Tag: AFC Playoffs

Derrick Henry had his way too, but meddling Ravens OC Todd Monken

Baltimore Ravens HB Derrick Henry had just 16 carries in the most important game of the year but meddling OC Todd Monken sees no problem.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had just manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers with 26 carries for 186 rushing yards in the 28-14 Wild Card victory. So common sense would tell Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to give Henry more than 16 carries in the AFC Divisional round versus the Buffalo Bills, right?

Tied 7-7 to begin the second quarter, the Ravens had gained chunks on four consecutive rushing plays for 46 yards on the Bills defense. That’s when, on 1st & 10 from the Bills’ 45-yard line, Monken decided to get cute and sequence in a few passing plays to try and cap the drive off in style. 


Jackson’s second-quarter fumble on 2nd & 10 from the Bills 28-yard line was the fourth consecutive pass play called by Monken on the drive. Perhaps center Tyler Linderbaum was preoccupied with having to pass block so many successive times and rushed the snap. Yet, it doesn’t end there.

Monken used the exact same recipe on the ensuing drive, a drive that stalled out with a field goal by kicker Justin Tucker. With the Ravens on the Bills 2-yard line, Monken called a reasonable run-play out of 21 personnel, and rightfully so. The Ravens successfully used the I-formation in the red zone all year but were stuffed for losing one on first down.

No big deal, Monken still had 2nd & Goal from the 3-yard line with 4:38 to go in the second quarter. Monken could’ve forced the unstoppable Henry or even sequenced in the QB inside zone play. Fans had seen the Ravens succeed with Jackson all season. Instead, Monken tried to use play-action with the same 21 personnel and tackle Ronnie Stanley, reporting as an eligible receiver! Take a look below, Jackson’s eligible targets on the play-action play that led to a five-yard loss (sack) were Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, tight-end Mark Andrews, Henry and wide receiver Tylan Wallace. 

While Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defends Monken, it’s obvious that Monken’s play calling always favors passing the ball over running it in the most important games. For perspective, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had three more passing attempts than Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Divisional Round.

Monken’s genius sometimes suggests that he tends to be overwise. Yet, his wisdom doesn’t seem to prompt him to do the most obvious thing: give Henry the ball. 

Previewing Kansas City’s AFC Championship game vs. Bills on Chiefs Wire Podcast

On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ Patrick Willis, Charlie Ward, Eric Crouch, and Eddie George #BUFvsKC #NFLPlayoffs

We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re previewing the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC Championship matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

Senior Writer Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis. The former NFL Draft first-round pick shared his thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-peat chances heading into the postseason.

We check in with this past week’s press conferences, which featured comments from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on his latest unbelievable play in the Divisional round victory over the Houston Texans. Lastly, Easton Jr. spoke to former Heisman Trophy winners Charlie Ward, Eric Crouch, and Eddie George, who revealed their takes on Kansas City’s chances of a Super Bowl three-peat.

The latest episode of the Chiefs Wire Podcast will inform listeners about all developments in the team’s mindset ahead of their AFC Championship matchup against the Bills. We also learn more from Willis’ postseason battles as he recalls the infamous Super Bowl Blackout at the Superdome in New Orleans. At the same time, three former college football stars share their unique stories and thoughts on today’s NFL while supporting a special Heisman event in New York City. The Wuerffel Foundation’s The Pickle Bowl: Heisman Edition at Life Time Pickleball NYC gathered past winners for a good cause.

Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of the AFC Championship game kickoff:

NFL fine against Texans RB Joe Mixon reissued, this time for his actual rcomments

Instead of just admitting they were wrong, the NFL still plans on going after Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon for dumb comments.

The NFL still plans to fine Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon for his comments following Saturday’s 24-13 loss in the divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs.

This time, the league office is actually going to fine him for his comments and not that of former Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Following the loss, Mixon mentioned the officiating in the locker room after the loss and how two plays against Patrick Mahomes factored into the outcome.

“Everybody knows how it is playing up here,” Mixon said. “You can never leave it into the refs’ hands. The whole world sees what it is, bro, but it is what it is.”

The NFL fined the Texans’ top rusher $25,000 for tweeting postgame, “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs? These officials are trash and bias.”

Here’s the problem: Mixon never tweeted that. Houshmandzadeh had tweeted it during the game while Mixon and Houston were trying to mount a comeback. 

After Mixon called out the league for the wrongful error, the league reissued the $25,000 fine for his actual comments made in the locker room. Right after the fine was released, Mixon hopped back on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling it a “cold world.”

“So, let me get this straight. NFL fines me 25k for something I didn’t even say. Call them out for it, and (their) response was fine me AGAIN for something that’s not even a violation without even rescinding the first one,” Mixon tweeted. “Where’s the accountability? Just respect the players.” 

Peter Schaffer, Mixon’s agent, told ESPN they were already planning to appeal the fine and will still appeal it under the new issue.

“We will defend Joe and have appealed the fine and will explore all other legal avenues to rectify this situation,” Schaffer said. “This has to stop.” 

NFL fines Texans RB Joe Mixon for the dumbest reason after playoff loss

Joe Mixon just got fined by the NFL for something a former player tweeted following Saturday’s loss in Kansas City.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon is getting fined by the NFL.

Here’s the funny part: He’s getting in trouble for something someone else.

After the Texans’ 23-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the league office wasn’t pleased with how several players responded over the perceived errors in officiating on several players.

Multiple Texans, including head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive end Will Anderson Jr., voiced their frustrations about having to be us against the refs” when trying to make tackles.

Mixon voiced his opinion, telling reporters postgame that when playing at Arrowhead Stadium.

“You can never leave it into the refs’ hands,” Mixon said. “The whole world sees, man, what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it into the refs’ hands. It’s all good, though.”

But the league fined Mixon $25,000 for tweeting postgame: “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are trash and bias.”

Here’s the problem. Mixon never posted that to X, formerly known as Twitter. Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the one behind the words.

Mixon, well within his right, called out the NFL for the fine on social media Wednesday afternoon.

If the league wants to fine Mixon, it could, but that would mean Anderson and several others would likely have to be under the microscope. In the letter sent to Mixon, his direct words also weren’t mentioned, only the tweet that was sent by a player who’s delivering hot takes on FS1.

The NFL could fix the issue right away by rescinding the fine and apologizing to Mixon for a mistake. If it remains steadfast by its mistake, the Pro Bowl running back will appeal the decision.

You can only imagine a simple search on Twitter will solve the problem while embarrassing the league office.

Should Steelers fans be rooting for the Ravens vs the Bills?

If the Ravens win this weekend, will it be a wakeup call for the Steelers?

Last week the Baltimore Ravens ended the Pittsburgh Steelers season is ugly fashion. Now the Steelers and their fans have turned their attention to the offseason after another playoff failing.

The Ravens square off this week against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round and have a real shot to make it to the AFC Championship. Our question is about whether or not the Steelers should be rooting for the Ravens this weekend and going forward should they win.

We will be cheering for the Ravens without a doubt. Why? Because the Steelers organization needs to be put on notice. The Steelers were fortunate to secure a playoff spot ahead of their late-season slide because without a doubt they were the worst team to make it in. Even the Cincinnati Bengals, who narrowly missed the playoffs were playing much better football and had just beat Pittsburgh.

But a deep run by the Ravens might be just what this franchise needs to spark some real change. It might be a longshot as the Steelers don’t seem fazed at all by their lack of success and being outclassed by other teams but maybe seeing Lamar Jackson hoist a Lombardi Trophy might be the big nudge they need to build a competitive roster and coaching staff.

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Instant analysis: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce lead Chiefs to victory over Texans

The Houston Texans season has come to an end at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.

Blame the officiating all you want.

Even with the 30 yards removed, the outcome would have remained near-identical.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on a diving pass for an 11-yard touchdown, securing the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs became the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. Kansas City will play host to the winner of Buffalo and Baltimore in the conference championship for a chance to head to the Super Bowl.

The Texans won in multiple facets, despite trailing the entire game. C.J. Stoud finished with more passing yards than the three-time Super Bowl champion.

Joe Mixon and the ground game averaged 5.1 yards per attempt compared to Kansas City’s 2.1.

While Kelce made history with his 117-yard outing, the Texans had more consistent receivers. Nico Collins finished with 81 yards while Dalton Schultz totaled 63 yards.

So, what went wrong? Missed opportunities and blown pass protection.

Stroud, who finished with 245 passing yards, was sacked eight times, including four times on third-down conversions. After connecting with Schultz and Collins for first-down gains, defensive end George Karlaftis beat two pass blockers to record his third sack of the evening.

Houston tried to tack on three points from a 35-yard field goal attempt by Ka’imi Fairbairn, but Leo Chenel timed his jump to block the kick and keep the difference at 11.

Much like in Week 16’s 27-19 loss at Arrowhead, Houston had its chance to tie the game. Joe Mixon capped off a 10-minute drive with a 13-yard run to bring the Texans within one, but Fairbairn’s attempt after traveled right.

Fairbairn also missed a 55-yard field goal as the wind sailed the pass wide right. Those three points would have tied the game at 6-6.

While Stroud faced ample pressure, Mahomes was sacked three times. It could have been more, but several missed holding calls and a roughing the passer play on Will Anderson Jr. during the first quarter negated multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Later in the third quarter, Mahomes became an open-field runner and tried to pick up a first down before sliding for a gain of 6. But linebacker Henry To’oTo’o apparently led with his head as Mahomes was dropping, leading to a late hit call and an extra 15 yards to help set up the Kelce touchdown.

Mahomes improved 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL postseason history. The two-time regular-season MVP also moved to 7-0 in the divisional round.

Behind Mahomes’ heroics, Chiefs coach Andy Reid became the fourth NFL coach with 300 career wins, joining Don Shula, Bill Belichick and George Halas.

Meanwhile, Houston falls to 0-6 all-time in the divisional round and will return to NRG Stadium with intentions of moving to the conference championship title game in 2026.

The Texans now own the No. 25 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft come April. Houston must cut ties with several players and coaches this offseason, whether it comes from free agency or straight-up release.

For the second consecutive year, the Texans will finish with double-digit wins in the regular season. For the second consecutive year, their season ends just short of a conference title game.

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to seal Chiefs playoff win over Texans

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to seal Chiefs’ playoff win over Texans

Former Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal clinched the Kansas City Chiefs’ divisional-round playoff win with a blocked field goal on Saturday.

The play arrived at the end of what became the Chiefs’ seventh consecutive AFC divisional victory with quarterback Patrick Mahomes under center. After Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud orchestrated a 53-yard drive from the 4:38-minute to the 1:52-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn squared up for for a 35-yard field goal attempt.

After the ball was snapped and Fairbairn kicked the attempt, Chenal squeezed between two Texans offensive tackles, stretched his left hand and blocked the field goal. The play essentially secured the Chiefs’ victory.

Kansas City ended up taking a safety on the next sequence, but the game was already decided. The Chiefs now advance to the AFC Championship Game in search of a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

Chenal certainly has a knack for executing game-sealing blocked field goals. Earlier this season, the former Badger blocked Denver kicker Will Lutz’s 35-yard attempt to improve the Chiefs to 9-0 to start the year.

Outside of the blocked kick, Chanel finished Saturday’s game with four total tackles. He logged 60 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles during the regular season.

Chenal and the Chiefs will continue their campaign on Jan. 26 at home against either Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens or Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills.

Texans downgrade potential offensive weapon before Chiefs game

Teagan Quitoriano is not back for the Houston Texans as the team travels to Arrowhead Stadium.

The Houston Texans will be down a weapon on Saturday afternoon.

Tight end Teagan Quitoriano, who returned from the injured reserve this week with a calf injury, has been downgraded to out for the AFC Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quitoriano wasn’t expected to have a major role, but his impact could have elevated Houston’s passing game in the red zone. The Texans are expected to have tight end Cade Stover and wide receiver John Metchie III play after dealing with various ailments.

Quitoriano has mostly been effective on special teams when on the field in 2025, but his size does provide an upside. During his rookie season, he caught seven passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Last year amid injuries, Quitoriano finished with two catches for 33 yards in seven games.

Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN.

Houston Texans schedule: Are the Texans playing today? 

Are the Texans playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule entering wild-card round weekend.

The Houston Texans will take the field Saturday afternoon to advance to the AFC Conference Championship if they can secure a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Houston, which secured its second 10-win season under DeMeco Ryans, should be near full strength with the return of offensive lineman Shaq Mason.

Running back Joe Mixon was listed as questionable entering Thursday’s walkthrough but is expected to play. Linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris are both cleared to play while Houston should have defensive end Will Anderson Jr. back at 100% following his dominant outing against the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.

Meanwhile, Kansas City is coming off a second bye after securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 15-2 record. Patrick Mahomes has been near perfect in the divisional round, posting a 6-0 record with 16 touchdowns against zero interceptions.

NFL Playoff picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions 

The Chiefs are the favorite entering Saturday’s contest, with some lines up to a near touchdown. Should the Texans win, they’ll travel to take on either the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens on the road in the conference title game.

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Houston Texans 2024 schedule

  • Week 1: at Indianapolis (W, 29-27)
  • Week 2: vs. Chicago (W, 19-13)
  • Week 3: at Minnesota (L, 34-7)
  • Week 4: vs. Jacksonville (W, 24-20)
  • Week 5: vs. Buffalo (W, 23-20)
  • Week 6: at New England (W, 41-21)
  • Week 7: at Green Bay (L, 24-22)
  • Week 8: vs. Indianapolis (W, 23-20)
  • Week 9: at New York Jets (L, 21-13)
  • Week 10: vs. Detroit (L, 26-23)
  • Week 11: at Dallas (W, 34-10)
  • Week 12: vs. Tennessee (L, 32-27)
  • Week 13: at Jacksonville (W, 23-20)
  • Week 14: Bye
  • Week 15: vs. Miami (W, 20-12)
  • Week 16: at Kansas City (L, 27-19)
  • Week 17: vs. Baltimore (L,31-2)
  • Week 18: at Tennessee (W, 23-17)
  • Wild Card: Los Angeles Chargers (W, 32-12)
  • Record: 11-7

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Bills’ hype may be disproportionate, thanks to a weak AFC East

Each AFC East team not named the Buffalo Bills combined for a record of 17-34 in 2024. Talk about lack of competition.

While it might be unfair to shade the thriving Buffalo Bills, their AFC East division wasn’t the most competitive in 2024. Each AFC East team, not named the Bills, combined for a record of 17-34, which was a strong indicator and added emphasis to the statement above.

Still, the Bills ranked just No. 17 in opponent yards allowed per game, and none of their AFC East rivals ranked within the top 15 teams in the league in total yards per game. Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich can posture all he wants, the Bills better have an answer for Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry or things can and will get out of hand fast in the AFC Divisional.

The New York Jets were a bust, the Miami Dolphins were mediocre, and I don’t think the typical NFL fan can name you any of the New England Patriots wide receivers. With six all-pro players on the roster, the Ravens should be easy favorites over the Bills. Again, however, NFL games aren’t played on paper.