Patrick Mahomes may have suffered an injury that keeps most players out for several weeks.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback missed about a quarter of the game and was still able to lead his team to victory.
The limping Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs are on their way to their fifth straight AFC championship game after their 27-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates as he is introduced prior to kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Chiefs got off to a hot start, and who more than Travis Kelce to find the end zone on their first drive. The Jags responded immediately with a Christian Kirk score, and on Kansas City’s ensuing drive, a Jaguar came down on Mahomes’ ankle, forcing him to waste time. In his absence, however, Chad Henne drove Kansas City down the field 98 yards, including a massive 39-yard run by rookie Isiah Pacheco, and it was Kelce again who found the end zone. The Chiefs led 17-10 going into the locker room, and a limping Mahomes, who likely suffered a high ankle sprain, returned to the game.
Clearly, Mahomes wasn’t 100 percent, but it didn’t matter for much of the third quarter, as the Jags punted on both of their drives in the period: Kansas City was able to put another field goal on the scoreboard. But to start the quarter off, Trevor Lawrence marched down the field, and Travis Etienne’s rushing touchdown made it 20-17 with 11:49 to go.
Kansas City responded immediately, however, as Mahomes led a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a six-yard touchdown run to Márquez Valdés-Scantling, and the Chiefs were up for 10 again with 7:08 to go.
Travis Kelce (87) of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with teammates after scoring an 8-yard touchdown run against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter in an AFC divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 1, 2019. January 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
Jacksonville responded by getting inside the Chiefs 10-yard line, but Jamal Agnew fumbled and the Chiefs rallied. Jacksonville forced a three-and-out, but Lawrence threw an interception on the second play of the ensuing drive.
The good news for Jacksonville? They did cover the spread with a last-minute 48-yard field goal by Riley Patterson. The Jaguars went for the onside, but were unable to recover, securing the victory for the Chiefs.
LAS AGUILAS FANS FIND PARKING VACANT AT BACK DOOR FOR 12 HOURS
Mahomes completed 22 of his 30 passes for 195 yards; 14 of those completions went to Kelce, who had 98 receiving yards.
Lawrence was 24 of 39 for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Zay Jones led all Jacksonville receivers with 83 receiving yards on five receptions.
Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs returns at the start of the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Chiefs will now face the winner of Sunday’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. If the Bills win, the game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as part of the deal following Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. If Cincy wins, the Bengals will head to Arrowhead Stadium.