Inevitable is a word that’s been thrown around about the Kansas City Chiefs throughout this season, as they try to march toward a historic third straight Super Bowl title. They opened 13-0, and their only two losses in the regular season were at Buffalo and at Denver in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed locked up and the starters on the bench.
They’ve won every way imaginable this season, and while good teams make their own luck, that has some thinking Kansas City might be vulnerable. While playing up — or sometimes apparently down — to its competition isn’t in question, the rust vs. rest argument may come into play. The Chiefs haven’t played a meaningful game in the standings since Christmas Day — a 24-day layoff for the Chiefs’ top players.
The Texans and Chiefs met in Week 16, on the Saturday before Christmas, a 27-19 K.C. win.
The Texans were last seen making short work of the Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12 in the wild-card round. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown, and C.J. Stroud threw for 282 yards and a score. He and head coach DeMeco Ryans became just the third quarterback-head coach combo — along with Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan (Jets), and Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh (Ravens) — to win playoff games in their first two NFL seasons together. A Texans upset would mean the first AFC championship game appearance in franchise history.
How to watch Texans vs. Chiefs: AFC Divisional playoff
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Mo. TV Channel: ABC, ESPN Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
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Texans’ field goal blocked
Down by 11, Houston opts to kick a field goal on fourth-and-14. But Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 34-yard kick is blocked by Justin Reid. What a way to show everyone that he’s back in the game and not injured.
George Karlaftis with another sack
Back to back sacks for the Chiefs’ defense. After the 2-minute warning, George Karlaftis gets to C.J. Stroud again, tackling him for a 4-yard loss.
Chiefs sack C.J. Stroud again
C.J. Stroud completes an 18-yard pass to Nico Collins, then follows up with an 8-yard throw to Xavier Hutchinson to move Houston to the Kansas City 5-yard line.
However, Felix Anudike-Uzomah breaks through for a sack and 8-yard loss on second-and-2. We’re at the 2-minute warning.
Stroud to Schultz for 18 yards
Dalton Schultz made an 18-yard catch on third-andby the left sideline. The play was ruled a catch on the field and was upheld after replay review.
George Karlaftis makes another play for the Chiefs
A George Karlaftis sack puts the Texans in a second-and-16 hole on an urgent drive for the Texans.
Field goal: Chiefs 23, Texans 12
Kansas City opts for a field goal after Xavier Worthy gets a 9-yard catch on third-and-10 from the Houston 18-yard line.
Harrison Butker’s 27-yard field goal makes it a two-possession game for the Texans with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Kareem Hunt running strong
Kareem Hunt gains 23 yards on two carries to get the Chiefs inside the red zone. Kansas City has a first down at the Houston 18-yard line.
Chiefs get good field position
Kansas City gets strong field position after forcing Houston to punt deep in its own territory. After a 34-yard punt by Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs take over at the Texans’ 45-yard line with 7:35 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Justin Reid appears to be OK
Justin Reid appears to be all right after a sideline collision on third down. Trainers came out to check on him and teammates surrounded him on the field.
Big defensive stop by Kansas City
The Chiefs come up with a defensive stop, forcing Houston into a 3-and-out. Joe Mixon gained 4 yards on first down, but C.J. Stroud threw incomplete passes on the next two plays.
Justin Reid appears to be hurt after making a play on Nico Collins to force an incompletion on third-and-6 from the Texans’ 11-yard line.
Chiefs go 3-and-out
The Texans’ defense gets a much-needed stop, forcing the Chiefs into a 3-and-out after gaining only one yard.
Matt Araiza kicks a 36-yard punt to pin Houston back at its 7-yard line with 8:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Texans fail to convert on fourth down
Nick Bolton forces C.J. Stroud to get rid of the ball early on a deep throw to Jared Wayne. But he can’t make the catch. Wayne was wide open, but the throw was behind him.
That was followed by an incomplete pass to Dameon Pierce on third-and-10. The Texans opt to go for it on fourth down, but Stroud is sacked by George Karlaftis.
Kansas City takes over on downs at its 44-yard-line.
Patrick Mahomes’ flop
Patrick Mahomes attempted to draw another unnecessary roughness penalty on the Chiefs’ last drive, putting a little extra mustard on a shove by Henry To’oTo’o as he ran out of bounds.
Considering how the officials have called hits on him, it’s probably difficult to fault Mahomes for trying to draw another flag. But he didn’t get it this time.
Touchdown: Chiefs 20, Texans 12
Travis Kelce grabbed an 18-yard reception to get Kansas City into the red zone.
Three plays later (after Mahomes attempted to draw a penalty by falling down on the sideline), Mahomes and Kelce connect again for an 11-yard gain and a touchdown.
Chiefs convert on fourth-and-1
Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Noah Gray on third-and-4 goes for 3 yards, just short of the first down. On fourth-and-1 from the Houston 37-yard line, the Chiefs opt to go for it and Kareem Hunt gains 3 yards.
Another Texans penalty on Patrick Mahomes hit
For the second time in this game, the Texans get called for a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty upon hitting Patrick Mahomes.
This time, Henry To’oTo’o is flagged for a hit on Mahomes as he’s sliding.
Taylor Swift chatting with Caitlin Clark
Surely, Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark were discussing Travis Kelce’s two catches on this drive for a combined 27 yards.
Touchdown: Chiefs 13, Texans 12
Joe Mixon finishes off a drive he played a big role in with a 13-yard touchdown run.
However, Ka’imi Fairbairn misses the extra point kick and the Texans still trail by one.
Xavier Hutchinson making catches
C.J. Stroud has completed passes of 14 and 13 yards to Xavier Hutchinson on this drive. The second of those receptions moves Houston to the Chiefs’ 28-yard line. But the ball was spotted short of the first down.
Texans feeding Joe Mixon
Joe Mixon gets a first down with an 8-yard gain on third-and-3 for the Texans and follows that up with a 7-yard rush.
On Houston’s previous two plays, Mixon rushed for one yard then caught a pass for a 6-yard gain.
#Texans tried to have four straight plays to Joe Mixon set up a deep play-action shot but nothing open.
C.J. Stroud scrambles 12 yards on third-and-13, but a holding penalty on Shaq Mason negates any possibility that Houston might go for it on fourth down.
Following a 9-yard rush by Dare Ogunbowale, the Texans have to settle for a field goal on fourth-and-14.
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicks a 48-yarder to make it a 13–6 game, but Houston has to be lamenting not getting a touchdown on that drive.
Chiefs sack C.J. Stroud
A sack by the Chiefs likely killed the Texans’ chance for a touchdown before halftime. Tershawn Wharton and Mike Danna combine to bring down C.J. Stroud for an 8-yard loss, pushing Houston back to the Kansas City 28-yard line.
C.J. Stroud to John Metchie III for 24 yards
Houston is driving toward a score before halftime. On second-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 49-yard line, C.J. Stroud connects with John Metchie III for a 24-yard gain.
TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 13, Texans 3
Two plays after the big catch and run by Travis Kelce, the Chiefs find the end zone for the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard score by Kareem Hunt.
Mahomes to Kelce for 49 yards
Patrick Mahomes quickly shook off his pass to Hollywood Brown being called incomplete. On the next play, he hits Travis Kelce for a 49-yard catch and run.
Did Chiefs jump offsides on Texans’ FG miss?
The Texans argue that Justin Reid jumped offsides on their field goal miss, but no call was made.
The Chiefs got right to work before anything can be reviewed with Patrick Mahomes throwing deep, but incomplete to Hollywood Brown.
C.J. Stroud sacked by Charles Omenihu
Houston’s drive stalls at the Chiefs’ 37 after a sack by Charles Omenihu for a 5-yard loss. C.J. Stroud fumbled, but the ball was recovered by Shaq Mason.
The sack looks even more costly with Ka’imi Fairbairn missing a 55-yard field goal wide right.
C.J. Stroud scrambles for 28 yards
Knee injury? What knee injury for C.J. Stroud?
On 3rd-and-9 from the Houston 33-yard line, Stroud scrambles for a 28-yard gain to get the offense into Kansas City territory.
Will Anderson Jr. sacks Patrick Mahomes
The Texans’ pass rush is a problem for the Chiefs early on. Kansas City looked like it had a drive going after a 15-yard scramble by Patrick Mahomes, followed by a 12-yard pass to Xavier Worthy to move into Houston territory.
However, after Kareem Hunt gained 6 yards on a 4-yard reception and 2-yard rush, Will Anderson Jr. sacked Mahomes for an 8-yard loss on third-and-4.
That forces the Chiefs to punt. Matt Araiza kicks it 51 yards and the Texans take over at their 20 following a touchback.
In case you missed it: Texans’ Kris Boyd shoves special teams coach
Texans cornerback Kris Boyd shoved special teams coach Frank Ross on the sideline after he was penalized for removing his helmet on the game’s opening play.
It doesn’t appear Boyd is getting benched either:
Another look at helmet-to-helmet call on Will Anderson Jr.
You make the call.
Chiefs’ Bryan Cook to locker room
Chiefs safety Bryan Cook was checked in the medical tent for a head injury after a hit on Nico Collins. He’s been taken back to the locker room to evaluate him for a concussion.
Chris Jones sacks C.J. Stroud
Kansas City’s pass rush has been getting after C.J. Stroud on this drive, though he did complete a 14-yard throw to Nico Collins on 3rd-and-2.
Chris Jones gets to Stroud two plays later, sacking him for a 12-yard loss on third down. Houston will have to punt.
C.J. Stroud received heat treatment on left knee
C.J. Stroud had an infrared heat wrap on his left knee while the Chiefs’ offense was on the field, according to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge.
Field goal: Chiefs 6, Texans 3
The Texans’ defense holds in the red zone again with Will Anderson Jr. tackling Xavier Worthy for an 8-yard loss followed by Tommy Togiai sacking Patrick Mahomes for a 2-yard loss.
Kansas City has to settle for a field goal after getting pushed back 10 yards. Harrison Butker kicks a 36-yarder for a 6–3 lead.
Roughing the passer on Will Anderson Jr.
The Texans forced Patrick Mahomes to throw an incomplete pass on third-and-8. But Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer on an apparent helmet-to-helmet hit.
Automatic first down for Kansas City and the ball advances to its 48-yard-line on the penalty.
There was disagreement on social media on the call, as you can imagine.
C.J. Stroud limped off the field after being tackled by George Karlaftis, perhaps with an ankle injury. He’s getting checked out on the sideline, but appears to be all right.
Field goal: Texans 3, Chiefs 3
After a 13-yard pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins gave Houston a 1st-and-10 at the Chiefs’ 14-yard line, the Texans’ drive stalled.
Joe Mixon ran for no gain, followed by an incomplete pass from Stroud and a two-yard scramble.
Ka’imi Fairbairn ties the game with a 30-yard field goal.
Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie to the medical tent
Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie was shaken up while tackling Joe Mixon on 2nd-and-5. He came out of the game and went to the blue medical tent to get checked out.
However, McDuffie is now back in the game after missing five plays.
Stroud to Schultz for 34 yards
Houston gets an explosive play on its opening drive with C.J. Stroud hitting Dalton Schultz for a 34-yard pass. That moves the Texans to the Kansas City 35-yard line.
Field goal: Chiefs 3, Texans 0
The Texans’ defense holds after that big kickoff return by the Chiefs. Isiah Pacheco loses a yard on his first carry, then Patrick Mahomes throws two incomplete passes.
Kansas City has to settle for a field goal and Harrison Butker kicks a 32-yarder for a 3–0 lead.
Eventful opening kickoff
Houston won the coin toss and will defer to the second half. So the Chiefs’ offense will take the field first.
Nikko Remigio returned the kickoff 63 yards for Kansas City, but fumbled while being tackled by Kris Boyd. Samaje Perine recovered for the Chiefs.
Boyd was then flagged 15 yards for taking of his helmet, giving the Chiefs the ball at Houston’s 13-yard line. He followed that blunder up with a shove of special teams coach Frank Ross. What a start, Houston.
National anthem hitting Chris Jones in the emotions
Lanell Lightfoot’s rendition of the national anthem before kickoff got Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones feeling his emotions.
Will Mahomes be rusty?
A big storyline early on will be whether or not Patrick Mahomes is rusty after a long layoff — 23 days, to be exact.
Patrick Mahomes has had 23 days of rest before today’s game vs. Texans.
Longest stretch for any non-injured QB before a playoff game prior to this — Warren Moon’s 22 days in 1994, vs. the Chiefs — a game the Oilers lost 28-20 as 7-pt favorites. pic.twitter.com/K6TE47FMT3
The Chiefs and Texans played during the regular season in Week 16 and Kansas City won, 27–19.
Patrick Mahomes passed for 260 yards and one touchdown, completing 28-of-41 passes. Xavier Worthy caught seven passes for 65 yards and a score. Kareem Hunt had 11 carries for 55 yards and a TD. Mahomes also ran for a TD.
For Houston, C.J. Stroud completed 23-of-39 passes for 244 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. Tank Dell notched six receptions for 98 yards and a TD. Joe Mixon rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries.
Joe Mixon good to go for Texans
QB1s checking in
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