AFC West 2020 Week 16 Recap: Raiders eliminated from playoffs
By Nick Bailey
Chiefs clinch the top spot in the AFC
The Kansas City Chiefs struggled big-time offensively against the Atlanta Falcons defense, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a touchdown in the second quarter to tight end Travis Kelce, then didn’t throw another until the fourth to Demarcus Robinson. Despite struggling for most of the day, Mahomes still finished with 278 yards passing and two touchdowns with an interception.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins also threw an interception early in the game.
The Falcons almost became the second team to go into Kansas City and come out with a victory, matching what the Raiders did back in October. The Chiefs defense could not stop the offensive juggernaut that is the Falcons from moving down the field, as Matt Ryan threw for 300 yards and no interceptions, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley went off for 130 yards on only five receptions.
The defensive line kept the pressure on Mahomes all game long, but ultimately, it was not them who cost the Falcons that game.
In the red zone, the Falcons had opportunities to take the field and once again force the Chiefs to come back with very little time left., but they couldn’t punch it in the end zone and sent out Pro Bowl kicker YoungHoe Koo to try and get this game to overtime with a 39-yard field goal. Although it looked good the moment it left his foot, the ball carried wide right, and the Chiefs walked away victorious.
The win gave the Chiefs the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and a first round bye in the playoffs.