Chiefs Finish Home Slate Unbeaten With Win Over Texans
Patrick Mahomes rushed for a touchdown – bum ankle and all – and threw for another as the Kansas City Chiefs closed out their 2024 home schedule in style with a 27-19 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.
Playing on a high ankle sprain, Mahomes’ 15-yard scramble gave the Chiefs an early 7-0 advantage. He would continue to show no ill effects throughout the afternoon, throwing for 260 yards on 28-for-41 passing and rushing for 33 more. A third-quarter touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy helped to keep the Texans at bay.
The Chiefs defense forced a pair of turnovers in the first half, leading to 10 points. Jaden Hicks intercepted Texans QB CJ Stroud on Houston’s opening drive, and Mahomes’ touchdown run came on the 11th play of the ensuing drive. In the final minute of the half, with Houston driving, Trent McDuffie picked off Stroud at the Chiefs 35 yard-line, allowing Kansas City to drive and set Harrison Butker up for a 44 yard field goal that pushed their lead to 17-10 at the intermission.
Houston looked to tie the score in the third quarter. Stroud connected with Tank Dell for a 30-yard touchdown with 11:40 left in the third, but there was a lengthy delay after the play as Dell injured his right knee and had to be carted off the field. Texans kicker Kaimi Fairbairn missed the ensuing extra point and the Chiefs maintained a 17-16 edge. The Chiefs were then stuffed on a fourth-and-one on their own 48-yard line, but the defense held Houston to a three-and-out, and Mahomes guided the offense on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive, hitting Worthy for an 8-yard score with 2:42 left in the frame.
The two teams traded field goals in the fourth, Fairbairn hitting from 38 yards with 11:51 left and Butker responding with a 27 yarder with 5:18 to play. The Texans went three-and-out on their next drive, with Joshua Williams sacking Stroud on third-and-long, and the Chiefs offense put the game away with two first downs.
Worthy led the Chiefs with seven catches for 65 yards. Hollywood Brown caught five passes for 45 yards in his Chiefs debut after coming off of IR this week. Kareem Hunt rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Stroud was 23-39 for 244 yards, two touchdowns – one to Dell and one to Dalton Schultz – and two interceptions. It was the fifth straight game in which the Chiefs did not commit a turnover.
The Chiefs improve to 14-1 with the win and are now one win or one Buffalo loss away from clinching the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. They’re back in action on Christmas Day, at Pittsburgh.