The Kansas City Chiefs are AFC Championship bound for the seventh consecutive season after defeating the Houston Texans, 23-14, on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid becomes the fourth coach in NFL history to win at least 300 games, joining George Halas, Don Shula, and Bill Belichick. Additionally, quarterback Patrick Mahomes ties HOFer Joe Montana with 16 career playoff victories, second-most in NFL history. Only Tom Brady has more (35).
Kansas City’s postseason opener began as a defensive struggle before Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs’ pass rush eventually took over the game. Mahomes was 16/25 for 177 passing yards and a touchdown, while Kelce crushed HOF wide receiver Jerry Rice’s record for playoff receptions.
The 34-year-old tight end finished the Divisional round with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Kelce and Mahomes also own the most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver duo in NFL playoff history. The two have connected on 17 touchdowns, surpassing the previous record of 15 set by Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.
The opening kickoff gave Kansas City a jolt of excitement when Nikko Remigio returned it 65 yards, from his 5-yard line to the Texans’ 26. Houston stepped up, however, forcing KC’s offense to settle for a field goal. The Chiefs reached the red zone twice in the first quarter but could not punch it in. Houston had the ball once in the opening period and could cash in a 36-yard field goal after quarterback C.J. Stroud failed to convert on 3rd and 18. Kansas City went into the second quarter with a 6-3 lead.
At the 7:49 mark in the first half, Stroud dropped back looking for his next target to convert on 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs’ 34-yard line. While in the pocket, defensive end Charles Omenihu blew the play up by sacking Stroud for a loss of three yards. On the next play, Houston attempted a 55-yard field goal which Ka’imi Fairbairn hooked wide right.
Kansas City responded with a big play from their tight end. Mahomes connects with a wide-open Kelce in the middle of the field. With nobody around, Kelce went for a 49-yard gain to the Houston 6-yard line. Three plays later, running back Kareem Hunt punched it in for the one-yard rushing touchdown.
At the 41-second mark, Stroud got his team into the red zone, looking to reach the end zone and bring the score to within three. Instead, defensive tackle Chris Jones rushed off the edge and sacked Stroud for a loss of eight yards and forced a 3rd and 13. On the next play, Houston converted but a holding foul on the offensive line backed the Texans up an extra ten yards and forced the Texans to need 23 yards to convert for the first down.
Following a nine-yard pickup, Houston settled for a 48-yard field goal to go into halftime down 13-6.
At the 4:42 mark in the third quarter, Houston cut their deficit to one after running back Joe Mixon rushed through a gassed Kansas City defense for a 13-yard rushing touchdown. The score capped off a possession that went for 20 plays, 101 yards, and lasted for more than ten minutes.
At the 4:30 mark, the Chiefs responded to Houston’s 20-play drive with a possession that lasted for 16 plays and traveled 75 yards as Mahomes converted three third-down situations to reach the end zone. At the 11:57 mark in the fourth quarter, on 3rd and 11 from Houston’s 11-yard line, Mahomes delivered a touchdown strike to Kelce as he was being tackled.
The possessions later, Kansas City delivered the final nail with another Harrison Butker field goal to make the score 23-12. Houston attempted one final drive to reach the end zone but was forced to try for a field goal after 13 plays of offense. During the drive, Stroud was sacked four times. To add insult to injury, Fairbairn’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by linebacker Leo Chenal.
Kansas City re-took possession at their 23-yard line with 1:36 left to play. After a four-yard run by Hunt and two kneel-downs, the Chiefs punter Matt Araiza ran backward into the end zone on fourth down to avoid giving the ball back to Houston deep in their red zone. The Chiefs kicked the ball off and time expired after Stroud kneeled with one second remaining.
The Chiefs will be awaiting the winner between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. Kansas City will host their sixth AFC Championship since 2018. The game will be played on Sunday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m.
