In subzero temperatures, WR Rashee Rice has 130 receiving yards in Chiefs’ wild-card win over Dolphins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie large receiver Rashee Rice is from Dallas and performed in faculty at SMU, so he is by no means performed a recreation in climate remotely approaching that from Saturday evening’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs wild-card playoff recreation at Arrowhead Stadium.

Rice seemed like a pure with the temperature at minus 4 levels at kickoff, the fourth-coldest playoff recreation in NFL historical past. Rice had 130 receiving yards, sixth most by a rookie within the playoffs, and a landing on eight catches because the Chiefs superior to subsequent week’s divisional spherical with a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins.

“I really feel like, to be trustworthy, it was one other recreation,” Rice stated. “All people out right here was taking part in for one another, so it was identical to we simply put the climate to the facet and knew that our opponents did not need to be out right here on this chilly as a lot as we did not.”

The Chiefs, who led the league through the common season in dropped passes and had been among the many leaders in turnovers, performed a comparatively clear recreation given the circumstances. That they had a few drops, however had been in a position to overcome them every time. They did not commit a turnover till working again Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumbled within the closing minutes because the Chiefs had been merely making an attempt to kill the clock.

Patrick Mahomes was 23-of-41 for 262 yards and had an 11-yard scoring toss to Rice, who ran a shallow crossing route, caught the brief cross and ran untouched to the top zone.

“The blokes accepted the problem,” Mahomes stated. “We had been in a position to throw the ball, we had been in a position to run the ball. … I assumed the [offensive] line did an amazing job and we had that mentality all week that we’ll go on the market and play soccer. We all know it is chilly, however we’ll go on the market and play soccer and see what occurs.”

The Dolphins tried complicating these efforts by blitzing Mahomes at a charge he is not often seen. He confronted six or extra pass-rushers 14 occasions, probably the most of his profession. He noticed 5 or extra rushers on 51.2% of his dropbacks, which was tied for the very best charge of his profession.

However Mahomes wasn’t sacked and he did not commit a turnover.

“I do not suppose they had been anticipating us throwing the ball fairly as a lot as we did, however we had been in a position to come out and sling it,” coach Andy Reid stated. “A variety of quarterbacks cannot try this, what he did in that sort of climate.”

Rice was the Chiefs’ main large receiver through the common season by a large margin. He improved because the season progressed and twice went for greater than 100 yards in his closing six video games.

“A few of these guys hit that rookie wall and it looks as if he simply sort of pushed proper by means of it and he is simply continued to get higher and higher and he is an amazing participant,” Mahomes stated. “He has that proper mentality. He involves work each single day and he made plenty of nice performs for us right this moment that helped us win the soccer recreation.”

The remainder of the Chiefs’ large receivers struggled a lot of the season. They had been relying on important manufacturing from Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore however received it from none of them so Rice’s emergence was important.

Tight finish Travis Kelce caught seven passes towards the Dolphins. In any other case, none of their receivers had greater than two catches.

“It is exhausting to consider that he is a rookie,” Reid stated of Rice. “One of the best half about him is he simply retains working. He is relentless with that and he is received an excellent relationship [with Mahomes]. He is received Pat’s respect and he desires to do it the fitting manner.

“He is getting higher each week and so I believe we have seen that the final 4 video games, 5 video games.”