For most of the Patrick Mahomes era, when the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely needed a big play, it would happen to the surprise of nobody. Making every clutch play became Kansas City’s brand during its dynasty.
This season, when the Chiefs have absolutely needed a big play like they did in a practically must-win game on Sunday night, they couldn’t find the right answer.
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The magic that carried the Chiefs for such a long stretch last season has evaporated. Two failed fourth-down tries by the Chiefs in their own territory in the fourth quarter and then an interception on a pass that was bobbled by Travis Kelce doomed them in a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs aren’t done in the playoff race yet. But they’re all the way to the edge of a steep cliff.
Even if the Chiefs win out, they’d need to catch a break or two to make the playoffs after a loss to the Houston Texans dropped them to 6-7 this season. With a Denver Broncos win on Sunday and the Chiefs’ loss, Kansas City’s streak of nine straight AFC West titles is officially over. The Chiefs are eliminated in the AFC West race, and barely alive in the wild-card race.
The Chiefs had trouble moving the ball against the Texans’ fierce defense and are a step closer to elimination from the postseason field. Before Sunday night’s game, The Athletic’s projection had their playoff chances dropping to 16% with a loss to the Texans. NFL.com had it at 15%. Kansas City is in trouble.
The Chiefs struggled in the first half, got hot in the third quarter but then the two failed fourth-down tries wrecked their momentum. The Texans broke a 10-10 tie on a Dare Ogunbowale touchdown run, but Kansas City had a chance late to at least tie the game. But a pass to Kelce popped out of his hands and it was picked off by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
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The Chiefs are used to seeing their opponents melt down like that in key situations. Now it’s happening to them. And it has put them on the brink of missing the playoffs.
Chiefs struggle early against Texans’ D
The Texans came in with the best and hottest defense in the NFL, and it looked great in the first half.
The Chiefs struggled to move the ball, and losing starting left tackle Wanya Morris to a knee injury on the first play of the game didn’t help against Houston’s pass rush. The closest Kansas City got to a score in the first half was a field goal that clanged off the upright and was no good. The Texans led 10-0 at halftime.
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C.J. Stroud was good in the first half, with 171 yards and a touchdown pass to running back Woody Marks. Houston more than doubled Kansas City’s yardage in the first half, outgaining the Chiefs 201-98.
The way the first half played out, it seemed like the Texans might run away with a win. It was stunning to see the Chiefs stuck on no points at halftime, in a game that they needed to win to avoid falling under .500 this late in the season.
But the Chiefs are a really well coached team and adjustments on each side of the ball got them back in the game.
Chiefs rebound in 2nd half
The Chiefs finally scored early in the second half. Kareem Hunt had an exceptional effort on a fourth-and-1 run, getting 2 hard yards for the touchdown. Even though Houston completely outplayed Kansas City in the first half, the Chiefs trailed just 10-7 after that drive in the first few minutes of the third quarter.
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The Chiefs absolutely dominated the third quarter. They had 132 yards to -2 for the Texans. Stroud didn’t complete a pass for the entire quarter. After three quarters the score was 10-10 in a game with numerous hard hits.
A fourth-down decision early in the fourth quarter was aggressive and costly for the Chiefs. On fourth-and-1 at their own 31-yard line, with a little more than 10 minutes left. Kansas City went for it. A pass to Rashee Rice was batted down and Houston took over, already in field-goal range in a tie game. On the Texans’ next drive Ogunbowale, who had just three carries on the season and was in due to Nick Chubb and Woody Marks being injured, scored a 5-yard touchdown run on his first offensive snap of the game. Houston led 17-10 and Kansas City might have regretted going for it so deep in their own territory.
That meant the Chiefs needed a clutch drive for a touchdown. Usually that hasn’t been a problem in the Mahomes era. This season, the Chiefs have had plenty of problems making big plays in close games. The Chiefs went for it again, on fourth-and-four, and Rice dropped it. That wasn’t as damaging because the Chiefs defense forced a three-and-out. But then Mahomes’ pass to Kelce was dropped and intercepted, allowing the Texans to ice the game.
It’s not unheard of for a team to miss the playoffs in the middle of a dynasty. The 1982 San Francisco 49ers went 3-6 in a strike-shortened season, a year after winning their first of four Super Bowls that decade. The New England Patriots missed the playoffs in 2008, though that was because Tom Brady missed almost the entire season with a torn ACL. It’s possible to miss the playoffs and not have the dynasty end.
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But before thinking about what’s next, it’s probably time to make sense of the story of this NFL season: The Chiefs are very likely to miss the playoffs. That seemed unfathomable before the season started.
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Ryan Young
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The Houston Texans have pulled off the upset win at Arrowhead Stadium. They’ve now won five straight, and are suddenly on pace to land the final playoff spot in the AFC.
The Chiefs, however, are now at serious risk of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
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Fairbairn drilled a 28-yarder, and the Texans are now up by 10. We’re just about done here.
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Travis Kelce had his hands on the ball just now, but just bobbled it away for what is now Mahomes’ third interception of the night.
Mahomes now has 10 straight incomplete passes or interceptions, marking the longest streak of his career.
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Christian Kirk was open deep, but CJ Stroud missed him. That was third and long after a bad delay of game penalty, and a field goal would be from 61 yards.
So, Houston will punt. The Chiefs aren’t done just yet.
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The Chiefs tried again on fourth down, and failed to convert yet again! Rashee Rice was open, but the ball hit his hands and he couldn’t hang on.
Houston will take over in prime position yet again with just 5:26 left.
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Ogunbowale fights his way into the end zone from five yards out, and Houston is back in the lead!
What a huge touchdown after the Chiefs’ decision to go for it. The Texans are up 17-10 now with about seven minutes to go.
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The Chiefs went for it on fourth and short — Mahomes’ scramble on third down was just shy of the first down — but Rice couldn’t quite make the grab in the middle of the field.
Houston has it now in field goal range, in a spot to take control of the game again.
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Watson just pulled out the perfect tackle to force yet another Houston punt. Noel only needed two yards there, and just couldn’t get it done.
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Patrick Mahomes has now thrown his second interception of the night. He tried to hit Brown deep, but left it a bit short. Lassiter was there to pull off the easy pick, and Houston will now take over.
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This Chiefs defense has figured Houston out. That’s a fourth straight three-and-out after CJ Stroud just threw it away there on third down.
The Chiefs have a chance to take the lead here.
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Kareem Hunt just dropped a short pass that would’ve led to a first down. Brutal drop, hit him right in the facemask.
But Harrison Butker made the field goal this time (just barely), so we’ve got a tie game again.
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The Texans offense is struggling to get anything going in the second half. That’s a third straight three-and-out now.
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After a few first downs, one of which came after a deep 23-yard pass to Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs will have to punt. Mahomes missed Travis Kelce in the middle of the field there on third down, too. He has just a single catch so far tonight.
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Here come the Chiefs. The KC defense just forced a second straight three-and-out, and they’ll get the ball back once again. Things are shifting here at Arrowhead…
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The Chiefs are finally on the board. Kareem Hunt punched in a 2-yard touchdown on fourth down, and we’ve got a game again.
The Texans’ lead is down to 3.
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And that’s exactly what the Chiefs did. C.J. Stroud just missed Hutchinson, who was wide open, on third-and-long there.
The Chiefs will get the ball near midfield after forcing a quick punt.
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The Texans have received the kick, and the third quarter is underway. The Chiefs will need a quick stop here if they’re going to turn this game around.
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The Texans couldn’t get any points on the board there, but they are still in full control of this one. The Texans will get the ball to start the second half, too. A quick score could almost put this game out of reach early.
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The Chiefs made it across midfield quickly, thanks in part to a 22-yard toss to Xavier Worthy, but the drive stalled out short of the 20. The Texans sacked Mahomes on third down there.
Harrison Butker just doinked a field goal attempt off the right post, too. The Texans’ 10-0 lead is safe with 60 seconds left in the half.