Quarterback Patrick Mahomes set a new record for total yards in an NFL football season on Saturday in the duel in which his team Kansas City Chiefs clinched the first berth in the American Conference with a 31-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The top seed also ensures a first-round playoff bye for the Chiefs, who finished the season with a 14-3 record and are seeking their third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons.
Mahomes passed for 202 yards and rushed for 29, giving him a season total of 5,608 yards, surpassing the previous record of 5,562 yards set by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in 2011.
Kansas City scored on their first drive when Mahomes found Justin Watson with a 67-yard deep pass. He then got a two-yard pass to Jerick McKinnon for the touchdown.
A Ronald Jones two-yard run early in the second quarter put the Chiefs up 14-3 and they appeared to be firmly in control of the game.
After a Kadarius Toney touchdown play was ruled out for holding off an opposing player, the same player made up for it by running for an 11-yard touchdown run on the next play.
A one-yard run by Isiah Pacheco in the fourth made it 31-6, but the Raiders cut the deficit with quarterback Jarrett Stidham connecting with Hunter Renfrow for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
It was a convincing victory for Andy Reid’s team, which will now enjoy a bye before the playoffs begin.
“It’s important, it’s like winning a playoff game,” Mahomes said of securing the break.
At the close, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-16 to clinch the AFC South Division title.
The Jaguars reached the postseason following Josh Allen ran a fourth-quarter touchdown run from 37 yards following recovering a Rayshawn Jenkins-forced fumble on Titans quarterback Josh Dobbs.
The game was a simple ‘win and you’re in’ clash for the Conference South playoff spot and it was a grueling battle for much of the game.
The inexperienced Dobbs, making just his second start following a five-year career as a backup, had been well protected by the run-heavy Titans with Derrick Henry amassing 109 rushing yards.
The Titans, who were 7-3 before losing their last seven games, opened up a 10-0 lead with Dobbs’ 21-yard touchdown pass to Chigoziem Okonkwo.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence responded, connecting with Christian Kirk for a 25-yard touchdown run.
Although Lawrence missed two potential touchdown passes, Jacksonville’s defense put on a strong performance in the second half and following a Riley Patterson field goal, they tied it at three.
– Results of Saturday in the NFL in its day number 18:
Kansas City at Las Vegas 31-13
Jacksonville a Tennessee 20-16
– To be played on Sunday:
Tampa Bay vs Atlanta
New England vs Buffalo
Minnesota vs. Chicago
Baltimore vs Cincinnati
Houston vs Indianapolis
NY Jets vs Miami
Carolina vs New Orleans
Cleveland vs Pittsburgh
LA Chargers vs Denver
NY Giants vs Philadelphia
Arizona vs San Francisco
LA Rams vs Seattle
Dallas vs Washington
Detroit vs Green Bay
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