Chiefs clinch playoffs with ugly win

The Kansas City Chiefs started 1-5 and all hope was lost. Then they won eight games and could not stop the Cleveland Browns, looking like the game was about to slip away.

Suddenly, the defense rose up and made all the plays it needed in a 17-13 win. Kansas City was without Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, and yet that unit was able to consistently make the plays in its own end despite being dead tired.

Offensively, the game was about as ugly as it gets. Alex Smith threw for only 125 yards and it seemed that every yard was tough to come by against Cleveland in the second half. Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce each provided a touchdown in the first half, but they went silent in the second half.

Perhaps the best news of the day? The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens, giving the Chiefs a playoff berth. It i the second time in three years under head coach Andy Reid that the team has reached the postseason, and now the possibilities are exciting. This team must improve offensively and get healthy defensively if they want to make the playoffs an elongated thing, but this group has talent.

Celebrate folks, your Chiefs are in the playoffs.