A catch-up for the history books
Published on 01/13/2020
Kansas’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce
What: USA TODAY Sports/Mark J. Rebilas
The NFL Quarterfinals started spectacularly and ended in awe. The Kansas City Chiefs looked like certain losers but still beat Houston. There has never been a game like this in the playoffs.
Mitfavorit Kansas City Chiefs has reached the NFL play-off semifinals after a breathtaking comeback. The team around quarterback Patrick Mahomes beat the Houston Texans 51:31 despite being 0:24 behind and gets it in the round of four on January 19 (9:05 p.m., ProSieben) at home with favorites Tennessee Titans do. The Titans knocked out the Baltimore Ravens, the top regular-time team, on Saturday. In the first round of the playoffs, Tennessee defeated the New England Patriots around star quarterback Tom Brady.
At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Texans were clearly on course for victory. In the second quarter, Houston stepped up again, with a field goal the team increased to 24:0. But then a miracle happened.
Favored by some hair-raising mistakes by Houston, the Chiefs scored three touchdowns within 3:24 minutes in the second quarter and took the lead with another touchdown before half-time. At the break, Kansas City was suddenly 28-24, setting a record: Never before in NFL history has a team led at halftime after being down by more than 20 points. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called the duel a “wild game” during the break. Overall, the hosts got six touchdowns in a row, three by Damien Williams and three by Travis Kelce.
Kansas’ quarterback is set to become the NFL’s top earner
Quarterback Mahomes, who is just 24 years old and only playing his second full NFL season, said: “Our success and such a comeback comes from our mentality. It’s all heart and struggle. Of course we didn’t want to find ourselves in such a seemingly hopeless situation. I then said to everyone: Let’s try something special. And above all, let’s create something special. Everyone had already written us off. But we just caught up play after play and then kept firing in the second half.” For the first time in NFL playoff history, a team has won a game after trailing 21-0 in the first quarter.
For Mahomes, achievements like this will pay off extremely well in the future. He is said to be tied with a record contract, which will probably be $ 40 million per year. His current base salary is currently $645,000. Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks has the highest average salary in the NFL at $35 million.
The Green Bay Packers were the last team to qualify for the semi-finals on Monday night. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ team saved their lead at 28:23 against the Seattle Seahawks and playmaker Russell Wilson. The Packers were leading 21-3 at halftime after two touchdown runs from running back Aaron Jones and a trapped touchdown from Davante Adams. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose offense didn’t lose possession, managed another touchdown pass to Adams in the second half.
Seattle was on the way to a comeback, just like five years ago when the Packers lost the NFC Championship Game to Seattle after leading 16-0 at the half, 22-28 after overtime. But this time they were able to decisively stop the Seahawks offensive around quarterback Russell Wilson shortly before the end. In the end, Seattle lost for the ninth straight game in Green Bay and has been waiting for a win at Lambeau Field since 1999. In addition to the strong Rodgers, Green Bay wide receiver Davante Adams, who caught eight balls for 160 yards and two touchdowns, was convincing.
In the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night (12:40 a.m. CET/ProSieben), Green Bay will be a guest of the San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Minnesota Vikings 27:10 on Saturday. The big goal of the four semifinalists is the 54th Super Bowl on February 2nd at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
