The Kansas City Chiefs are on their way to achieving an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl victory, reaching a familiar postseason destination.

In a divisional playoff matchup, the top-seeded Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday, advancing to their seventh straight AFC championship game. Kansas City will face the winner of the match between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills, which will take place on Sunday.

Travis Kelce was instrumental for the two-time champion team, recording seven receptions for 117 yards and scoring one touchdown. This performance marked his ninth career playoff game exceeding 100 yards, setting a new NFL record and surpassing Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s previous mark.

“Everyone was wondering where 8-7 was, and he showed up when it mattered most,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated after the game. “I think he proved to everyone just how great he is.”

Many Kansas City players, including Kelce and several key starters, had rested during their Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos after securing home-field advantage. This meant some players were on the field for the first time in nearly a month. Despite a rocky start, the reigning champions managed to overcome the same team they triumphed over just a few weeks back.

Entering the final quarter, the Chiefs held a slim 13-12 lead after Texans running back Joe Mixon completed a 15-play, 82-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run (Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point attempt that could have leveled the game). Kansas City quickly regained momentum, executing a lengthy drive where Mahomes connected with Kelce for a 13-yard touchdown while falling to the ground, culminating in an impressive 13-play, 81-yard drive.

Kelce ignited the offense in the second quarter with a spectacular 49-yard catch-and-run, marking the longest play of his season. Just three plays later, Kareem Hunt scored on a 1-yard run.

Even though the Texans outgained the Chiefs and dominated possession during the first three quarters with a robust running game, they faltered due to self-inflicted errors. Fairbairn missed a field goal attempt and a crucial extra point that would have equalized the game, in addition to having a kick blocked. The Texans committed eight penalties totaling 82 yards, and quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked a whopping eight times.

This story has been updated with new information.