Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the AFC Championship game.

The Chiefs secured a victory against the Houston Texans, winning 23-14 on Saturday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, maintaining their perfect home record this season.

Kansas City has now won eight playoff games in a row. The AFC Championship game has become a regular event for the Chiefs, marking their seventh consecutive appearance.

Mahomes is undefeated at 7-0 in the divisional round, marking the most wins without a defeat in that round in playoff history, according to NFL Research.

Here are the key points learned from the Texans vs. Chiefs playoff matchup:

Mahomes and Kelce revive their strong connection

The Chiefs’ tight end showcased an impressive performance during the game.

Mahomes regularly connected with his top target over the middle, with Kelce catching a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes that helped the Chiefs take a 20-12 lead late in the game.

Kelce led the game with seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.

He has now recorded at least five catches in 15 straight playoff games and at least 70 receiving yards in 14 consecutive postseason games—the longest such streaks in NFL playoff history.

Mahomes completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown. Kelce and rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy combined for 12 receptions, with Worthy being the sole receiver in the Chiefs to log a catch. The Chiefs will need to see improved performances from receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster in the upcoming game.

With this win, Mahomes now has 16 career playoff victories, tying him with Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana for the second-most by a starting quarterback in postseason history. Tom Brady holds the record with 35 wins.

Chiefs offense starts off sluggish

The question of whether the Chiefs’ extended rest would affect their performance was partly answered during the game.

Unsurprisingly, the Chiefs’ offense appeared to struggle after resting their starters in Week 18 and sitting out during the wildcard round.

A 63-yard return on the opening kickoff by Nikko Remigio, along with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Houston, gave the Chiefs favorable field position right at the start.

However, despite beginning their first offensive drive on the Texans’ 13-yard line, the Chiefs went three-and-out and settled for a 32-yard field goal.

Chiefs need to improve run defense

It’s crucial for the Chiefs to quickly address their run defense issues.

Next week, Kansas City will either face the Baltimore Ravens with the league’s top rushing attack or the Buffalo Bills, who also possess a strong rushing offense.

In the first half, the Chiefs’ defense allowed 95 rushing yards, with Houston averaging over five yards per carry. Overall, the Texans ran for 149 yards at an average of 5.1 yards per carry.

Texans RB Joe Mixon found gaps both inside and outside, including a notable 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, reducing Houston’s deficit to 13-12.

Texans special teams play a significant role in the defeat

The Texans’ special teams struggled significantly, starting with a 63-yard kickoff return allowed on the opening play.

Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn botched a 55-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter and missed a potential game-tying extra point in the third. To make matters worse, Fairbairn had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked with under two minutes left, which could have brought the game closer.

Texans offensive line struggles

Quarterback C.J. Stroud faced intense pressure throughout the game, being sacked eight times, while the Chiefs recorded 14 hits on him.

George Karlaftis stood out defensively for the Chiefs, achieving a career-high three sacks in this matchup.

Stroud experienced the highest number of sacks in the AFC during the regular season, totaling 52. Strengthening the offensive line should be a priority for the Texans this offseason.

Andy Reid reaches a significant milestone

Reid marked his 300th career win, including playoff victories. He now joins the elite company of only four coaches in NFL history to achieve 300 career wins, alongside Don Shula, Bill Belichick, and George Halas.

Follow YSL News Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.