Chad Henne finally stepped up against a team from Ohio.
The former Michigan quarterback (who was 0-4 vs. Ohio State) and longtime NFL backup was called into action against the Browns under the worst of circumstances Sunday after starter Patrick Mahomes exited the game — and was later ruled out — with a concussion.
Mahomes' injury, which occurred with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter, forced Henne to lead to lead the team in its bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions. He quarterbacked three drives against the Browns, completing 6 of 8 passes for 66 yards and an interception but also rushing twice for 12 yards. That might not seem like a lot, but those miniscule stats — compared to Mahomes', anyway — helped Kansas City hold off a resurgent Cleveland team.
MORE: Patrick Mahomes injury update
Henne's first drive finished with a Harrison Butker 33-yard field goal. That was followed by a bad — really bad — interception into the end zone and, eventually, running out the clock with a 22-17 lead as the clock hit 0:00. Henne made his biggest contributions in the final moments of the game: One play after he took a 6-yard sack at the two-minute warning, making it third-and-14 for the Chiefs from their 35, he responded with two monumental plays.
The first was a 13-yard scramble that made it fourth-and-inches from the Chiefs' 48.
CHAD HENNE THE LEGENDpic.twitter.com/qCKvfRxirx
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 17, 2021
On the next play, Henne hit Tyreek Hill for a 3-yard gain, allowing Kansas City to kneel on the next play and end the game:
Tony Romo lost his mind after Andy Reid called a pass on fourth and inches for the game.pic.twitter.com/SqMKtljts4
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 17, 2021
Twitter, naturally, was astounded that Andy Reid and Co. would choose to go for it on fourth down near midfield, and with a backup QB, no less. But Twitter was also quick to sing Henne's praises as he helped the Chiefs to the AFC championship game against the Bills:
#HenneThingIsPossible pic.twitter.com/2TkkWiyf0p
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 17, 2021
CHAD HENNE pic.twitter.com/FtqRMMcSvx
— Mick Maine (@ColeyMick) January 17, 2021
Juju,Claypool & the Steelers on their way to TikTok after the Browns lost to Chad Henne pic.twitter.com/XOqPYRCP6l
— RD 🇨🇦 (@NorthSidePace) January 17, 2021
Chad Henne after Twitter made fun of him for his interception pic.twitter.com/zillBYizaF
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 17, 2021
chad Henne checking Twitter after the game be like pic.twitter.com/76oe7nVyyw
— ilAvxry (@IlAvxry) January 17, 2021
Chad Henne masterclass pic.twitter.com/9BoHjqzupa
— cryptic (@CrypticNotAlone) January 17, 2021
#HenneThingIsPossible 👏👏
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 17, 2021
(Let's get it trending!)
#HenneThingIsPossible!
— ESPN (@espn) January 17, 2021
Chad Henne ends the Browns season and advances the Chiefs to the AFC title game 🚀 pic.twitter.com/pKHBbYM9Oj
Chad Henne got a playoff win before the Dolphins pic.twitter.com/zfyxXaVotg
— Austin (@ChefTrillie) January 17, 2021
Thinking about all the people who spend their whole year poring over every conceivable scrap of data the sport is capable of producing only to watch a divisional playoff game come down to Chad Henne's legs.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) January 17, 2021
Chad Henne will never have to pay for a beer again in Kansas City
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 17, 2021
