Cleveland is a heavy underdog, but KC is not looking past them.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No one’s going to be caught by surprise this time.
Fresh off their dominating victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, the Browns are in Kansas City to take on the top-seeded Chiefs in an AFC divisional playoff matchup. The winner will face the Buffalo Bills in next weekend’s AFC Championship Game.
The big news for the Browns is who’s back with the team: Head coach Kevin Stefanski returns after battling COVID-19, as do All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio and shutdown corner Denzel Ward. Fellow All-Pro Jack Conklin will also play after dealing with knee and hamstring injuries this week, and tight end David Njoku and linebacker B.J. Goodson are also good to go.
Boasting a 14-2 regular season record, Kansas City comes in as a heavy favorite. The Chiefs are seeking their second straight Super Bowl title, but have looked sluggish at times (no wins by more than six points since Nov. 1) and will be without running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and receiver Sammy Watkins.
What follows is a drive-by-drive live blog of today’s action, with the most recent plays and updates closest to the top. Stay tuned for updates and analysis all afternoon and evening on 3News and WKYC.com.
4TH QUARTER
11:07: The Browns end an 8-plus-minute drive with a 3-yard Kareem Hunt touchdown. Cleveland now trails just 22-17.
Also breaking: Patrick Mahomes will not return after suffering a concussion.
3RD QUARTER
4:24: Some major developing news: Patrick Mahomes is in the locker room after taking an ugly hit from Mack Wilson (he struggled to stand after being tackled), and Chad Henne is now in a quarterback for the Chiefs. Harrison Butker does end the drive to a 33-yard field goal, and Kansas City leads 22-10.
On the Cleveland side, Myles Garrett is back in the game, but appears limited by injury.
9:29: Baker Mayfield hits Jarvis Landry for a 4-yard touchdown. The Browns now trail 19-10, and we’ve got a ballgame.
Another injury update: Jedrick Wills Jr. will not return after hurting his ankle, and Kendall Lamm is out as well. Blake Hance is now in at left tackle.
14:07: The Browns get a break, as Harrison Butker’s 33-yard field goal clanks off the left upright. Cleveland gets the ball back on its own 20.
Some negative news, though, as Myles Garrett had to be helped off the field with an injury.
14:40: Not a good start to the second half for the Browns, as Baker Mayfield is picked off by Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs will get the ball on the Cleveland 19 following a 17-yard return.
2ND QUARTER
0:02: The Chiefs take advantage from the takeaway and get a 28-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. KC will take a 19-3 lead into halftime.
1:42: Disaster for the Browns, as Rashard Higgins makes a great catch and rumbles towards the goal line before fumbling it out of the end zone (the refs also appeared to miss a helmet-to-helmet penalty on Daniel Sorensen). The Chiefs take over on their own 20 after a devastating turnover.
3:09: The Browns finally get a stop as Adrian Clayborne blows up a screen play. However, Harrison Butker nails a 50-yard field goal, and the Chiefs now lead it 16-3.
9:38: Two dropped Nick Chubb passes and a Baker Mayfield self-completion later, and the Browns are forced to punt. Jamie Gillan boots it to the Chiefs 15.
An update on Jedrick Wills Jr.: The rookie blindside blocker is questionable to return with an ankle injury.
13:48: A holding penalty does no damage to the Chiefs: On second-and-19, Patrick Mahomes finds Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce, who barrels his way into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. Kansas City extends its lead to 13-3.
1ST QUARTER
2:41: A L’Jarius Sneed sack helps stall the Browns at the KC 28, but Cody Parkey makes a 46-yard field goal. The Chiefs still lead, 6-3.
Some bad news for Cleveland, though, as left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. had to be helped off the field with an injury suffered on the first play.
9:11: That was fast… The Chiefs march 75 yards and Patrick Mahomes caps it off with a 1-yard touchdown run. Kansas City jumps out to a 6-0 lead after Harrison Butker’s extra point sails wide left.