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The Kansas City Chiefs lead the Cleveland Browns 19-3 heading to the second half. Here’s how the second quarter went down:
Even the small breaks couldn’t help Cleveland stop Mahomes. He bobbled a snap on first down, leading to only a 1 yard gain. Then, a holding penalty on C Austin Reiter set up 2nd-and-19 at the 20 yard line. It didn’t matter — Mahomes dropped back, and TE Travis Kelce got CB Denzel Ward stumbling out of his shoes with a fake to the outside and cut back inside, as the catch-and-run went for a touchdown. Butker made the extra point this time, putting the Chiefs up 13-3 with 13:48 remaining in the second quarter.
AIR KELCE
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 17, 2021
: https://t.co/F3ZHh8BQRq pic.twitter.com/NJsVcswg80
On Cleveland’s second drive, Mayfield got a 23-yard pass near the boundary to WR Donovan Peoples-Jones. After that, some negativity kicked in. Mayfield ripped a nice 17-yard pass to Landry, but it came back off of a holding penalty on RG Wyatt Teller. Then, Chubb dropped back-to-back passes, including a screen pass that appeared to have a lot of daylight in front of him. On third down, Mayfield’s pass was tipped back to himself and he caught it for a loss of 8 yards, leading to a punt.
The Chiefs began their next drive from the 15 yard line. After a couple more first downs, they ended up facing a 2nd-and-23. A 15-yard completion got it to 3rd-and-8, but Mahomes kept it himself for a 13-yard run and a first down. The defense then forced two incompletions to set up a 3rd-and-10 at the 23 yard line. DE Adrian Clayborn got a big hit on a running back screen for a loss of 5 yards. That forced the Chiefs to try a 50-yard field goal, but with the wind in his favor, Butker drilled it to give the Chiefs a 16-3 lead.
What a hit @AJaClay
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 17, 2021
: https://t.co/k8TCbMTBLa pic.twitter.com/WKXfRRlhod
With 3:09 left in the half, Cleveland’s blueprint to try getting back in the game was clear: score to end the half, and get the ball to begin the third quarter and score again. Did they execute?
The Browns had another 10-yard penalty — this time offensive pass interference on Peoples-Jones — push them back to a 2nd-and-20. But heading into the two-minute warning, Mayfield found Njoku streaking down the seam for a 26-yard catch to get near midfield.
.@bakermayfield ➡️ @David_Njoku80
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 17, 2021
: https://t.co/k8TCbMTBLa pic.twitter.com/60sGkFTRr4
A few plays later, Mayfield zipped a pass to WR Rashard Higgins to the right side for a gain of 23 yards. And then...the “only in Cleveland” play struck. Mayfield stood in the pocket, and again delivered a strike to Higgins up the right sideline. Higgins caught it, then turned and ran toward the pylon with a defender coming at him. Higgins dove for the pylon, and the defender blasted him — and then the football came out about an inch away from the end zone, and then went through the end zone for a touchback. Kansas City ball. Making matters worse, it was helmet-to-helmet on the hit.
Dirty Dan loves making plays in the playoffs
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 17, 2021
: https://t.co/F3ZHh8BQRq pic.twitter.com/Xmf1LfBlft
The Chiefs got in range for one more field goal attempt before the end of the half, which Butker made from 28 yards out to give the Chiefs a 19-3 lead at the half. Cleveland will get the ball to begin the third quarter.
Game: Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Date/Time: Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:05 PM ET
Television: CBS - Jim Nantz (play-by-play) & Tony Romo (analyst)
Local Radio: ESPN 850 WKNR, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 FM WNCX