Recounting the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs historic run to a Super Bowl Championship
The Comeback, Part I
You can’t get far into the story of the Super Bowl LIV champions without talking about the historic comeback in their first playoff game. The Chiefs, huge benefactors of a scrappy Miami Dolphins team shocking the New England Patriots at home in week 17, were gifted a bye and the two-seed headed into the playoffs. There was almost no question they were going to return to the AFC Championship game, this time presumably against the hottest team all season in the Baltimore Ravens.
This sentiment was likely what contributed to the initial divisional round nightmare. With 10:54 left in the second quarter, once the early season favorites to win the Super Bowl, the Chiefs found themselves in what appeared an inescapable hole. The Texans had rattled off three straight touchdowns and a field goal to make the score an embarrassing 24-0.
It’s possible this was the pivotal moment in the Chiefs Super Bowl run. Patrick Mahomes, with his team’s back literally on the edge of a towering cliff, fired at his teammates to “do something special!” While he may have believed in his heart they could, it’s doubtful he understood just how special the next 10 minutes would be.
With ice in their veins, the Chiefs offense and defense went to work. The defense clamped down on the Texans offense, holding them scoreless the rest of the quarter. The offense, aided by some critical plays from special teams, would score four straight touchdowns to take the lead. With this stretch, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to trail by twenty points in a half and enter halftime with the lead. It didn’t stop there.
In the second half, the Chiefs defense would continue to grind away at the Texans offense holding them to seven points the rest of the game. In response, the Chiefs offense would break the post season record for consecutive touchdowns scored with seven.
Ultimately, the Chiefs would finish the game on a 51-7 scoring run that would put the other teams in the playoffs on notice. They’d become the first team in NFL history to trail by 20 points and win the game by 20 points. Yet, as amazing as this game was it was only the beginning.