Chiefs vs. Colts: Writers predict Chiefs to win, advance to AFC Championship

In the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs, our writers predict that the Kansas City Chiefs will win and advance to the AFC Championship.

The 2018-19 NFL playoffs are officially upon us, and the Kansas City Chiefs will be kicking off their postseason against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon. The Chiefs have failed to ever beat the Colts in the playoffs, holding a 0-4 record against them. When it comes to the playoffs in general, Chiefs fans have faced countless years of heartbreak, especially at home. The Chiefs haven’t won a playoff game at home since 1994 when Joe Montana was at quarterback.

Just last year, the Chiefs hosted the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead and came up short in a heartbreaking game. The Chiefs held a 21-3 lead going into halftime, but then Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota began what would become an 18-point comeback by catching his own pass for a touchdown.

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This year, however, the Chiefs not only have home-field advantage, but also a first-round bye. Normally this would be reassuring, but two years ago the Chiefs hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead after a first-round bye and came up short in a game where the Steelers failed to score a single touchdown.

On top of breaking the Chiefs’ home playoff cycle, the Chiefs need to break a cycle of losing to the Colts in the playoffs. It all began in the 1995 AFC Divisional game. The Chiefs trailed the Colts 10-7 when kicker Lin Elliot walked out to try a 42-yard field goal. Instead of sending the ball through the uprights, Elliot missed his third straight field goal of the night and the Chiefs walked away empty-handed.

Next, in 2004, the Chiefs hosted the Colts in the Divisional round once again in what is now known as the “no punt” game. Neither team punted the ball once, but the Chiefs came up short again and lost 38-31. In the 2007 AFC Wild Card game, the Chiefs went to Indianapolis and lost 23-8 in a game that wasn’t even close.

Then, in 2014, the Chiefs again traveled to Indianapolis on Wild Card weekend and played a game that went down in the history books—and not in a good way for the Chiefs. The Chiefs led 38-10 early in the third quarter of the game and many fans had already written the Colts off. Then quarterback Andrew Luck and the Colts had a miraculous comeback that stands today as the 2nd-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Andrew Luck recovering a fumble and taking it up the middle for a touchdown sums up the day for the Chiefs.

But this is a new era and the Colts should fear the Chiefs. As Kent Swanson of Arrowhead Pride started, it’s time for the Chiefs to Break the Cycle. This year, the Chiefs have something they have lacked every other heartbreaking playoff loss, and that is quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the helm.

Mahomes, the recipient of First-Team All-Pro honors and likely MVP winner, is a special player that Kansas City has lacked in all of their previous playoff losses. We’ve already seen him make spectacular play after spectacular play, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The young signal-caller joined the small list of quarterbacks to put up 50 touchdowns and 5000 passing yards in a single season, etching his name in the history books next to Peyton Manning.

The Chiefs will not only be playing to advance to the AFC Championship, but also to break the cycle of heartbreaking playoff losses, and all eyes are looking to Patrick Mahomes to be the one to start that new chapter. Our writers believe that Mahomes is the answer, as they unanimously picked the Chiefs to beat the Colts.

Drew Brooks

The Colts are coming into this game hot, but the statistics suggest a different story. The only offense the Colts played that comes anywhere close to the Chiefs’ explosiveness was the New England Patriots, who the Colts lost to. Patrick Mahomes is going to go out on Saturday and put Kansas City’s demons to rest while picking apart Indianapolis’ cover-two defense. Plus, the Chiefs will be getting wide receiver Sammy Watkins back from injury, which will provide a boost to the offense. I predict Mahomes to have a career game, similar to when he threw 6 touchdowns against the Steelers in week 2. Chiefs 45, Colts 28

Matt Conner

Only one team knows the current momentum of the Colts since Andy Reid’s team is one of the few in history to come back from the brink of 1-5. We also know all too well how quickly that momentum stops after such a grueling backs-against-the-wall stretch. I think the Chiefs go up early, hold the Colts to some key field goals, and shake yet another monkey off their back in a season that’s already been among the most thrilling in franchise history. Chiefs 28, Colts 20

Jalon Dodson

As this week goes on, I feel better and better about playing the Colts on Saturday. I honestly do not think that they are going to perform as well as they’re hyped up to be. Chiefs will dominate by at least 2 scores. The defense will hold fast, and keep its foot down. Chiefs 42, Colts 21

Lyle Graversen

While it’s easy to get spooked by the ghosts of playoff loses past, I truly believe that this year will be different. The Colts defense hasn’t seen the likes of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense this season. I think the kid is going to put on a show in his first playoff game. The Colts will put up points too but they’re no match for the soon to be MVP and the best team in the AFC. AFC championship game here we come. Chiefs 37, Colts 27

Jacob Harris

The Colts are quite a bit overvalued. Like the 2013 Chiefs, even though they do have plenty of talent, they rode a weak schedule to the playoffs. They’ll score (because everyone scores against the Chiefs), but the KC offense will be entirely too explosive for the Colts to handle. Chiefs 35, Colts 24

Matthew Loomis

Patrick Mahomes will refuse to participate in the playoff angst of Chiefs fans, scoring often and early against a Colts defense that is overtouted. Andy Reid’s play calling will exploit the Colts defensive weaknesses. Travis Kelce will catch 11 passes for 137 yards and 2 TDs. The Chiefs defense will give up some chunks of yardage but keep the score low enough to win. Chiefs 34, Colts 26

Chris Taylor

The past fallacies of playoff performances have no place with this team. Although it is stuck in the back of every Chiefs fan’s head, this matchup should be what a championship caliber team and their fans want. Redemption.

Even so, the redemption isn’t on Patrick Mahomes’ shoulders. He’s never lost a playoff game. He has yet to break the hearts of the home crowd in January.

Andrew Luck and the Colts are good. So are the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s why they didn’t have to play this past weekend. Look for Mahomes and this offense to play like they always do, which will bode well in the quest to move on.

Luck and company won’t score as many points, which almost always secures a win for the team that scores more, right? Chiefs win as they pull away in the 2nd half. Chiefs 42, Colts 27

Grant Tuttle

In a hard fought game with very little defense, the Chiefs finally exorcize their biggest playoff demon. With the Colts tendency to use zone coverages, I expect Patrick Mahomes to throw for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns. That being said, I also expect a big game out of Andrew Luck. The game will come down to who makes plays in the fourth quarter. I anticipate the Chiefs defense surprising everyone with at least one huge turnover and sacking Andrew Luck at least twice. Kansas City moves on to the AFC Championship with a shot at a Super Bowl. Chiefs 41, Colts 34

Farzin Vousoughian

The streak has to end at some point, even if the Colts have had the Chiefs’ number for years in the postseason. What those teams never had is this dynamic offense, led by Patrick Mahomes. Although the defense allows a lot of yards, they’re still there to make plays in key moments. Chiefs 41, Colts 35

dark. Next. The outside perception of Chiefs is positive

Mason Whitlock

We all remember the debacle the Chiefs had against the Colts back in 2013. But that was Alex Smith, and this is Patrick Mahomes. This game will be close. In the end, the Chiefs ability to pressure Luck is going to be the difference. Mahomes will play well and the defense will hold its one. Chiefs 31, Colts 27

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