(Reuters) – Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a record-tying four touchdowns in the second quarter as the Kansas City Chiefs roared back from a 24-0 deficit and defeated the Houston Texans 51-31 in the NFL playoffs on Sunday.
Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Houston Texans during the third quarter in a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Green Bay Packers also advanced, holding off the Seattle Seahawks 28-23 behind Aaron Rodgers’ two touchdown passes to Davante Adams. The Packers will visit the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers for the National Football Conference (NFC) championship next Sunday.
Mahomes, the NFL’s most valuable player for the 2018 season, added a fifth touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs advanced to the American Football Conference championship game, where they will play the visiting Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
The sixth-seeded Titans have beaten the number two seed Chiefs four consecutive times over the last six seasons, including a 35-32 win in November.
Mahomes had 321 yards passing and rushed for 53 more to help Kansas City score points on seven consecutive drives.
“Obviously we didn’t start the way we wanted to,” Mahomes said after the game, “but we found a way.”
Tight end Travis Kelce caught three of Mahomes’ passes for touchdowns in the second period, a playoff record, despite a hamstring injury.
“I told him, ‘You are a monster, man,’” Mahomes said of Kelce, who had 134 yards receiving on 10 catches. “He was fighting through injury and still making plays all day long.”
Running back Damien Williams also had three touchdowns, one on a pass from Mahomes and two on third-quarter runs.
Houston, after its explosive start, scored only seven points in the second half.
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson rushed five yards for their last score and passed for two touchdowns in the first half.
He had 388 yards passing but could not overcome the Kansas City show.
Kansas City’s mistakes helped Houston build its 24-0 lead.
Watson hit Kenny Stills with a 54-yard strike for the opening score. Then the Texans defense did its part.
Keke Mingo’s blocked punt led to Lonnie Johnson’s touchdown and minutes later Keion Crossen jumped on Kansas City returner Tyreek Hill’s muffed punt, leading to Watson’s touchdown pass to Darren Fells.
The Texans pushed the lead to 24-0 on a field goal, but the next 41 points belonged to Kansas City.
Mahomes connected with Williams for a 17-yard touchdown and Kelce for scores of five, six and five yards. In nine minutes, the Chiefs had a 28-24 lead.
Williams added two more scores in the third quarter as Kansas City broke the game open on his runs of one and five yards.
Blake Bell caught the final touchdown pass from Mahomes, an eight-yarder in the fourth quarter.
PACKERS SCORE FIRST
In Green Bay, Adams powered the Packers offense, catching eight passes for 160 yards.
He caught a 20-yard pass from Rodgers for the game’s first score and later hauled in a 40-yarder that pushed Green Bay ahead
28-10.
The Seahawks made it interesting, though, scoring the final two touchdowns.
Russell Wilson connected with Tyler Lockett on a seven-yard scoring pass and Marshawn Lynch bulled his way in from the one,
But the Seahawks could not overtake the Packers.
Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Toby Davis and Gerry Doyle