Chiefs and Lions into NFL conference championships
The Kansas City Chiefs reached the AFC Championship game for the sixth straight year while the Detroit Lions will play their first NFC Championship game in 33 years after victories in the NFL playoffs on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes's Chiefs emerged with a 27-24 win from a gruelling battle at Buffalo while the Detroit Lions defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23. The Chiefs will play at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday for a chance to defend their Super Bowl title while the Lions will be looking to reach their first Super Bowl when they travel to the San Francisco 49ers. Buffalo's Tyler Bass pulled a potentially game-tying 44-yard field goal wide right in the fourth quarter, before Isiah Pacheco ran for a first down and the Chiefs ran out the clock –  moving one win from their fourth Super Bowl in five seasons. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for two touchdowns and 287 yards as Detroit set up a showdown with the 49ers in California. The victory extended Detroit's emotion-fueled playoff run, which has seen the Lions win back-to-back playoff games for the first time since their 1957 championship season. Detroit claimed a 24-17 lead with an electrifying 31-yard run from Jahmyr Gibbs, and an extra point conversion. Goff stretched Detroit's lead to 31-17, picking out Amon-Ra St. Brown for a nine-yard touchdown pass. There was still time for Tampa Bay, with Baker Mayfield throwing his third touchdown pass for Evans to score. But the Bucs' hopes of an improbable comeback ended when Mayfield was picked off in midfield with 95 seconds remaining. (AFP)_____________________________
Last updated: 2024-01-22 HKT 11:39 