Yahoo Lifestyle Patrick Mahomes goes Derrick Henry with stunning TD run to close out 1st half vs. Titans
Derrick Henry was in the midst of a historic playoff run.
But he’s couldn’t top Patrick Mahomes for the best run from Sunday’s AFC championship game that saw the Kansas City Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl with a 35-24 victory.
With the Titans leading 17-14 late in the second quarter, the Chiefs faced second-and-10 at the Tennessee 27-yard line.
Mahomes took a shotgun snap. After failing to find a target on his initial read, Mahomes escaped the pocket to buy more time. When Titans pass rushers closed in, Mahomes took things completely into his own hands.
Mahomes breaks free from the backfield
He ran left, dodging a pair of defenders in the backfield before tucking the ball into his left hand and tiptoeing down the sideline.
With his path cut off inside the 10-yard line, Mahomes cut back right, where three Titans had a chance to stuff him short of the end zone.
Mahomes wasn’t having it.
Sorry, Titans tacklers
Cornerback Tramaine Brock had the first shot, but Mahomes hit the spin button to escape the grasp of his arm tackle around the 6-yard line. Safety Amani Hooker hopelessly flailed at Mahomes in the midst of his spin move, only to end up find himself as the one tumbling on the ground.
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As Mahomes then made a lunge for the end zone, Brock remained engaged and unsuccessfully tried to strip the ball, which Mahomes had switched to his right arm.
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones’ last-gasp lunge at Mahomes was too late, as the Kansas City quarterback dove across the goal line for the go-ahead score.
Mahomes credited his teammates for the run in a celebratory postgame interview with CBS.
“I just ran it and got some good blocking there in the end and found a way to get into that end zone,” Mahomes said.
Chiefs outrush Titans
Mahomes’ scoring run highlighted a Chiefs rushing attack that outgained the vaunted Titans’ ground attack. Mahomes led the Chiefs with 53 of their 112 rushing yards on the day as the Kansas City defense held Henry and the Titans in check.
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Henry averaged 188.5 rushing yards per game in playoff wins over the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots, but managed just 69 on 19 carries on Sunday as the Titans tallied 85 yards on the ground.
What can’t Mahomes do?
Mahomes is best-known for his massive arm and remarkable play-making ability as a passer who earned league MVP honors in just his second season.
But the 6-3, 229-pound quarterback is a tremendous athlete and more-than capable runner when he chooses to be, as the Titans learned the hard way on Sunday.
The Chiefs rode Mahomes’ momentum the rest of the game, going on to win 35-24 and advance to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
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