's the Titans game. As much as humiliating the Bills was fun, the rivalry with the Bills mostly exists in Buffalo fans heads.

[Rain Man]

The Bills game is my favorite playoff game because I like sacks and it contained one of the biggest, if not the biggest, yardage sack in Chiefs history. Also, the play that Tyreek made at 5:47 in the highlights won't be in his highlight film, but it was peak Tyreek, just blowing the jersey off of the poor schmuck who had position on him and was trying to make an open-field tackle. In fact, this whole game was a master class by Kelce and Tyreek.

But more than anything, this was a good team effort that gave us a rare non-dramatic win. That makes it worthy.

[Rain Man]

There are a lot of reasons why the Titans game is my favorite playoff game ever. Obviously, we have the Mahomes run and the Super Bowl-clinching pass to Sammy and the closeout sack by Playoff Frank. We have the victory over Mike Vrabel, who may have been the whiniest Chiefs player ever after he arrived as a throw-in with the Matt Cassel trade. And this was the game that brought us to the promised land after the 50-year march across the desert.

Those are great reasons. All of them are great. But let me tell you why this is my favorite playoff game ever.

This is the greatest playoff game ever because we weren't really playing against the Titans. We were playing against our ghosts, or rather the paradigm that Marty and Carl clung to for a decade, and which we all knew was a doomed strategy. The Titans built the quintessenital Marty team, relying on a power running back and a strong defense. We'd seen this team many times before, and it always failed at critical times against teams with superstar quarterbacks. In this game, every knowledgeable Chiefs fan saw what we always knew to be true - the superstar quarterback always wins over the smashmouth run-and-defend team. This game proved that there was no Chiefs curse, there was merely a bad strategy that kept biting us over and over and over in the past. We didn't just vanquish the Titans in this game. We vanquished the fatal flaw that had caused us so much pain over the years.