The Kansas City Chiefs are advancing to the AFC championship game for the seventh season in a row after triumphing over the Houston Texans with a score of 23-14.

The Chiefs’ victory was not straightforward. They nearly wasted a 10-point lead from the first half when the Texans managed a field goal just before halftime and followed it up with a touchdown after a lengthy 10-minute drive at the start of the third quarter.

However, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s missed extra point amidst windy weather allowed the Chiefs to cling onto a precarious one-point advantage, which they maintained with the help of Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes was the standout star for Kansas City, completing 16 of 25 throws for 177 yards and one touchdown, plus rushing for 14 yards. One of his most impressive plays occurred during the Chiefs’ first drive of the second half when they faced a third-and-goal situation from the 11-yard line.

As he was about to be taken down by Mario Edwards Jr., Mahomes managed to pass the ball to tight end Travis Kelce, who was in prime position to catch it, helping the Chiefs expand their lead to eight points.

This win marks the Chiefs’ eighth consecutive victory in the NFL playoffs, tying them with the New England Patriots for the longest postseason winning streak in league history.

Kansas City will look to claim that record in the AFC championship game against the winner of the matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens.

YSL News Sports provided real-time updates, highlights, and more from the Chiefs-Texans playoff game. All times are in Eastern.

Who will the Chiefs face in the AFC Championship?

The Chiefs are scheduled to meet the winner of the Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens playoff clash in the AFC championship. The game will take place at Arrowhead Stadium, benefiting from Kansas City’s home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

Blocked Field Goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn Seals Houston’s Fate

The Chiefs halted a crucial Texans drive in the red zone after another sack of C.J. Stroud. Faced with the situation, Houston opted for a field goal to reduce their deficit to eight points.

Fairbairn’s attempt was blocked, sealing Houston’s fate as they trailed by 11 points with less than two minutes remaining and only one timeout left.

Andy Reid’s Challenge on Dalton Schultz’s Catch Upheld

C.J. Stroud connected with tight end Dalton Schultz on a pivotal third-and-11, allowing the Texans to inch closer to scoring. Coach Andy Reid challenged the call, thinking Schultz didn’t secure the ball before stepping out. However, the original ruling was upheld, a decision deemed correct by ESPN’s Russell Yurk.

Chiefs Extend Lead with Field Goal

The Chiefs built critical momentum, now leading by two scores against the Texans with just 4:38 remaining.

This was achieved through a 27-yard field goal from Harrison Butker, set up by a brief drive featuring Kareem Hunt, who gained 23 yards on two carries. The Chiefs opted for a field goal instead of attempting to convert a fourth-and-1 deep in Houston territory.

With 4:38 left in regulation, the Texans needed to stage scoring drives to overcome the deficit, holding two timeouts and the two-minute warning in their favor.

Update on Justin Reid’s Injury

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Chiefs recorded their first three-and-out of the game, though it took a toll as safety Justin Reid collided with cornerback Jaylen Watson while breaking up a pass directed at Nico Collins.

Reid was down on the field for a moment before medical staff checked on him. Fortunately, he got up and walked to the sideline, appearing fine ultimately.

Texans’ Defense Forces a Key Three-and-Out

The Texans’ defense stepped up once more, despite the offensive struggles. They held the Chiefs to just one yard over three plays after Stroud’s sack and turnover on downs, forcing a Matt Araiza punt and limiting the time taken off the clock.

After Robert Woods fair caught Araiza’s kick at the 7-yard line, the Texans faced a crucial drive with 8:32 left, down 20-12.

Stroud Sacked on Fourth-and-10 Handing Possession to Chiefs

In a bold move, the Texans decided to go for it on fourth-and-10 just past midfield. They barely snapped the ball in time, but George Karlaftis capitalized on this, swiftly pressuring Stroud.

He couldn’t evade the rush and was sacked for a 16-yard loss, allowing the Chiefs to take over the ball on Houston’s 44-yard line with 9:59 remaining.

Kansas City led by a score of 20-12 and had sacked Stroud four times throughout the game.

Mahomes Attempts to Draw Penalty Before Touchdown

Patrick Mahomes was forced out of bounds by the Texans defense during a second-and-goal, but he tried to convince the referees that he was struck late. He made a delayed fall into the Texans bench in an effort to draw a flag, but officiating crew led by Clay Martin chose not to call a penalty, which was the right decision.

Mid-Air Pass from Mahomes to Kelce for Touchdown

With Mario Edwards Jr. seemingly tackling him, Mahomes managed to release the ball mid-flight to a wide-open Kelce, allowing the Chiefs to regain a touchdown lead.

Harrison Butker added the extra point, increasing the margin to eight points.

Hunt Converts Fourth-and-1 with a Spin Move

Opening the fourth quarter, the Chiefs opted for a run up the middle on fourth-and-1. Despite decent penetration from the Texans, Hunt performed a spin move to evade defenders, securing the first down.

Now with the lead at 13-12, the Chiefs are on the brink of field goal range.

Chiefs Maintain Narrow Lead Entering Fourth Quarter

The Texans controlled the third quarter, showcasing dominance in time of possession and outgaining the Chiefs with a total of 275-161 yards, led by C.J. Stroud and Joe Mixon for a balanced offensive attack.

Kansas City relied significantly on Mahomes for offensive momentum, with him contributing as their leading passer and rusher while also drawing critical penalties that extended drives.

Kansas City is now facing a pivotal fourth-and-1 situation as the fourth quarter begins. A successful conversion will be crucial.

the Chiefs find themselves just outside field goal range.

Texans penalized again for a controversial unnecessary roughness call

Patrick Mahomes gained 9 yards on the Chiefs’ opening drive of the third quarter before he slid down. During this, two Texans defenders made minimal contact while colliding helmet-to-helmet with each other.

The officiating crew led by Clay Martin flagged the Texans for unnecessary roughness. ESPN rules expert Russell Yurk criticized the decision, stating it didn’t seem to warrant a penalty.

Despite Mahomes sliding late and sideways, the penalty stood, bringing the Chiefs close to field-goal range.

Taylor Swift spotted with Caitlin Clark at the Chiefs vs. Texans game

Many NFL enthusiasts were aware that Swift was present at the Chiefs vs. Texans match, along with Caitlin Clark, an avid Kansas City fan. During Saturday’s game, the Indiana Fever player joined the pop music sensation in her exclusive suite, as seen on the broadcast.

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s performance stats

So far, Fairbairn has successfully made 2-of-3 field goals in the Texans’ playoff game but missed his solitary extra point attempt. However, he had a strong season, converting 36-of-42 field goals, with 13-of-16 from beyond 50 yards, and completing 34-of-36 extra points as well.

Joe Mixon scores a 13-yard touchdown, PAT unsuccessful

The Texans held onto the ball for over 10 minutes at the start of the second half before Mixon scored a straightforward 13-yard touchdown. This capped off an impressive 15-play drive where Houston overcame multiple penalties and converted four third downs, bringing the score to a one-point game.

Despite this, reliable kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn failed to convert the extra point, leaving the Chiefs ahead 13-12 late in the third quarter.

Nico Collins makes a fantastic catch to secure third down

The Texans started the second half strong, moving the ball effectively against the Chiefs. Their drive consumed over half of the third quarter and was bolstered by Collins’ impressive catch.

Patrick Mahomes’ 40-yard dash time

Curious about Mahomes’ speed when he takes off? He clocked a 4.80-second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL combine.

Texans’ halftime stats vs. Chiefs

Even with only six points on the board, the Texans put up a commendable performance in the first half against the Chiefs. C.J. Stroud has posed a threat in both passing and rushing plays, racking up 134 total yards. However, he needs to minimize the number of sacks he’s taken, as many drives were negatively impacted by big losses.

The Texans should also focus on getting the ball more to Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz, who only combined for three catches in the first half. One of them will likely need to make a significant play for Houston to edge past Kansas City.

Here’s a summary of the Texans’ first-half stats against the Chiefs:

• C.J. Stroud: 6-of-10 passes completed, 102 yards, 3 rushes, 32 yards
• Joe Mixon: 11 rushes, 46 yards, 1 catch, 6 yards
• John Metchie: 2 catches, 35 yards
• Dalton Schultz: 1 catch, 34 yards
• Nico Collins: 2 catches, 27 yards
• Will Anderson: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack

Chiefs’ halftime stats vs. Texans

The Chiefs performed well in the first half despite struggling to run the ball effectively. Patrick Mahomes led the team in rushing with just 14 yards, as Isiah Pacheco has yet to fully recover from his leg injury.

Fortunately, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy have emerged as notable assets for Kansas City, providing Mahomes with capable options to exploit through the air.

Here’s a quick look at the Chiefs’ first-half stats against the Texans:

• Patrick Mahomes: 7-of-13 passing, 114 yards, 2 carries, 14 yards
• Kareem Hunt: 2 carries, 5 yards, 1 touchdown
• Travis Kelce: 2 catches, 72 yards
• Xavier Worthy: 3 catches, 36 yards, 1 carry, -8 yards
• Chris Jones: 2 tackles, 1 sack
• Nikko Remigio: 63-yard kickoff return

Chiefs lead 13-6 at halftime

The Kansas City team started off slow after the bye week, a typical occurrence in the NFL, but managed to recover, finishing the half with a seven-point advantage.

The Chiefs benefited greatly from their special teams’ performance. Returner Nikko Remigio’s 63-yard return set up a field goal on their opening drive, while Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn converted only 2-of-3 field goals, missing a pivotal 55-yard attempt that aided the Chiefs’ touchdown from Kareem Hunt.

Despite trailing, the Texans outgained the Chiefs with 174 total yards compared to Kansas City’s 123 yards, and C.J. Stroud has matched Mahomes blow for blow throughout the game. Houston will start the second half with the ball, and if they can finally get into the end zone, they could challenge the Chiefs in this tightly fought contest.

Texans settle for a 48-yard field goal before halftime

In the two-minute drill, Houston was progressing well after a 24-yard catch by John Metchie but had to settle for a field goal attempt when C.J. Stroud was sacked, and a holding penalty pushed them back.

Fairbairn, after previously missing from 55 yards, barely made the 48-yard attempt, sneaking it inside the right post, which trimmed Kansas City’s lead to 13-6 with just 16 seconds remaining in the half.

Securing points on that final possession was critical since Houston would receive the first kickoff in the second half.

Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run extends Chiefs lead to 13-3

After Xavier Worthy came close to scoring on a trick play designed by Andy Reid, the Chiefs handed the ball to Kareem Hunt, who went in for a straightforward score, increasing Kansas City’s lead to 10 points with 4:36 left in the first half.

Travis Kelce records his longest catch of the season (49 yards)

Following a failed deep shot to Hollywood Brown after Fairbairn’s missed field goal, Patrick Mahomes found Kelce wide open down the middle. Kelce dashed downfield, making a 49-yard gain and setting the Chiefs up with a goal-to-go situation.

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 55-yard field goal attempt goes awry after Stroud’s sack

In the regular season, Fairbairn was among the top kickers, but a strong crosswind in Kansas City made his 55-yard kick veer wildly off course, missing the target by a large margin.

This miss gives the Chiefs excellent field position as they aim to extend their 6-3 lead against the Texans.

C.J. Stroud rushes for 28 yards on third-and-10

In the playoffs, quarterbacks are known to run more often, and Stroud showcased that with a 28-yard dash on a crucial third-and-10, positioning the Texans for a promising scoring opportunity.

Will Anderson tackles Patrick Mahomes, forcing a Chiefs punt

Anderson continues to disrupt plays for the Texans, getting past left tackle Joe Thuney to apply immediate pressure from Mahomes’ blind side and bringing him down.

Matt Araiza’s punt came close to being downed inside the 5-yard line but ended up rolling into the end zone for a touchback. Robert Woods played a key role by obstructing Chiefs gunner Joshua Williams, who was on the verge of downing the ball.

Chiefs lead Texans 6-3 in a scoreless first quarter

The Chiefs maintain a slim lead over the Texans, but Houston is holding its ground early against the AFC’s top seed.

C.J. Stroud had a solid start, completing 4 out of 7 passes for 67 yards, with significant contributions from key players like Joe Mixon, Nico Collins, and Dalton Schultz during the first quarter. However, Houston’s defense excelled, limiting the Chiefs to just 44 yards despite the six points allowed.

Patrick Mahomes has had a sluggish start, making only 3 of 8 passes for 48 yards in the first quarter after a 24-day hiatus since his last start. He is expected to find his rhythm as the game progresses.

Chris Jones sacks C.J. Stroud on third down, forcing a Texans punt

The Texans were close to field goal range, facing a third-and-8 when Jones outmaneuvered rookie tackle Blake Fisher to pressure Stroud. The All-Pro defender tackled the second-year quarterback for a loss of 12 yards.

This pushed the Texans past midfield and led to a Tommy Townsend punt. The punt covered 48 yards, with Nikko Remigio returning it 10 yards, giving Houston 38 yards of favorable field position.

C.J. Stroud injury update

Stroud didn’t miss any plays after appearing to injure his knee. He was seen on the sidelines with an “infrared heating wrap” around his knee while the Texans defense was out on the field.

Upon his return, Stroud attempted a pass to Xavier Hutchinson, which went incomplete.

Patrick Mahomes stats today

Mahomes has had a rocky start against the Texans, completing only 2 of 6 passes for 44 yards.

Both completions were significant, connecting with Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy for sizable yardage. Nevertheless, it seems the three-time Super Bowl champ is working off some rust after 24 days since his last game in Week 17 leading up to the Chiefs’ first playoff match.

Texans halt Chiefs in the red zone again; Harrison Butker converts a 36-yard field goal

Mahomes completed a couple of longer passes to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, setting the Chiefs up with a goal-to-go situation. However, Kansas City once more stumbled in the red zone when Will Anderson disrupted a Worthy run on first-and-goal, leaving them unable to score.

Consequently, Butker was summoned to attempt another field goal. The veteran kicker nailed the 36-yarder with ease, even in the cold temperatures of Kansas City.

Will Anderson flagged for roughing the passer on Patrick Mahomes, nullifying Texans 3-and-out

The Texans seemed poised to force a three-and-out against Kansas City’s second drive. However, Anderson was penalized for roughing Mahomes as he hit the quarterback after the pass was thrown.

The officials deemed Anderson’s hit on Mahomes high, a ruling that drew criticism from ESPN’s rules analyst Russell Yurk, making it a contentious call early in the divisional round game.

Who is the Texans’ backup QB?

If C.J. Stroud has to sit out due to his knee issue, Davis Mills would step in.

Mills, selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, has made 25 career starts. His record stands at 5-19-1, having completed 62.6% of his passes for 6,167 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions.

Currently, the Texans lack a third quarterback on the active roster, so they would only have Mills and an emergency quarterback option.

Texans even the score with Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 30-yard field goal

Houston executed a good offensive drive in response to the Chiefs’ opening score, culminating in Fairbairn’s successful 30-yard field goal that tied the game.

C.J. Stroud showed promise in the initial drive, completing 3 of his 4 passes for 53 yards, including a notable 34-yard pass to Dalton Schultz. However, Stroud exited the field limping after a scramble toward the end of the drive, warranting close attention to his health going forward.

Who is Kris Boyd?

Boyd is a seasoned cornerback, currently in his sixth NFL season. Originally a seventh-round pick from Texas by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019, he has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Since 2023, Boyd has been with the Texans, contributing to their special teams during the 2024 season. He was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the opening kickoff against the Chiefs, where he shoved special teams coordinator Frank Ross after coming off the field.

Texans force Chiefs into field goal attempt; Harrison Butker nails a 32-yarder

Following a challenging kickoff return that put Houston’s defense in a tough spot, DeMeco Ryans’ squad held their ground. The Chiefs lost a yard over three plays, ending with a Butker field goal attempt.

Butker successfully converted the easy attempt, giving the Chiefs a 3-0 lead just a minute into the AFC divisional round clash. Given the circumstances, limiting the Chiefs to just three points felt like a victory for the Texans after Remigio’s impressive return.

Nikko Remigio returns the kickoff 63 yards, fumbles, and is recovered by Samaje Perine

The Chiefs started strong after the opening kickoff, as returner Remigio found a gap in the defense and almost broke loose for a touchdown.

However, Kris Boyd made a key tackle on Remigio, forcing a fumble. A scramble for the ball ensued, with veteran running back Samaje Perine diving onto the loose ball to secure possession.

Boyd received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing his helmet after the play, granting Kansas City immediate red-zone possession.

What time does Chiefs vs. Texans start?

• Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT)

The Chiefs and Texans are set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday as the Texans visit GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for this matchup.

Who did the Texans defeat last week?

The Texans triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers to advance to the NFL’s divisional round. Houston’s defense intercepted Justin Herbert four times despite him only throwing three interceptions throughout the entire season, leading to a 32-12 victory for the Texans.

Houston’s win against the Chargers marked only their second of the season against a team with a .500 or better record.

Did Patrick Mahomes and his wife have their baby?

Yes, Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, gave birth to their third child, a daughter named Golden Raye, during Kansas City’s playoff bye week.

Sterling Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes III (also known as Bronze) are the other two children of the couple.

How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs won?

The Chiefs have secured victory in four Super Bowls, listed below:

• Super Bowl IV
• Super Bowl LIV
• Super Bowl LVII
• Super Bowl LVIII

Three of these titles were achieved with Andy Reid as head coach and Patrick Mahomes as quarterback. They are aspiring for a historic Super Bowl three-peat in 2025, needing just three more wins to reach this milestone.

Chiefs vs. Texans TV channel

• TV channel: ESPN

The matchup between the Chiefs and Texans will be broadcast on ESPN, featuring Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as commentators, with Tracy Wolfson providing reports from the sidelines.

Chiefs vs. Texans weather updates

The forecast for the 2025 playoff game indicates cold temperatures, with no snow expected. Here’s the weather outlook for Saturday’s Chiefs-Texans game per Weather.com:

• High temperature: 25 degrees
• Low temperature: 8 degrees
• Chance of precipitation: 0%
• Wind: 10-20 mph

Is Taylor Swift at the Chiefs vs. Texans playoff game?

Indeed, Taylor Swift is present at Arrowhead Stadium to support Travis Kelce during the game against the Texans. She was seen arriving at the venue and is expected to watch from her usual suite as the Chiefs aim to equal a record by winning their eighth consecutive playoff game.

Is Joe Mixon playing?

Yes, Joe Mixon will be participating in the Texans’ playoff game against the Chiefs. Although he missed practice on Thursday due to an ankle injury, he is listed as active for Saturday’s match.

Mixon is likely to carry the majority of the running back duties for Houston, with Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale stepping in as needed during the game.

Chiefs inactives vs. Texans

The Chiefs had few unexpected names on their inactives list for Sunday’s playoff game.

Key players who will not be taking the field against the Texans include pass rusher Josh Uche, acquired from the Patriots near the trade deadline, and Wanya Morris, who was one of several candidates for the left tackle position before the team finalized their choice in Joe Thuney.

Texans inactives vs. Chiefs

There’s positive news for the Texans: Joe Mixon, who was previously categorized as “questionable” for Saturday, is cleared to play. He will lead the running game, while veteran defenders Jerry Hughes and Devin White are the most notable players not available for the Texans.

Chiefs vs. Texans predictions, picks

The YSL News Sports team has made their predictions regarding the Chiefs-Texans game:

• Lorenzo Reyes: Chiefs 29, Texans 23
• Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 28, Texans 24
• Jordan Mendoza: Chiefs 27, Texans 23

Chiefs vs. Texans live stream

• Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+

For those wishing to stream the game live, Fubo is a great option, offering coverage of NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN.

Additionally, ESPN+ will also provide a stream for the game.

Chiefs vs. Texans odds, moneyline, over/under

According to BetMGM NFL odds, the Chiefs are favored to win against the Texans. For those looking for betting insights, expert opinions and best bets for every NFL game this week are available.

• Spread: Chiefs (-8.5)
• Moneyline: Chiefs (-500); Texans (+375)
• Over/under: 42

NFL playoff bracket

Here’s how the NFL playoff bracket looks as we approach the divisional round:

AFC

• No. 4 Houston Texans at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 3 Baltimore Ravens at No. 2 Buffalo Bills

NFC

• No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 1 Detroit Lions
• No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams