As it turned out, they were met by rain and dark skies but M&T Bank Stadium was ablaze – a storm of noise and electricity. At one point during this pulsing AFC Championship Game, a call went out over the speaker system: a fire had been reported and an evacuation was ordered.
That didn’t stop this game and, unfortunately for the Ravens, nothing could halt the march of these Chiefs. Forget those regular season struggles – the six losses and the offensive frailties that meant them arrived here as underdogs. This is a special team and the defendingThey have come to the boil at the perfect time and they need not worry about catching a chill on the next leg of this journey. For the Ravens, their wait for a shot at football’s biggest prize will head into a 12th year. By the end, many of the fans and much the life had drained out of this place.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson had predicted a ‘heavyweight’ tussle with Patrick Mahomes: the MVP in waiting and the finest quarterback of the last half decade going ‘toe-to-toe’. It proved a fascinating battle and the slippery Jackson produced flashes of magic. The only problem? Unlike in boxing, football has no rules against strangling your opponent. And for long periods on Sunday, the Ravens starved: they had possession for 15 minutes less than Kansas City. And when they did, the Chiefs defense did not yield.
With the ball, Mahomes was masterful – particularly early on. He took control immediately, opening with two scoring drives. Over on the sidelines, as this game slipped away from Baltimore, Jackson grew increasingly irate.
The Ravens defense – the league’s best this season – eventually battened down the hatches but, by then, the Chiefs’ lead was 10 and that proved enough. Travis Kelce was outstanding – he made NFL history with 11 receptions and the opening touchdown.
@espn Kelce hit the perfect touchdown celly 😂 (via @chiefs) #dance #superbowl #chiefs #traviskelce #nfl
Travis Kelce leads Chiefs locker room celebrations after reaching the Super Bowl as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid deliver a rallying cry to their Kansas City team: ‘We ain’t done yet!’
Travis Kelce led the epic locker room celebrations for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night after another historic performance carried his team into the Super Bowl for yet another season.
Kelce scored an early touchdown in the 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens and overtook Jerry Rice by taking his 152nd postseason reception in the second quarter of the game – an all-time NFL record.
And after kissing girlfriend Taylor Swift on the field in the immediate post-game celebrations, Kelce took the party inside the Chiefs locker room.
The tight end was seen posing for pictures with his euphoric team, as they partied in the locker room after being crowned AFC Champions once again.
Coach Andy Reid addressed the team, saying: ‘Hey, in case you didn’t know, we are going to the Super Bowl. We are not finished. But in the meantime, enjoy this.’
Travis Kelce celebrates helping the Chiefs to the Super Bowl by beating the Ravens
Coach Andy Reid, and then Patrick Mahomes, addressed the Chiefs locker room after the win
Chris Jones sparked up a cigar during the celebrations in Baltimore on Sunday night
WE'RE NOT FINISHED. pic.twitter.com/f7eIyJ5QlU
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 29, 2024
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes followed his coach with the cheers growing rowdt, saying: ‘Like I’ve been saying, we ain’t done yet. Let me hear it on three – one, two, three, CHIEFS!’.
Chris Jones, defensive tackle for Chiefs, was puffing on a cigar in the locker room after the game. He secured a $1million bonus through his team reaching the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile Justin Reid took a moment to get a picture alongside Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs who oversaw the masterplan that shackled Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Reid also retweeted a tribute to Spagnuolo on X from former NFL player Ryan Clark, which said: ‘Steve Spagnuolo is the best big game defensive coordinator of our time!! Salute to him. He’s done it against the greatest, the best, and most dominant. He’s made them all look human, average, & amateur. He’s that dude. This defense was lights out!’
Reid and Jones were seen walking around the locker room wearing ‘In Spags We Trust’ t-shirts.
The man himself was humbled by the t-shirt, saying: ‘I’m so proud of the players, I’m so happy.
Amid the celebrations, they also had the Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers playing on an iPad as they waited to find out who they would play next month in Vegas.
Justin Reid celebrated with an unsung Chiefs hero in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
If all goes to plan for the Chiefs, Sunday’s victory will just be a footnote in the season’s success
Mahomes repeated his rallying cry in a media conference after Sunday’s victory
And of course, all being well, Sunday’s celebrations will just be a footnote in the season with another Super Bowl now on the horizon.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes told his team that the job is not done yet as he faced media questions while the celebrations were ongoing.
‘It’s been a heck of a year,’ Mahomes said. ‘We’ve been underdogs the last few games. We never feel like underdogs.
‘We’ve got a lot of guys on this team that know how to win. When the playoffs get around, they’re here to make it happen. And now we’re in the Super Bowl. The job’s not done.’
