NFL
Tua and the Dolphins disappoint in -20 degrees – Mahomes’ helmet cracks from the cold
Chiefs playmaker Patrick Mahomes led his team to victory. photo
© Ed Zurga/AP/dpa
In the freezing cold in Kansas City, the Chiefs don’t play a great game, but they prevail against the Miami Dolphins in the playoffs. Meanwhile, in the first game between Houston and Cleveland, a rookie quarterback showed a sensational performance.
In extreme conditions and temperatures of less than -20 degrees Celsius, the Kansas City Chiefs used their home advantage and prevailed against the Miami Dolphins in the NFL playoffs. In icy winds and parts of the pitch were frozen, the defending champions won 26:7 against the guests from much warmer Florida.
The Houston Texans had previously beaten the Cleveland Browns 45:14 and also reached the second round on the way to the Super Bowl. Who the two football teams have to play against in the so-called Divisional Round depends on the further results on Sunday and Monday.
Mahomes: Helmet breaks after collision
“We knew it was going to be cold and we had to go into the game with fire,” said Chiefs playmaker Patrick Mahomes, whose helmet broke in one scene after a collision. “It was so cold that a piece broke off. I was a little upset because the helmet was warm inside and the spare helmet was in the cold the whole time.”
The Chiefs dominated the game, which according to US media was the fourth coldest in NFL history, but still only led 16-7 at halftime. From four attacks with possession of the ball just before the end zone, Mahomes’ offense only generated one touchdown before the break.
Chiefs professional Travis Kelce, who was cheered on from a box by pop superstar Taylor Swift, once again dropped an unusual number of balls and continued his inconsistent season. However, the Dolphins never found their rhythm and only managed a touchdown through Tyreek Hill. Hill had played in Kansas City for a long time and won the Super Bowl with the team before moving to Florida.
Houston: Offensive spectacle from CJ Stroud
There was significantly more offensive spectacle in the duel between the Texans and the Browns. Quarterback CJ Stroud caught three touchdown passes in the first half of the first playoff game of his career. The hosts’ defense made the difference after the break. The Texans defense intercepted passes from Browns quarterback Joe Flacco twice and scored touchdowns themselves, so-called pick-sixes.