This is why football fans are perplexed by the Kansas City Chiefs, and frustrated with them continuing to win.
Kansas City didn’t play its best game in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Not even close. And that’s not new. There were many games this season, and last season too, when the Chiefs weren’t great and still won. Dynasties annoy fans in general, even more when those teams are not dominant.
The Chiefs found a way to win in Saturday’s divisional-round game against the Houston Texans, as they almost always do. Despite the Texans having more than twice as many yards as them late in the third quarter, the Chiefs still led. Then there was a questionable unnecessary roughness call on a hit to Patrick Mahomes, one of a few calls that had non-Chiefs fans screaming on social media, that led to a Travis Kelce touchdown and an eight-point lead. Everyone knew how it would play out after that.
The Chiefs won 23-14 and are going to the AFC championship game for the seventh straight season. They’ll host the winner of Sunday night’s Baltimore Ravens-Buffalo Bills clash.
The Chiefs keep winning close games because they do many things very well. Mahomes is already an all-time great quarterback. Andy Reid is a fantastic coach who added win No. 300 to his résumé, joining legends George Halas, Bill Belichick and Don Shula in the 300-victory club. The defense has been very good each of the past two seasons and was again Saturday.
But that won’t stop fans of the other 31 teams from complaining about how Kansas City keeps winning even when it seems they’re constantly on the ropes.
Texans have a bad start
The Texans needed to play their best to beat the Chiefs. On the first play, they gave up a 63-yard kickoff return, cornerback Kris Boyd took a 15-yard penalty for throwing his helmet after the play and he shoved special teams coordinator Frank Ross when he got to the sideline. Not exactly the perfect start Houston needed.
The Chiefs only got a field goal out of that big kickoff return. Kansas City didn’t get off to a great start offensively, but the Texans didn’t take advantage of it. The Chiefs’ defense had a very good first half, buying time for the big play from the Chiefs’ offense that would inevitably come.
And it did. Travis Kelce got open in the middle of the field and Mahomes found him. He rumbled 49 yards to the Houston 6-yard line. A few plays later, Kareem Hunt scored to give the Chiefs a 13-3 lead. It was the first time all season Kelce had a play with more than 20 yards after the catch, according to Next Gen Stats. Last season, Kelce came alive in the playoffs, and he started this postseason with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
It was a fairly typical Chiefs game this season. They hadn’t played particularly well on offense. They had just 123 yards at halftime, and 49 of it came on Kelce’s catch and run. But they also didn’t make any critical mistakes, and the defense played well. And despite some lethargic offense, Kansas City led 13-6 at the half.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes celebrates during a win over the Houston Texans on Saturdat in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Chiefs extend their lead
The Texans had an impressive drive to start the second half. They had to gain 101 yards on offense to offset 19 yards of penalties on the drive. It lasted 15 plays and 10:24 on the clock and ended with a Joe Mixon touchdown. That gave the Texans some momentum, which was quickly wiped away when Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point wide right. Still, Houston trailed 13-12 and seemed very much in the game. But the Chiefs are hard to beat.
At that point Houston was out-gaining Kansas City 275-123. The Texans had outplayed the Chiefs but were still trailing. It feels hopeless to those rooting against the Chiefs when they don’t even play well and they move on in the playoffs.
Kansas City started to put it away after that. There was the questionable call on a hit against Mahomes, and the Kelce touchdown. The Texans made a mistake on fourth-and-10, being indecisive before going for it and then rushing a play that led to a sack. A bad punt led to good field position and a Chiefs drive that ended in a field goal and an 11-point lead.
The Texans had a shot at a field goal inside the two-minute warning to cut Kansas City’s lead to eight points, after the Chiefs’ eighth sack of the game, but it was blocked and that sealed the win.
The Chiefs are two wins from making history. No team has ever won three straight Super Bowls. Kansas City went 15-2 this season, including one loss in which they rested all their key players, and have a spot in the NFL’s final four yet again. At some point it doesn’t matter how it looks or if they’re playing their best. In all but a few rare cases in the Mahomes era, they’ve always been good enough to win the biggest games.
Fans who don’t root for the Chiefs might not like it, but they get to spend another conference championship weekend watching Mahomes try to make it back to another Super Bowl.
Kansas City is on to the AFC championship game after a 23–14 victory over the Texans. It’s the seventh straight AFC title game for the Chiefs.
Chiefs take a safety
Houston gets two points on fourth down with Chiefs punter Matt Araiza running out of the end zone for a safety on fourth-and-15.
But only nine seconds remain after a 4-yard rush by Kareem Hunt and two kneeldowns by Patrick Mahomes.
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.
