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Chiefs use signature late magic to pull away from Texans, advance to 7th straight AFC title game

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Chiefs use signature late magic to pull away from Texans, advance to 7th straight AFC title game

That is why soccer followers are perplexed by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and annoyed with them persevering with to win.

Kansas Metropolis didn’t play its greatest sport within the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs. Not even shut. And that’s not new. There have been many video games this season, and final season too, when the Chiefs weren’t nice and nonetheless gained. Dynasties annoy followers typically, much more when these groups are usually not dominant.

The Chiefs discovered a method to win in Saturday’s divisional-round sport in opposition to the Houston Texans, as they virtually at all times do. Regardless of the Texans having greater than twice as many yards as them late within the third quarter, the Chiefs nonetheless led. Then there was a questionable pointless roughness name on a success to Patrick Mahomes, one of some calls that had non-Chiefs followers screaming on social media, that led to a Travis Kelce landing and an eight-point lead. Everybody knew how it could play out after that.

The Chiefs gained 23-14 and are going to the AFC championship sport for the seventh straight season. They’ll host the winner of Sunday night time’s Baltimore Ravens-Buffalo Payments conflict.

The Chiefs hold profitable shut video games as a result of they do many issues very properly. Mahomes is already an all-time nice quarterback. Andy Reid is a unbelievable coach who added win No. 300 to his résumé, becoming a member of legends George Halas, Invoice Belichick and Don Shula within the 300-victory membership. The protection has been superb every of the previous two seasons and was once more Saturday.

However that gained’t cease followers of the opposite 31 groups from complaining about how Kansas Metropolis retains profitable even when it appears it is consistently on the ropes.

The Texans wanted to play their greatest to beat the Chiefs. On the primary play, they gave up a 63-yard kickoff return, cornerback Kris Boyd took a 15-yard penalty for throwing his helmet after the play and he shoved particular groups coordinator Frank Ross when he acquired to the sideline. Not precisely the right begin Houston wanted.

The Chiefs solely acquired a subject purpose out of that massive return. Kansas Metropolis didn’t get off to an excellent begin offensively, however the Texans didn’t make the most of it. The Chiefs’ protection had an excellent first half, shopping for time for the large play from the Chiefs’ offense that might inevitably come.

And it did. Travis Kelce acquired open in the course of the sphere and Mahomes discovered him. He rumbled 49 yards to the Houston 6-yard line. Just a few performs later, Kareem Hunt scored to offer the Chiefs a 13-3 lead. It was the primary time all season Kelce had a play with greater than 20 yards after the catch, based on Subsequent Gen Stats. Final season, Kelce got here alive within the playoffs, and he began this postseason with seven catches for 117 yards and a landing.

It was a reasonably typical Chiefs sport this season. They hadn’t performed notably properly on offense. That they had simply 123 yards at halftime, and 49 of it got here on Kelce’s catch-and-run. However in addition they didn’t make any essential errors, and their protection performed properly. And regardless of some torpid offense, Kansas Metropolis led 13-6 on the half.

The Texans had a powerful drive to start out the second half. They needed to achieve 101 yards on offense to offset 19 yards of penalties on the drive. It lasted 15 performs and 10:24 on the clock and ended with a Joe Mixon landing. That gave the Texans some momentum, which was shortly wiped away when Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the additional level vast proper. Nonetheless, Houston trailed 13-12 and appeared very a lot within the sport. However the Chiefs are arduous to beat.

At that time Houston was outgaining Kansas Metropolis 275-123. The Texans had outplayed the Chiefs however had been nonetheless trailing. It feels hopeless to these rooting in opposition to the Chiefs after they don’t play properly they usually transfer on within the playoffs.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 18: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates during the first half of the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes celebrates throughout a win over the Houston Texans on Saturdat in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Picture by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Photos)

Kansas Metropolis began to place it away after that. There was the questionable name on a success in opposition to Mahomes, and the Kelce landing. The Texans made a mistake on fourth-and-10, being indecisive earlier than going for it after which dashing a play that led to a sack. A foul punt led to good subject place and a Chiefs drive that led to a subject purpose and an 11-point lead.

The Texans had a shot at a subject purpose contained in the two-minute warning to chop Kansas Metropolis’s result in eight factors, after the Chiefs’ eighth sack of the sport, however it was blocked and that sealed the win.

The Chiefs are two wins from making historical past. No crew has ever gained three straight Tremendous Bowls. Kansas Metropolis went 15-2 this season, together with one loss during which they rested all their key gamers, and have a spot within the NFL’s remaining 4 once more. Sooner or later it doesn’t matter the way it appears or in the event that they’re taking part in their greatest. In all however a couple of uncommon instances within the Mahomes period, they’ve at all times been ok to win the largest video games.

Followers who don’t root for the Chiefs may not prefer it, however they get to spend one other convention championship weekend watching Mahomes attempt to make it again to a different Tremendous Bowl.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER56 updates

  • Ultimate stats

    Texans

    Complete offense: 336 yards
    C.J. Stroud: 19/28, 245 yards
    Joe Mixon: 18 rushes, 88 yards, 1 TD
    Nico Collins: 5 catches, 81 yards

    Chiefs

    Complete offense: 212 yards
    Patrick Mahomes: 16/25, 177 yards, 1 TD
    Kareem Hunt: 8 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD
    Travis Kelce: 7 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD

  • Ultimate: Chiefs 23, Texans 14

    Kansas Metropolis is on to the AFC championship sport after a 23–14 victory over the Texans. It is the seventh straight AFC title sport for the Chiefs.

  • Chiefs take a security

    Houston will get two factors on fourth down with Chiefs punter Matt Araiza operating out of the top zone for a security on fourth-and-15.

    However solely 9 seconds stay after a 4-yard rush by Kareem Hunt and two kneeldowns by Patrick Mahomes.

  • Texans’ subject purpose blocked

    Down by 11, Houston opts to kick a subject purpose on fourth-and-14. However Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 34-yard kick is blocked by Justin Reid. What a method to present everybody that he is again within the sport and never injured.

  • George Karlaftis with one other sack

    Again to again sacks for the Chiefs’ protection. After the 2-minute warning, George Karlaftis will get to C.J. Stroud once more, tackling him for a 4-yard loss.

  • Chiefs sack C.J. Stroud once more

    C.J. Stroud completes an 18-yard cross to Nico Collins, then follows up with an 8-yard throw to Xavier Hutchinson to maneuver Houston to the Kansas Metropolis 5-yard line.

    Nonetheless, Felix Anudike-Uzomah breaks via for a sack and 8-yard loss on second-and-2. We’re on the 2-minute warning.

  • Stroud to Schultz for 18 yards

    Dalton Schultz made an 18-yard catch on third-andby the left sideline. The play was dominated a catch on the sphere and was upheld after replay assessment.

  • George Karlaftis makes one other play for the Chiefs

    A George Karlaftis sack places the Texans in a second-and-16 gap on an pressing drive for the Texans.

  • Subject purpose: Chiefs 23, Texans 12

    Kansas Metropolis opts for a subject purpose after Xavier Worthy will get a 9-yard catch on third-and-10 from the Houston 18-yard line.

    Harrison Butker’s 27-yard subject purpose makes it a two-possession sport for the Texans with 4:38 remaining within the fourth quarter.

  • Kareem Hunt operating robust

    Kareem Hunt good points 23 yards on two carries to get the Chiefs contained in the purple zone. Kansas Metropolis has a primary down on the Houston 18-yard line.

  • Chiefs get good subject place

    Kansas Metropolis will get robust subject place after forcing Houston to punt deep in its personal territory. After a 34-yard punt by Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs take over on the Texans’ 45-yard line with 7:35 remaining within the fourth quarter.

  • Justin Reid seems to be OK

    Justin Reid seems to be all proper after a sideline collision on third down. Trainers got here out to examine on him and teammates surrounded him on the sphere.

  • Large defensive cease by Kansas Metropolis

    The Chiefs give you a defensive cease, forcing Houston right into a 3-and-out. Joe Mixon gained 4 yards on first down, however C.J. Stroud threw incomplete passes on the subsequent two performs.

    Justin Reid seems to be damage after making a play on Nico Collins to pressure an incompletion on third-and-6 from the Texans’ 11-yard line.

  • Chiefs go 3-and-out

    The Texans’ protection will get a much-needed cease, forcing the Chiefs right into a 3-and-out after gaining just one yard.

    Matt Araiza kicks a 36-yard punt to pin Houston again at its 7-yard line with 8:32 remaining within the fourth quarter.

  • Texans fail to transform on fourth down

    Nick Bolton forces C.J. Stroud to do away with the ball early on a deep throw to Jared Wayne. However he cannot make the catch. Wayne was vast open, however the throw was behind him.

    That was adopted by an incomplete cross to Dameon Pierce on third-and-10. The Texans choose to go for it on fourth down, however Stroud is sacked by George Karlaftis.

    Kansas Metropolis takes over on downs at its 44-yard-line.

  • Patrick Mahomes’ flop

    Patrick Mahomes tried to attract one other pointless roughness penalty on the Chiefs’ final drive, placing somewhat additional mustard on a shove by Henry To’oTo’o as he ran out of bounds.

    Contemplating how the officers have referred to as hits on him, it is most likely tough to fault Mahomes for attempting to attract one other flag. However he did not get it this time.

  • Landing: Chiefs 20, Texans 12

    Travis Kelce grabbed an 18-yard reception to get Kansas Metropolis into the purple zone.

    Three performs later (after Mahomes tried to attract a penalty by falling down on the sideline), Mahomes and Kelce join once more for an 11-yard achieve and a landing.

  • Chiefs convert on fourth-and-1

    Patrick Mahomes’ cross to Noah Grey on third-and-4 goes for 3 yards, simply in need of the primary down. On fourth-and-1 from the Houston 37-yard line, the Chiefs choose to go for it and Kareem Hunt good points 3 yards.

  • One other Texans penalty on Patrick Mahomes hit

    For the second time on this sport, the Texans get referred to as for a questionable pointless roughness penalty upon hitting Patrick Mahomes.

    This time, Henry To’oTo’o is flagged for a success on Mahomes as he is sliding.

  • Taylor Swift chatting with Caitlin Clark

    Certainly, Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark had been discussing Travis Kelce’s two catches on this drive for a mixed 27 yards.

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