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Who is the No. 6 seed?
All the Chargers needed to do was win. Surprisingly, with backup quarterback Chase Daniel replacing Alex Smith, who was sidelined with a lacerated spleen, San Diego couldn't... largely because Kansas City strung together a fierce pass rush that kept Philip Rivers uncomfortable. The Texans needed a win over the Jaguars and losses by the Chargers and Ravens to make it. Houston won. San Diego lost.
Despite Cleveland making it difficult, the Baltimore Ravens won, claiming the sixth and final spot in the AFC playoffs. They are the No. 6 seed and will travel to Pittsburgh, Denver or Cincinnati, depending on how Broncos/Raiders and the Bengals/Steelers games play out on Sunday Night. If the Steelers win on Sunday night, they will be the No. 3 seed and host Baltimore. If the Bengals win and the Raiders beat Denver, then the Ravens will head to Denver next week while the Bengals are given a bye week. If the Bengals and Broncos win, then Cincinnati will host the Ravens.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 19, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7
The Kansas City Chiefs fired out a ten-point lead with 12:50 remaining in the game and backup quarterback Chase Daniel connecting on his first nine pass attempts. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe nearly scored the second-quarter touchdown but lost a fumble that Travis Kelce recovered in the endzone. Hilarious. No touchdowns for you, recievers. San Diego cut the Chiefs deficit down to three with 10:53 remaining in the second quarter on a Branden Oliver one-yard touchdown, one play after Philip Rivers and Eddie Royal hooked up with a 44-yarder.
De'Anthony Thomas returned a punt 41 yards to the San Diego Chargers eight-yard line with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter but the Chiefs are only able to get a 21-yard Cairo Santos field goal out of it, giving the Chiefs a 13-7 lead with over four minutes remaining in the first half. Kansas City extended their lead to 19-7 with a pair of field goals midway through the third quarter.
San Diego threatened after a missed Santos field goal with 12:17 remaining in the game, driving 57 yards to the Chiefs three-yard line with 8:52 remaining in the game. Philip Rivers threw four straight incomplete passes and the Chargers turned it over on downs with 8:32 remaining... still down by 12.
WHEN IT WAS OVER: The Chargers ended two consecutive fourth quarter possessions on turnover on downs and they finally used their last timeout with 3:21 remaining with a 12-point deficit. Philip Rivers threw an interception with four seconds remaining, ending the game and thus elimination from the postseason.
BALTIMORE RAVENS 20, CLEVELAND BROWNS 10
With 4:04 remaining in the first quarter, the Ravens have first down from the Browns two-yard line. Four plays later, the Ravens turn the football over on downs unable to punch it in from the goalline. Baltimore again reached the Browns seven-yard line with 8:54 remaining in the second, but the Ravens offense stalled. This time Baltimore sent Justin Tucker out to convert the field goal.
Cleveland responded. With 7:25 remaining in the first quarter, Terrance West scampered for 36 yards, reaching the Ravens 39-yard line. Quarterback Connor Shaw hit Andrew Hawkins on a three-yard pass to convert a fourth-and-two from the Ravens 31-yard line. Cleveland tied the game at three after Garrett Hartley concluded the possession with a 32-yard field goal.
Cleveland took a 10-3 lead with 3:34 remaining in the third on a Terrance West two-yard touchdown run, one play after Taylor Gabriel broke free for a 49-yard sprint that reached Baltimore's two. Baltimore finally took a lead 13-10 lead with 7:33 remaining on a 16-yard touchdown to Torrey Smith, one play after Smith hauled in a 53-yarder over Joe Haden, moving the Ravens from their own 31-yard line.
WHEN IT WAS OVER: Joe Flacco completed a two-yard touchdown to Kamar Aiken with 3:49 remaining in the game, giving Baltimore a 20-10 lead. LarDarius Webb intercepted Connor Shaw's pass on the ensuing possessions, sealing the Ravens win. Justin Forsett gained eight yards to pick up a first down with 1:32 remaining in the game. Baltimore took two knees after that.
HOUSTON TEXANS 23, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 17
With 3:06 remaining in the first quarter, Texans quarterback Case Keenum had a pass intercepted by Dwayne Gratz, who returned the football 55 yards to give Jacksonville a 10-7 lead. Houston reclaimed the lead 14-10 after a 69-yard touchdown drive concluded with a one-yard Alfred Blue score with 6:34 remaining in the second.
Then with 5:03 remaining in the third, Keenum commits a fumble that Jacksonville recovered. On the ensuing play, Blake Bortles throws to Cecil Shorts on a backwards pass, who then throws to a wide open Jordan Todman for a 23-yard touchdown, giving the Jaguars a 17-10 lead with 4:52 remaining. Houston responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive, reclaiming the lead 21-17 with 13:34 remaining in the game.
Houston added two points on a J.J. Watt quarterback sack in the endzone with 5:37 remaining.
WHEN IT WAS OVER: Blake Bortles threw an incomplete pass on fourth down from the Texans five-yard line with 1:26 remaining in the game, down by six points. Houston took two knees and won the game.