The Texans are coming.
The Chiefs are going to need some help if they’re going to make the postseason.
Houston’s defense made all the stops required to beat the three-time defending AFC Champions and, in all likelihood, knock Kansas City out of postseason contention with a 20-10 victory.
On what ended up being the biggest play of the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the team’s own 31-yard line with the game tied and 10:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But quarterback Patrick Mahomes was pressured immediately, and his pass to Rashee Rice had no chance, falling incomplete.
On a short ensuing drive, the Texans got in the end zone with Dare Ogunbowale’s first touchdown since 2022 to go ahead 17-10.
The Chiefs had another opportunity to go for it on fourth down and again didn’t make it, with Mahomes’ pass to Rice again falling incomplete.
The last chance for Kansas City came with just under four minutes left in the contest, with another turnover effectively ending any chance the club had at tying things up. Mahomes’ first pass of the possession was dropped by Travis Kelce for an incomplete pass. Then Mahomes’ next throw was a little behind Kelce, who bobbled it. When the ball when behind Kelce, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair intercepted the pass for a back-breaking takeaway.
Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 28-yard field goal with 30 seconds in the contest to produce the final margin.
Giving the Texans short fields negated what had been a dominant second-half defensive performance for the Chiefs. Kansas City had forced five consecutive punts to start the second half, four of which were three-and-out. That’s part of what made Reid’s choice to go for it on fourth-and-1 so questionable.
But C.J. Stroud and the Texans were able to do what they needed to do to win. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was 15-of-31 for 203 yards with a touchdown. Nico Collins had four catches for 121 yards — all of which came in the first half.
On the other side, Mahomes finished 14-of-33 for 160 yards with three interceptions. He was also the Chiefs’ leading rusher with 59 yards on seven carries.
Mahomes’ 19.8 passer rating was, by far, the lowest of his career, with his previous low being a 44.4 mark in last year’s win over San Francisco. As noted by Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Mahomes had never finished with zero passing touchdowns, multiple interceptions, and a completion rate under 50 percent in his career.
Kelce finished with just one catch for 8 yards on five targets. Xavier Worthy had three catches for 55 yards. Rice finished with four receptions for 34 yards.
With the win, the Texans move to 8-5 and are currently the No. 7 seed in the AFC based on their head-to-head win over the Colts. Next week, the Texans will host the 3-10 Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.
Now at 6-7, the Chiefs have been eliminated from the divisional race after winning nine consecutive AFC West titles — a streak that started two years before Mahomes became Kansas City’s starting QB. While the Chiefs have not been eliminated from the postseason, they are currently No. 10 in the conference and would likely have to jump several teams they’ve lost to in order to make the postseason.
Kansas City will be at home to face the Chargers in Week 15.
Sometimes go-ahead touchdowns come from unlikely sources.
The Texans capitalized on getting the ball in Chiefs territory following a questionable — at best — fourth-down decision by Andy Reid with a 5-yard touchdown by running back Dare Ogunbowale.
Houston had not scored since 9:24 in the second quarter and was struggling mightily against Kansas City’s aggressive defense in the second half. But Reid elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs’ own 31-yard line instead of punt. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was pressured right away and fired an incomplete pass over the middle to Rashee Rice.
After that, the Texans were able to take advantage of the great field position to take a seven-point lead.
Woody Marks was shaken up on an 8-yard run down to Kansas City’s 5-yard line. With Nick Chubb already ruled out with a rib injury, that left Dare Ogunbowale to handle the running duties, which he did to the tune of his first touchdown run since 2022.
Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie has also been downgraded to out with a knee injury.
The Chiefs are on the board after getting a stop and a score to begin the second half.
Kareem Hunt took in a 2-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1, cutting Houston’s lead to 10-7 with 9:52 left in the third quarter.
After Houston went three-and-out to begin the third period, quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with receiver Hollywood Brown for a 35-yard deep shot, putting the Chiefs on Houston’s 21-yard line.
The Chiefs needed Hunt to convert on third-and-1 with a short gain, which he did. Then on fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line, Hunt bounced off multiple defenders to get himself into the end zone for a critical score.
Hunt has rushed for 19 yards on eight carries so far on Sunday night.
As one might’ve expected given Houston’s defensive prowess and the injury issues along Kansas City’s offensive line, the Texans have a two-possession advantage over the Chiefs at halftime.
Houston leads Kansas City 10-0 at the break.
C.J. Stroud finished the first half 12-of-19 passing for 171 yards with a touchdown and no picks. While the Texans opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 4:18 in the first quarter, Houston got in the end zone with a 9-yard scoring strike from Stroud to running back Woody Marks.
With Kansas City struggling to generate pressure with a four-man rush, Houston has averaged 6.3 yards per play over the first two quarters.
Nico Collins has four receptions for 121 yards to lead the way.
On the other side, the Chiefs lost offensive lineman Wanya Morris — who was filling in at left tackle for injured starter Josh Simmons — on the first play from scrimmage to a knee injury. That hasn’t helped Patrick Mahomes find time in the pocket to hit an open receiver, as the quarterback finished the first half 8-of-12 for 58 yards with an interception. He was also sacked twice in the first half.
Mahomes is currently the Chiefs’ leading rusher with 23 yards on three carries.
Kansas City’s only true opportunity to score was foiled when Harrison Butker’s 43-yard field goal hit the right upright and was no good.
Notably, Houston running back Nick Chubb is questionable to return with a rib injury.
Houston will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Texans have gotten out to a 10-point advantage over the Chiefs.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with running back Woody Marks for a 9-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, giving Houston a 10-0 lead.
The Chiefs’ defense had a chance to get off the field early in the possession, but a defensive holding call on third-and-9 moved the chains.
From there, Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for a 14-yard gain on third-and-3. Then Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 53-yard gain on an off-schedule play down to Kansas City’s 7.
The Chiefs have struggled to generate much pass rush without blitzing and that burned them on the long completion to Collins.
Stroud has started the night 8-of-11 for 140 yards with a touchdown. Collins has three catches for 103 yards.
