Home/NFL

via Imago

via Imago

The Kansas City Chiefs have found themselves back on track once again. After a lot of sloppy performances, there were questions about Mahomes and the team’s ability to make it to the Super Bowl this year. However, thanks to Travis Kelce, after the game against the Buffalo Bills, people’s trust in the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense has been somewhat restored. Or has it? One of the main reasons behind the Chiefs’ unstoppable offense is their newest weapon, Rashee Rice, who was debilitated in the game against the Miami Dolphins.

For a while, people thought that his return in the upcoming games was questionable, till the Chiefs decided to remove him from the Injury Report. But now, the Chiefs’ offensive stars are back on their stride to continue winning post-season games. As both are back, can we expect the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC title against the Baltimore Ravens?

The Chiefs’ TE and the WR Rice didn’t play in the regular season Chargers game. Before that, he was in a TD drought. He couldn’t get a single touchdown in the last 6 of his regular season games. For Kelce, things were the same when the Chiefs hosted the Dolphins in “Tyreek Hill’s Revenge Game”. But things were different in that game for Rashee Rice despite suffering a hamstring tweak and his chances of playing dwindling.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Reuters

The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins game was one of the coldest games of the season. Despite that, the game was a cakewalk for Rice as he said, “I feel like, to be honest, it was another game,”. Getting Rice back is of utmost importance because he is the Chief’s leading receiver by a huge margin. When everyone counters on MVS, Sky Moore, and even Kadarius Toney, it is Rashee Rice who pulled the Chiefs out of the slump.

Before sustaining a hamstring in the Dolphins game, he was 8 of 12 in passes received over 130 yards and a touchdown. The game vs. the Bills had him in a crunch as he was only targeted 4 times, but he caught all those passes and had a 47-yard game, 3 first downs, and zero touchdowns. These ratings are sixth-best by a rookie in a playoff game. He made a stunning comeback by recording four receptions on four targets for 47 yards in Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Bills.

READ MORE- Patrick Mahomes Faces Snowballs Being Thrown by Bills Mafia After Entering AFC Championship for Sixth Time

As for Kelce, the TE has gained back his mojo too. In the Sunday victory, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes made history by becoming the only QB-receiver duo to have two touchdowns in the postseason games. His first TD was a 22-yard pass from Mahomes in the second quarter and the second one was a 3-yarder that came late in the third quarter. Mahomes found the TE in the right place, at the right time.

We saw how the Chiefs were fired up after a brilliant display of offense throughout the game. And when it slowed, their defense ramped up at the right time to keep them together in the game. Well, that is the way ahead in the upcoming AFC Championship game.

Taking it forward from the Locker room speech!

Another thing to notice is the locker room confidence that was visible among the Chiefs squad. No matter where these players were before arriving at the Chiefs, Mahomes and Kelce make sure that they say the right words to their team before and after the game. While Mahomes said, “They got what they asked for” in his motivating speech, Kelce was seen hyped up for the upcoming battle. Then came the proud head coach, Andy Reid who reminded the team that they have a “lot of work to do.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

It’s safe to say that the Chiefs have found their vigor once again, with Travis Kelce in his form and Rashee Rice in their prime form. After a couple of bad games from Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Patrick Mahomes found himself lacking trust in the team’s receivers. But things are different now. Even Mahomes made some commendable calculated decisions to lead his team to the AFC Championship game.

In the upcoming battle against the Ravens, a riveting rivalry that dates back to 1998, fans can expect Travis Kelce to turn things “up the notch”. Not to mention, Rashee Rice emerged as the top pass catcher in the rookie season. The Ravens may be a tough bunch but the Chiefs’ newfound resurgence certainly gives them an upper hand amid the home disadvantage.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The Chiefs braved the chills. Now it’s time for the Chiefs to overcome Baltimore’s damp conditions as forecasted by the National Weather Service. The Conference Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, January 28 at 3 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium.

Watch This Story: Coach Prime Deion Sanders’s coaching conundrum deepens with Colorado football quality control analysts’ promotion