Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City qualifies for its seventh straight AFC Championship with a Divisional round win over Houston.
On Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs qualified for their seventh consecutive AFC Championship with a 23-14 win over the Houston Texans on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City will now host the winner of Sunday’s Divisional round game between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. The winner of that matchup will represent the conference at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9.
The Texans won the coin and deferred. Nikko Remigio took the kick at the five-yard line. Remigio took off for a 63-yard return, but he nearly caused a disaster by fumbling at the Houston 32-yard line. Samaje Perine fell on the loose ball to secure the possession for Kansas City. After an unnecessary roughness call on the Texans, the Chiefs started the drive at the Houston 13.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs were unable to capitalize on the moment, as the drive ended with a three-and-out. Isiah Pacheco lost a yard on first down, which was followed by two incomplete Patrick Mahomes passes. Harrison Butker came on for a successful 32-yard field goal to give the Chiefs an early 3-0 lead.
Butker’s kickoff landed in the landing zone before bouncing into the end zone for a touchback to the 20-yard line, rather than the 30. A five-yard carry by Joe Mixon, followed by a six-yard pass to the back, quickly netted the Texans a new set of downs at the Kansas City 31-yard line. A deep C. J. Stroud pass to tight end Dalton Schultz quickly moved the Texans to the Chiefs’ 35-yard line. A pass to Nico Collins moved Houston into the red zone, but Houston’s drive would stall. On third-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 14-yard line, Stroud could only scramble for two yards, and was seen limping after being tackled by George Karlaftis. Kai’Imi Fairbairn came on for a 30-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.
Perine took the second kickoff, bringing the ball to the Kansas City 31-yard line to start the Chiefs’ second drive. Pacheco started the drive with a seven-yard gain, before being held in check on the next carry. To make matters worse, tackle Jawaan Taylor was called for a false start, to force third-and-8. The Chiefs appeared to go three-and-out for a second drive, but defensive end Will Anderson was called for what will certainly be a controversial roughing the passer penalty, extending the drive. A 23-yard pass to Travis Kelce moved the Chiefs into Houston territory. Two plays later, Xavier Worthy made a spectacular catch at the eight-yard line to set up first-and-goal. Houston would buckle down again, however. Anderson brought Worthy down for an eight-yard loss on an end around. Mahomes could not get a clean pass off on the next two downs under heavy pressure. Butker came back on for a 36-yard field goal to give Kansas City a 6-3 lead.
Butker’s kick sailed...
