That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check out the report off today’s game.
Final: Indianapolis 13-31 Kansas City
The Colts take over from their own 35 and put together a nice consolation drive, moving it all the way down to the Kansas City 11. But the clock runs out before they can even take a crack at the end zone. Appropriate. The Chiefs were in control from wire to wire and play in the AFC championship game for the first time in 25 years – and their first ever at Arrowhead Stadium.
TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 13-31 Kansas City 2:23, 4th quarter
The Chiefs take over from their own 39 with under five minutes to go and begin taking chunks of yardage one after another. The drive stalls at the Indianapolis 38, but a (dubious) running into the kicker penalty against Najee Goode gives Kansas City another first down with 3:42 remaining. One minute later Darien Williams is into the end zone on a six-yard rush up the gut, completing a game-sealing scoring drive of nine plays and 56 yards. That should do it.
Darrel Williams adds a late TD to give the @Chiefs a 31-13 lead! #LetsRoll
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2019
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/ouWHok0Mqn
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TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 13-24 Kansas City 5:31, 4th quarter
Another Luck pass is knocked down at the line of scrimmage and the Colts fall to 0-for-8 on third down. It’s 4th and 9 from the Kansas City 41 with less than six minutes to go. This feels like it could be the ball game. And Luck completes a 12-yard pass to Rogers, moving the sticks and keeping Indy’s season alive. Then one play later Luck finds TY Hilton in the front left corner of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown! And this stadium has been silenced! Vinatieri comes out for the extra point and he misses it! This time it sails right of the goalpost. Shocking.
Luck to Hilton!
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2019
29 yards down the sideline for the @Colts touchdown! #ColtsForged
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/khKf9ofjqQ
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Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 8:45, 4th quarter
It’s a quick three-and-out for the Chiefs, who exhaust just about two minutes of game clock before returning possession to the Colts. A booming 50-yard punt by Colquitt pins Indianapolis back to their own 13.
Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 10:55, 4th quarter
The Colts manage a scant 11 yards on five plays before they’re forced to punt. Kansas City’s Steven Nelson dropped an interception on 3rd and 15 that would have been a touchdown. So it’s not all bad.
Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 12:11, 4th quarter
Another Kansas City drive stalls when Mahomes is sacked by Kenny Moore II on 3rd and 7 at the Indianapolis 34. That forces a Colquitt punt and the Colts will have another chance to get back in this game, but they’re running out of time and will need to put something on the board soon. The time of possession tells you everything you need to know: 31:45 for Kansas City, 13:15 for Indianapolis.
End of third quarter: Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City
Fifteen minutes to go and the Chiefs are in excellent shape. Only real question, it seems, is whether they’ll catch the fan caught by NBC’s cameras throwing a snowball onto the field.
Busted. pic.twitter.com/ngpRqZeIRQ
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) January 12, 2019
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Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 0:50, 3rd quarter
The Colts keep possession for all of 10 seconds before Luck is sacked by Dee Ford for a nine-yard loss on 2nd and 9 and fumbles it away. Ford scoops it up and the Chiefs will take over from their own 32.
DEE FORD.@Chiefs take it right back with a strip sack. #LetsRoll #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2019
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/JIdQD1iCM6
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Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 1:05, 3rd quarter
The Chiefs take over from their own 20 and Mahomes completes a pass to Sammy Walkins, but he fumbles as he’s dragged down and it’s recovered by Darius Leonard. Another huge break for Indianapolis. Can they make something of it?
Darius Leonard is so goodpic.twitter.com/vh3ktTIvv6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 12, 2019
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Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 1:06, 3rd quarter
A good start for the Colts, who immediately cross midfield after a 20-yard completion to Inman. On the next play Marlon Mack runs for three yards, then busts free up the middle for a 14-yard gain ... but it’s coming back on a holding penalty. Nothing going right for Indy today. Luck completes for 11 yards to TY Hilton on 2nd and 17, but Kansas City’s Justin Houston wraps him up for a 12-yard sack on third down and the Colts will punt yet again.
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Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 8:40, 3rd quarter
The Colts go with the no-huddle offense, not simply due to the three-possession deficit but because it worked so well for them during the two-minute drill to close the first half. Alas, they make it only to their own 37 before they’re forced to punt. Indy falls to 0-for-5 on third-down conversions on the day. Not ideal.
Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 8:40, 3rd quarter
The Chiefs will start on their own 14 after the kickoff and they’ve picked up right where they left off in the first half, mixing up the rush and the pass with aplomb and crossing midfield. A botched snap and fumble on 1st and 10 from the Indianapolis 49 sets up 2nd and 17 and the Colts have a golden opportunity to get the Chiefs off the field, but Mahomes whips an outrageous sidearm pass for a 15-yard gain to Travis Kelce. The third-down play comes up short but the Chiefs convert on 4th and 1, marching further into Indianapolis territory. The Colts manage to hold again, however, forcing the Chiefs into a 4th and 5th from the 33 and this time forcing Mahomes into an incompletion. Yet thanks to an off-color unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the flag, they’ll take over on their own 18 after the break.
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Halftime: Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City
It’s a tall order for the Colts, who trail by 17 points and will kick off to the Chiefs to start the second half. Before we write them off completely, however, it was only five years ago when Andrew Luck led Indianapolis back from a 38-10 second-half deficit to a 45-44 win over these same Chiefs. The 28-point comeback was the second largest in NFL playoff history.
While we wait for the start of the second half, enjoy this photo of Kansas City legend smoking a cigarette and drinking a Fresca during halftime of Super Bowl I.
Here's Len Dawson smoking a cigarette and drinking a Fresca *during halftime* of Super Bowl I. pic.twitter.com/ldNF4bbR3z
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) January 29, 2014
Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 0:00, 2nd quarter
The Colts take over from their own 20 after the touchback. One hundred seconds for Luck and he makes the most of them, completing passes to Eric Ebron, Dontrelle Inman and Carlos Rogers. Finally, signs of life. Luck marches Indy within five yards of the end zone before time pressure forces the field goal unit onto the field. It’s a chip shot from 23 yards for Adam Vinatieri ... and it hits the left upright! Oh no! An eight-play, 70-yard drive for the Colts and they walk away with nothing.
Vinatieri, the longtime New England kicker who famously scored the game-tying and game-winning field goals in a snowstorm against the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game back in January 2002, can’t deliver from extra-point range ... a detail not lost on longtime Oakland defensive back Charles Woodson.
Now he misses in the snow
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) January 12, 2019
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TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 7-24 Kansas City 1:46, 2nd quarter
This Kansas City offense sure is something. Patrick Mahomes leads the Chiefs on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, delivering the score himself on a four-yard scramble to the right pylon and brushing aside whatever momentum Indianapolis might have wrested after their special teams surprise. Guess the knee is OK. The Chiefs have 18 first downs. The Colts have *checks notes* zero.
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TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 7-17 Kansas City 5:56, 2nd quarter
The Indianapolis defense finally holds and forces Kansas City to punt from their own 19 ... and they get just the break they so desperately need when Dustin Colquitt’s punt is blocked by Najee Goode, who burst through the line practically unmolested. The ball dribbles backward past the goal line and Indy’s Zach Pascal is there to fall on it for the touchdown. Wow. A rare special teams blunder for the Chiefs and they’re back in the game despite having not recorded a single first down in the first half so far.
THE @COLTS BLOCK THE PUNT!
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2019
And it's recovered in the end zone for SIX. #Colts #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/G9cT22FeBa
Indianapolis 0-17 Kansas City 10:06, 2nd quarter
And it’s a fourth consecutive three-and-out for Indianapolis, who can’t get anything going on offense. Luck actually completed a pass to Eric Ebron on 3rd and 6, but the wide receiver ran his route about a yard short of the sticks. I’m talking ugly.
Good news about Mahomes, though. It appears the injury wasn’t as bad as it looked.
For those concerned about Mahomes limping a bit as he left the field.... it did not appear as if he got much if any attention from the training staff during that timeout. He's on the bench going over the tablet with coaches as he does after every drive.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 12, 2019
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FIELD GOAL! Indianapolis 0-17 Kansas City 12:13, 2nd quarter
The Indy defense manages to keep the Chiefs out of the end zone, but Harrison Butker drills a 39-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 48-yard scoring drive and open a three-possession lead. A hush fell over the stadium when Mahomes went down in a cluster of white jerseys and appeared to injure his knee. He stayed in the game to finish the drive, but limped off the field as the field goal team came on.
#Chiefs Patrick Mahomes is limping after taking a hit at the end of the last drivepic.twitter.com/4ghKYWIK1W
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 12, 2019
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End of first quarter: Indianapolis 0-14 Kansas City
The Chiefs, who start from their own 26 after the kickoff, are on the march once more. They dink and dunk across midfield before they’re forced into a 4th and 1 on the Indianapolis 35, but Reid decides to go for it and Damien Williams converts on a four-yard rush. Another Williams rush, this one for two yards, brings us to the end of the first quarter. The numbers aren’t pretty: Kansas City outgained Indy by a 185-12 margin in the opening frame.
Then there’s this. I’m not sure I see it.
@BryanAGraham Frank Reich looks like Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting
— Irons in the Fire (@ironsinthe_fire) January 12, 2019
Indianapolis 0-14 Kansas City 4:21, 1st quarter
It’s a third consecutive three-and-out for the Colts after Luck is sacked by the Chiefs’ Justin Houston for a three-yard loss on 3rd and 2. They’ve run nine plays from scrimmage for a grand total of 12 yards. The Colts are getting protection and giving Luck time to throw, but the Chiefs’ man-to-man coverage has been well-drilled and airtight.
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TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 0-14 Kansas City 6:28, 1st quarter
The horror show continues for the Colts. Mahomes leads the Chiefs on an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive capped by a bit of trickery: wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who set a franchise record with 1,479 receiving yards during the regular season, takes the handoff on a lead reverse and darts 36 yards to paydirt. This could well be a first-round knockout if Indianapolis, who have generated an anemic seven yards from six plays, can’t manage a response here.
TYREEK. HILL.
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2019
Not gonna catch the @cheetah 💨#LetsRoll #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/SUvQHKeIHH
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Indianapolis 0-7 Kansas City 9:32, 1st quarter
The Colts take over from their own 26 after a nice 24-yard return by Zach Pascal, but it’s another three-and-out for the visitors as Luck attempts three passes and all three are batted down by the Chiefs defense. The 33-second drive is over before it can practically start and Kansas City will have a chance to open things up early. Remember: the Chiefs have scored 16 touchdowns and averaged 7.5 yards per play on their opening two drives this year, both NFL bests.
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TOUCHDOWN! Indianapolis 0-7 Kansas City 10:05, 1st quarter
Well, that was quick. The Chiefs march straight down the field: a five-play, 90-yard touchdown drive capped by Damien Williams’ 10-yard touchdown scamper off the right tackle. Mahomes was 3-for-3 for 61 yards passing on the drive and Kansas City, which has made a habit of burying opponents during the first quarter all season long, are off to a dream start.
Damien Williams jukin' the whole defense 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2019
Touchdown, @Chiefs! #LetsRoll
📺: #INDvsKC on NBC pic.twitter.com/QPIiZjHhLl
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Indianapolis 0-0 Kansas City 13:05, 1st quarter
The Colts will begin from their own 20 after the kickoff and it’s not an auspicious start. Marlon Mack is stuffed for a three-yard loss before running off the right guard for 10 yards, setting up a 3rd and 3. But Luck’s first pass attempt is incomplete and the Colts will punt after a brisk three-and-out.
Colts ran mesh on third-and-3 and looked like Luck thought Ebron was going to settle where he threw the ball. Would have been laid out by Fuller if Luck had led him.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 12, 2019
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The Chiefs have won the toss and they have deferred. Indianapolis will get the ball first and they’ll turn it over to Andrew Luck, who passed for 222 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Texans last week. His last playoff appearance against the Chiefs was a memorable one: 443 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Colts from 28 points down, the second biggest comeback in postseason history.
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Football weather! Say what you want about how it may impact today’s game, but no one can deny it makes for good photos.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Arrowhead Stadium for today’s AFC divisional playoff matchup between the Chiefs and the Colts. More than seven inches of snow was dumped on Kansas City before 7am local time and adverse conditions can be expected even though the flakes have slowed and the field is mostly dry.
We can only hope the weather won’t undercut this jewel of a quarterback matchup between the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Colts’ Andrew Luck. Mahomes, who led the NFL with 50 touchdown passes, and Luck, who ranked second with 39, have the most combined regular-season passing touchdowns (89) among any pair of opposing quarterbacks in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era. It marks the fifth time since 2002 that the top two passing touchdown leaders from the regular season will face off in the postseason.
Indianapolis (11-6), who went on the road to defeat the Houston Texans in last week’s Wild Card round, can become the first No 6 seed to reach a conference championship game since 2010, when the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets accomplished the feat. But they’ll surely have their hands full with the high-octane Chiefs (12-4), who led the NFL in total offense (425.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (35.3), the third-highest points per game in NFL history.
Kickoff is about 20 minutes away. Plenty more to come.
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Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Hunter Felt’s lookahead to the NFL’s divisional playoff weekend.
