Chiefs snap ridiculously impressive Trevor Lawrence streak in playoff win
Since he stepped on the football field at Clemson almost five years ago, Trevor Lawrence has not lost a football game he’s started that’s been played on a Saturday. Not there, not with the Jacksonville Jaguars — admittedly with limited opportunity in his first pro season in 2021.
But that unblemished Saturday mark ended against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round as the Jags lost, 27-20. Lawrence is now 34-1 on Saturdays.
The two losses Clemson sustained with Lawrence as the starter: A Friday loss in the College Football Playoff semifinals to Ohio State and a Monday loss to LSU in the national championship game.
It’s a pretty astonishing mark, given how hard it is to not misstep once in basically three seasons of being a college quarterback.
But playing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will potentially end any streak, even the unique one Lawrence held.
WATCH: Travis Kelce dedicates NBC game ball to Chad Henne after playoff win
After the Chiefs took down the Jaguars in the playoffs on Saturday, tight end Travis Kelce paid special tribute to backup quarterback Chad Henne. Henne came in in relief of Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter of a close game and delivered a 98-yard touchdown drive to keep the Chiefs ahead throughout the game.
Henne’s touchdown to finish the drive was the first playoff score of his career, since entering the league in 2008. The effort didn’t go unrecognized by Kelce and Mahomes, who shouted out their veteran quarterback during their postgame interview.
“I can’t say enough about Chad Henne stepping up and doing his thing. This ball goes to Chad Henne right here. Henne-thing is possible baby,” said Kelce after receiving a ceremonial game ball from the NBC broadcast team.
Kelce caught one of his two receiving touchdowns on the night from Henne to cap off their huge drive in the second quarter with Mahomes in the locker room. While the Chiefs could have possibly won the game even if Henne struggled in his relief effort, the drive by the veteran quarterback pushed the Chiefs’ lead to 17-7 while the status of Mahomes was unknown.
“Chad Henne man, he’s been in the building every single day,” added Mahomes. “He’s made me so much of a better quarterback in the way he teaches me. And just the most ready-to-go at all times quarterback man. Just a special guy. He stepped up and drove them 98 yards and a touchdown which ended up being the difference in the game.”