Story by
Jaguars make costly mistakes in 27-20 Divisional Round loss to Chiefs. Here are our takeaways.
- Story by
- Jaguars make costly mistakes in 27-20 Divisional Round loss to Chiefs. Here are our takeaways.
KANSAS CITY, MO — With 5:36 remaining in the contest and the Jaguars down 27-17 to the Chiefs, receiver Jamal Agnew caught a pass on the right side, carried it to the Kansas City six-yard line and fumbled the football.
The Chiefs recovered the football in what was the first turnover of the game.
Advertisement
On the Jaguars' ensuing drive, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was intercepted by Chiefs rookie defensive back Jaylen Watson, the second turnover of the game.
After a late 48-yard field goal make, the Jaguars attempted an onside kick but failed to recover it. With 25 seconds left in the game, the Chiefs were able to kneel on the football, defeating the Jaguars 27-20.
Former Jaguars' defensive end Arden Key (49), seen here pressuring Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in an AFC Division round playoff game, says he "felt disrespected" over not being retained by the team after signing with the Tennessee Titans.
After recording the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history in the wild-card round last week against the Los Angeles Chargers , the Jaguars were dealt an unimaginable hand, facing off against the top-seeded Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.
Advertisement
Game recap: A look back at Jaguars-Chiefs
Jaguars-Chiefs predictions: Who got it right?
Jacksonville entered the contest having won its past six games, starting in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans , the teams' first matchup against the division rival that kickstarted their opportunity to take the AFC South outright in Week 18.
Prior to the contest, a healthy dose of snow that turned to rain barreled down at Arrowhead. However, that would subside once the game began with only some drizzles of rain afterward.
Neither the Chiefs nor the Jaguars listed any major inactives before the game. The only starter that missed the game for Kansas City is receiver Mecole Hardman , who was ruled out with a pelvis injury on Thursday.
Advertisement
Saturday's matchup featured two top quarterbacks, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence and the consensus top-ranked QB in football, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes .
Mahomes, Lawrence exchange early touchdowns
Although the Jaguars got off to a slow start on offense, going three-and-out to start the game, they returned with a touchdown drive after going down 7-0 early to Kansas City.
Mahomes' touchdown toss went for eight yards to Kelce, while Lawrence's went for 10 yards to Kirk, who caught the football after being lined up in the offensive backfield.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) makes the catch for a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Lawrence completed 24-of-39 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Advertisement
Costly mistakes by Jaguars offense stall drives
Through three-quarters of the game, the Jaguars' offense cost themselves points or chances of an extended drive on at least three occasions.
With 2:34 remaining in the second quarter, Lawrence passed deep to receiver Christian Kirk on what would have been a 50-yard gain to the Kansas City 14-yard line. Kirk dropped the pass. The Jaguars ended up getting three points out of the drive, however, with a 41-yard field goal nailed by kicker Riley Patterson.
On third-and-19 with 10:16 remaining in the second quarter, the Jaguars were faced with a third-and-19 from the Kansas City 39-yard line. Lawrence passed the ball to backup RB JaMycal Hasty who dropped the pass. Jacksonville was then forced to punt the football.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws while being pressured by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (99) during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
On second-and-7 from the Jaguars' 40-yard line, Lawrence dropped back to throw, but a free rusher forced the second-year QB to get rid of the football, incomplete. Lawrence was off target on the third-down throw as well, unable to extend the drive down by a score of 17-10.
Advertisement
Patrick Mahomes takes early exit, returns in second half
On the fifth play of the Chiefs' second drive of the game, Mahomes was hit by both Jaguars defensive lineman Arden Key and defensive tackle Corey Peters as he threw a pass to tight end Blake Bell for a four-yard gain.Mahomes badly limped off the field before the Chiefs called for a time-out.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) takes a moment after a play agaimst the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Mahomes re-entered the contest to finish the Chiefs' second scoring drive of the game which resulted in a 50-yard Harrison Butker field goal to give Kansas City a three-point lead, 10-7 with 14:13 remaining in the first half.On the Chiefs' fourth drive of the game, Mahomes was ruled questionable to return and backup QB Chad Henne entered the contest.
Advertisement
Henne completed 5-of-7 passes for 23 yards and a one-yard touchdown pass to Kelce, his second of the contest.
Mahomes returned to the contest in the second half after the Chiefs received the opening second-half kickoff. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Mahomes' X-ray on his injured ankle came back negative.
Mahomes finished the contest completing 22-of-30 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
Travis Kelce's dominant first-half gave Chiefs plenty of momentum
In the first half of the contest, Kelce caught 10 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.His first touchdown of the day gave Mahomes and Kelce a tie for the second-most quarterback-receiver touchdowns in NFL postseason history with 12.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs toward the end zone for a touchdown as Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) defends during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jacksonville struggled to slow down Kelce, leaving him wide open on his first touchdown grab for eight yards. Kelce's catches, yards and touchdowns enabled the Chiefs offense to succeed even without Mahomes at QB for a period of time.
Advertisement
Kelce ended the game just one catch short of the NFL playoff record of 15 catches in a single postseason game. He caught 14 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82 .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Takeaways: Jaguars fall 27-20 in Divisional Round loss to Chiefs
