Patrick Mahomes left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Instant takeaways from the Browns’ 22-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs …
1. So close: The Browns were bounced out of the playoffs not by Patrick Mahomes but by backup Chad Henne. The journeyman backup relieved a concussed Mahomes and was able to hold on to the Chiefs’ tense 22-17 win with two plays after the two-minute warning. On third-and-14, Henne scrambled for 13 yards and was inches short of the first down. Then he completed a short pass to Tyreek Hill to convert with 1:09 to play and the Browns out of timeouts. The Chiefs (15-2) advance to the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo not knowing if Mahomes can play. The Browns (12-6) bowed out of their first playoff appearance in 18 years with a valiant effort but went 0-1 at the end.
2. Greedy: The Chiefs made their first offensive error of the game when Henne threw up what looked like a Hail Mary on first-and-25 from the Browns’ 38-yard line. Safety Karl Joseph made the interception in the end zone, almost like a fair catch. There was 8:00 left. The Browns were able to convert one fourth down to extend the drive, but elected to punt on fourth-and-9 from their 32 with 4:09 left.
3. There’s a gleam: The Browns closed the game to 22-17 when Kareem Hunt had a personally satisfying 3-yard touchdown run. It culminated a beautiful 18-play drive that consumed 8 minutes, 17 seconds. The Browns converted two third downs and two fourth downs on the possession, during which CBS analyst Tony Romo addressed Browns fans and repeated the old Marty Schottenheimer line: “There’s a gleam.” Nick Chubb’s 3-yard run converted the first fourth down and the second one came when tight end Austin Hooper stretched out parallel to the ground for a 4-yard catch at the Chiefs’ 7 with Bashaud Breeland in skin tight coverage.
4. Down goes Mahomes: Mahomes was taken out of the game with a concussion with 7:27 to play in the third quarter. Linebacker Mack Wilson laid a legal hit on Mahomes running on a keeper. Mahomes forehead banged hard off the ground on the takedown. Chad Henne came on and condtinued the drive. Harrison Butker’s 33-yard field goal put the Chiefs ahead, 22-10.
5. More adversity: The Browns were on their third offensive tackle when Kendall Lamm left with an elbow injury. Enter folk hero Blake Hance. Instant offense: Chubb ripped off runs of 23 and 18 yards and Mayfield had a perfect throw to Rashard Higgins for 18. Mayfield then put the Browns’ first touchdown on the board on a 4-yard pass to Jarvis Landry off play-action. With 9:29 to play in the third quarter, Kevin Stefanski went for the PAT and the Browns trailed, 19-10.
6. Finally, a break: Needing a score on their first drive of the second half, the Browns turned it over when Mayfield’s across-the-body throw for Jarvis Landry while sprinting to his right was intercepted by safety Tyrann Mathieu. It was Mayfield’s first interception since the one in Cincinnati intended for Odell Beckham Jr., on which OBJ suffered a season-ending knee injury. Although Mahomes took over at the Browns’ 29, the defense held and Harrison Butker doinked the left upright on a missed field goal from 33 yards. He also missed a PAT from the same distance.
7. Keepaway in reverse: The Browns only had three offensive possessions in the first half; the Chiefs had four and scored two touchdowns and two field goals for a 19-3 lead. There was a 10-point swing in the final minute on a Rashard Higgins loss of the ball out of the end zone after a controversial helmet hit by Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen. Sorensen launched at Higgins as Higgins was stretching the ball for the goal line. Sorenses led with his helmet and knocked the ball out just before the goal line and it bounded out of the end zone. The ruling of a touchback was correct and gave the Chiefs the ball at their 20. However, the officials ignored the illegal helmet hit. CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore said, “By rule, that is a foul. That’s illegal use of the helmet, I believe.” That portion of the play is not a reviewable by instant replay. Mahomes promptly moved the Chiefs 70 yards in 1:29 for a short field goal and 19-3 Chiefs lead.
8. No support: Mayfield deserved a better fate in the first half. He was 11 of 17 for 134 yards. But Nick Chubb dropped consecutive short passes on one series and Donovan Peoples-Jones was whistled for a ticky-tacky offensive pass interference on a downfield pass. And then came the missed illegal hit after a 25-yard pass to Higgins.
9. Where’s Kareem?: The revenge factor in Kareem Hunt’s first visit to Arrowhead Stadium since he was fired in 2018 was a dud in the first half. Hunt was used mostly as a third-down back and officially had zero touches in the first two quarters. One Mayfield pass zipped off his hands with Sorensen interfering with him. The officials did see that obvious penalty.
10. Toe jammed: Mahomes jammed a big toe in the first quarter. It affected him as the game wore on. Mahomes really pressed to avoid pressure and scramble for 13 yards and first down. He was limping and grimacing after the play. Mahomes looked off on his next three passes and the Chiefs settled on a 50-yard field goal by Harrison Butker.
11. Mismatch: On Kansas City’s second possession, Mahomes got others besides Hill involved. From the Browns’ 20, somehow the Browns left cornerback Denzel Ward in coverage on tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce’s spin to the inside at the end of his route caused Ward to slip to the ground and Kelce completed the reception with a jump over the goal line for the touchdown.
12. It figures: After an adversity-free practice week that seemed too good to be true, it turned out that it was. On the Browns’ first offensive play, left tackle Jedrick Wills suffered an injury to his left ankle when a Chief fell on it. Wills was replaced by Kendall Lamm and did not return. Lamm’s baptism didn’t last long. On his first play, David Njoku gained 27 yards on a screen play with Lamm and center JC Tretter leading the blocking. It led to a 46-yard field goal by Cody Parkey. The Browns’ possession consumed 6 ½ minutes and ended on a 9-yard sack.
13. Not a good start: After deferring the kickoff, the Browns’ defense took the field first and fell victim to the Chiefs’ desire for a fast start on offense. Nickel back Kevin Johnson had a rough start after missing two games to Covid. Johnson lost coverage on a 26-yard pass to Tyreek Hill and then missed a tackle on a 4-yard run by Hill that converted a third down. Also, linebacker Sione Takitaki missed a tackle on a short catch by Darrell Williams that went for 10 yards. Mahomes scored from 1 yard on a keeper. Butker missed the PAT for the seventh time this season.
14. Pre-game notes: All four Browns who were questionable for the game were active, including right tackle Jack Conklin. It was the first time the Browns’ starting offensive line was intact since Game 13 against Baltimore on Dec. 14 … Kareem Hunt may have been a logical choice for game captain against his former team, but Stefanski appointed three captains for the post-season: Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield and Charley Hughlett … Two Kansas City offensive starters were inactive: receiver Sammy Watkins and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.