The Kansas City Chiefs will be at home for next Sunday’s AFC Championship game, which could bring together the best quarterback in the NFL this year against one of the best of all time.
MVP favourite Patrick Mahomes displayed his customary flair, passing for 278 yards and running a score as the Chiefs used their potent offense to jump on the Indianapolis Colts early en route to a 31-13 win in snowy Kansas City on Saturday.
The result ended a six-game home losing playoff streak by the AFC’s number one seed, and moved the team within one win of making it to the Super Bowl for only the third time.
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Later, in more mild weather in southern California, the LA Rams beat the Dallas Cowboys 30-22 to advance to the NFC Championship game.
The Rams, in their third season in southern California after the franchise ditched St. Louis for Tinseltown, will have to wait another day to find out not only who their next opponents will be, but also the venue.
2018 sport in quotes
Show all 23
2018 sport in quotes
1/23 “I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted.”
Australia captain Steve Smith choked back the tears as he apologised for the ball-tampering scandal.
Getty
2/23 “You are the liar. You owe me an apology. You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too.”
Serena Williams’ row with umpire Carlos Ramos has caused widespread debate since the US Open final
Reuters
3/23 “It was like wrestling.”
Sergio Ramos’ half nelson on Mo Salah in the Champions League final was not to Jurgen Klopp’s taste.
REUTERS
4/23 “I am only missing Firmino saying he got a cold because a drop of my sweat landed on him,”
Sergio Ramos revelled in his role in Real Madrid’s win.
Getty
5/23 “It’s a bit of a hellhole…I’ve just done an interview and all I can smell is urine.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be warned about his repeated outbursts by Barry Hearn
PA
6/23 “If somebody has done that they need to see a doctor. Seemingly he says it was me – but I would admit it.”
Gary Anderson after ‘fartgate’ caused a stink at the darts.
Getty Images
7/23 “It’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve done.”
England cricket captain Joe Root regretted his ‘mic drop’ celebration after a century against India.
Getty Images
8/23 “I always dreamed of holding this trophy when I was a young boy.”
Novak Djokovic after winning Wimbledon.
PA
9/23 “It’s coming home…”
Just about everyone, everywhere, from Kaliningrad to Croydon Boxpark.
EPA
10/23 “People were talking, English journalists, pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake.”
Luka Modric after Croatia ensured it didn’t, in fact, come home.
Getty
11/23 “At the moment we all feel the pain of the defeat. The dressing room is a very difficult place at the moment.”
England boss Gareth Southgate after the semi-final loss.
PA
12/23 “It’s going to go on a part that only (my girlfriend) Grace will see.”
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn made just one bad decision all week – pledging to get a tattoo of the score if they won.
Getty
13/23 “The issue’s obviously with Jordan (Spieth) not wanting to play with me.”
Patrick Reed reveals a clash of egos in the American Ryder Cup team.
Getty Images
14/23 “I’ve won more titles alone than the rest of the managers in this league combined.”
Jose Mourinho had presumably been sitting on this gem until Arsene Wenger left Arsenal.
Man Utd via Getty Images
15/23 “I just showed the world tonight, and everyone else suffering from mental health, that you can come back and it can be done.”
Tyson Fury speaks from the heart after drawing against Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight
PA
16/23 “It is like a cow that every day in 10 years, sees the train cross in front at the same time. If you ask the cow, ‘what time is the train going to come’, it is not going to know the right answer.”
Mauricio Pochettino getting in the moo-d for Europe.
Reuters
17/23 “Give them all the help they need because clearly they cost us two points today. It’s a joke.”
Charlie Austin launched an impassioned plea for VAR after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
BBC
18/23 “Do you know how to twerk?”
Ballon D’or winner Ada Hegerberg declined the offer of a dance from French DJ Martin Solveig.
AFP/Getty
19/23 The support from the – Welsh, British flags and … it’s unreal. It’s the Tour de France. To ride around wearing this [yellow jersey] is a dream.”
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas soaks in the occasion after his victory parade in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 “Tonight, I will leave this beautiful country, and I am looking forward to seeing my dogs, Roscoe and Coco, who live in LA. The unconditional love of a pet is something quite special.”
Lewis Hamilton’s plans to celebrate his fifth World Championship were more low-key than expected.
Getty
21/23 “To go out on your own terms, with your last ever innings for England a hundred. From a purely selfish point of view, I couldn’t have asked for a better week.”
Alastair Cook finished his England Test career as he started it, with a century.
Getty Images
22/23 “Have you ever taken those pills, the laxatives. I’m going to go through this man.”
Dillian Whyte was left bemused by Dereck Chisora’s promise
Twitter/@SkySportsBoxing
23/23 “It’s quite raw at the moment, we’ve got to get back home and reflect on where we go as a side.”
England captain Heather Knight could not hide her disappointment at England’s eight-wicket loss against Australia in the T20 final.
AFP/Getty Images
1/23 “I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted.”
Australia captain Steve Smith choked back the tears as he apologised for the ball-tampering scandal.
Getty
2/23 “You are the liar. You owe me an apology. You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too.”
Serena Williams’ row with umpire Carlos Ramos has caused widespread debate since the US Open final
Reuters
3/23 “It was like wrestling.”
Sergio Ramos’ half nelson on Mo Salah in the Champions League final was not to Jurgen Klopp’s taste.
REUTERS
4/23 “I am only missing Firmino saying he got a cold because a drop of my sweat landed on him,”
Sergio Ramos revelled in his role in Real Madrid’s win.
Getty
5/23 “It’s a bit of a hellhole…I’ve just done an interview and all I can smell is urine.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be warned about his repeated outbursts by Barry Hearn
PA
6/23 “If somebody has done that they need to see a doctor. Seemingly he says it was me – but I would admit it.”
Gary Anderson after ‘fartgate’ caused a stink at the darts.
Getty Images
7/23 “It’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve done.”
England cricket captain Joe Root regretted his ‘mic drop’ celebration after a century against India.
Getty Images
8/23 “I always dreamed of holding this trophy when I was a young boy.”
Novak Djokovic after winning Wimbledon.
PA
9/23 “It’s coming home…”
Just about everyone, everywhere, from Kaliningrad to Croydon Boxpark.
EPA
10/23 “People were talking, English journalists, pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake.”
Luka Modric after Croatia ensured it didn’t, in fact, come home.
Getty
11/23 “At the moment we all feel the pain of the defeat. The dressing room is a very difficult place at the moment.”
England boss Gareth Southgate after the semi-final loss.
PA
12/23 “It’s going to go on a part that only (my girlfriend) Grace will see.”
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn made just one bad decision all week – pledging to get a tattoo of the score if they won.
Getty
13/23 “The issue’s obviously with Jordan (Spieth) not wanting to play with me.”
Patrick Reed reveals a clash of egos in the American Ryder Cup team.
Getty Images
14/23 “I’ve won more titles alone than the rest of the managers in this league combined.”
Jose Mourinho had presumably been sitting on this gem until Arsene Wenger left Arsenal.
Man Utd via Getty Images
15/23 “I just showed the world tonight, and everyone else suffering from mental health, that you can come back and it can be done.”
Tyson Fury speaks from the heart after drawing against Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight
PA
16/23 “It is like a cow that every day in 10 years, sees the train cross in front at the same time. If you ask the cow, ‘what time is the train going to come’, it is not going to know the right answer.”
Mauricio Pochettino getting in the moo-d for Europe.
Reuters
17/23 “Give them all the help they need because clearly they cost us two points today. It’s a joke.”
Charlie Austin launched an impassioned plea for VAR after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
BBC
18/23 “Do you know how to twerk?”
Ballon D’or winner Ada Hegerberg declined the offer of a dance from French DJ Martin Solveig.
AFP/Getty
19/23 The support from the – Welsh, British flags and … it’s unreal. It’s the Tour de France. To ride around wearing this [yellow jersey] is a dream.”
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas soaks in the occasion after his victory parade in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 “Tonight, I will leave this beautiful country, and I am looking forward to seeing my dogs, Roscoe and Coco, who live in LA. The unconditional love of a pet is something quite special.”
Lewis Hamilton’s plans to celebrate his fifth World Championship were more low-key than expected.
Getty
21/23 “To go out on your own terms, with your last ever innings for England a hundred. From a purely selfish point of view, I couldn’t have asked for a better week.”
Alastair Cook finished his England Test career as he started it, with a century.
Getty Images
22/23 “Have you ever taken those pills, the laxatives. I’m going to go through this man.”
Dillian Whyte was left bemused by Dereck Chisora’s promise
Twitter/@SkySportsBoxing
23/23 “It’s quite raw at the moment, we’ve got to get back home and reflect on where we go as a side.”
England captain Heather Knight could not hide her disappointment at England’s eight-wicket loss against Australia in the T20 final.
AFP/Getty Images
The win leaves them one more victory from the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 2001, when they lost to the New England Patriots.
They will play the winner of Sunday’s contest between the New Orleans Saints and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The top seeded Saints will host the NFC Championship game if they beat Philadelphia, but if the Eagles pull an upset then the Rams will be at home as the higher seed.
Not that the Eagles will mind that, because they won at the Rams only last month.
But with respect to the NFC teams, the AFC Championship game is the one that the neutral will most eagerly anticipate, especially if the Chiefs face the Patriots.
This match-up would bring 41-year-old Tom Brady up against Mahomes in what could serve as a passing of the torch from one generation of quarterback to the next.
Brady has already won five Super Bowls, while 23-year-old Mahomes played just one game in 2017, before taking the league by storm this season.
The two quarterbacks already put on a spectacular show this regular season, when the Patriots beat the Chiefs 43-40 in October.
The teams last met in the postseason three years ago, when the Patriots won 27-20 in a divisional playoff.
But for the teams to meet again the Patriots must get past the Chargers, whose 37-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers would also make a worthy adversary for Mahomes, if not be quite the blockbuster box office draw.
The Chiefs have not won a conference championship since the 1969 season when they beat the Oakland Raiders en route to the Super Bowl title over the Minnesota Vikings.
To put how long ago that was in perspective, consider that it was before Mahomes’s father was born.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News