KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Safety Tyrann Mathieu left the Kansas City Chiefs' divisional-round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter with a concussion Sunday night. The Chiefs ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Mathieu left the field on Buffalo's first drive of the game and was evaluated briefly in the injury tent on the sideline before being taken to the locker room.
Mathieu, who was picked to play in the Pro Bowl, led the Chiefs in interceptions with three this season and returned one for a touchdown. And given the amount of offense on display in Kansas City's 42-36 overtime win, clearly his absence was felt in the Chiefs' defensive backfield.
A nine-year NFL veteran out of LSU, Mathieu, 29, is in his third season with the Chiefs, following stops with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.
With Mathieu in the fold, Kansas City has made the past two Super Bowls, winning one, and now has an opportunity for a third straight appearance.