As the Week 14 edition of “Sunday Night Football” got underway on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs were searching for a victory over the Houston Texans — one that would maintain their playoff hopes. But instead, they found their fourth loss in five games — this time, a 20-10 defeat — that made their chance to make the postseason plummet as their record fell to 6-7.
First quarter
Kansas City began at its own 33 and leaned on Isiah Pacheco for back-to-back 3-yard runs before Patrick Mahomes’ third-down throw to Noah Gray fell incomplete. With nothing developing beyond midfield and Wanya Morris leaving the field after the first snap, Matt Araiza punted from the 39, sending a 48-yard kick that Jaxson Noel secured with a fair catch at the Houston 13.
Houston began at its own 13 and leaned on Will Marks for the early work, using an extra blocker in Ben Fisher to spring a 6-yard gain off left guard. Marks added 3 more up the middle, setting up a manageable second down, but the Texans failed to build real momentum from there. A short pass from C.J. Stroud to Christian Kirk gained 6 yards, but Kansas City’s front stiffened: George Karlaftis and Nick Bolton combined to stop Marks on a right-end run, and a sack split by Jerry Tillery and Ashton Gillotte pushed Houston backward before a defensive-holding call on Bolton wiped out another stop. After the penalty reset the chains, Marks gained 2 yards on a right-tackle call, then 3 more inside, but the Chiefs held firm again as Stroud’s third-down throw to Nico Collins fell incomplete.
Texans strike first after explosive gain, failed tush-push attempt
Houston finally broke the scoreless start after C.J. Stroud hit Nico Collins for a 46-yard gain to the Kansas City 21 — a play on which Trent McDuffie was injured. Will Marks followed with short gains before an illegal shift erased a touchdown to Dalton Schultz, and a completion to Jalen Higgins set up fourth-and-1. Houston lined up for a tush push to extend the drive, but left tackle Amarius Ersery was flagged for lining up offsides, wiping out the attempt and forcing the Texans to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn to take a 3–0 lead.
Kansas City opened its next series with Mahomes scrambling twice for gains of nine yards each, while Pacheco added two efficient runs to move the ball toward midfield. Hunt pushed the Chiefs across the 50 before the drive stalled: Mahomes was sacked by Togiai for a nine-yard loss, and Rice’s seven-yard catch on third-and-long wasn’t enough to recover the yardage. Wanya Morris was ruled out with an injury during the sequence, and Trent McDuffie’s return was deemed questionable.
Second quarter
Chiefs open up the quarter with a Matt Araiza punt from the Houston 49, and although the Texans were flagged for running into the kicker, Kansas City declined and took the result of the 39-yard punt, which Jaxon Noel secured with a fair catch at the Houston 10 as the first quarter ended.
Texans extend their lead with Marks’ receiving score
Houston extended its lead with a methodical, penalty-aided march that leaned on C.J. Stroud’s accuracy and Nico Collins’ explosiveness. After Marks opened the series with a short run, Kansas City’s defensive holding erased a third-down stop and kept the drive alive. Stroud then found Schultz to reach the 37 before Chubb and Marks combined to push the ball toward midfield. The breakthrough came when Stroud hit Collins on a deep crossing route for 53 yards to the Kansas City 7. A false start briefly backed Houston up, but the Texans stayed aggressive; Stroud hit Collins again and then turned to Marks, who caught a swing pass on third-and-9 and slipped inside the pylon for a 9-yard touchdown. Fairbairn’s extra point extended Houston’s advantage to 10–0.
Houston couldn’t take advantage of the short field created by Pitre’s interception. Marks gained 4 yards on first down, but C.J. Stroud followed with two incompletions, bringing up fourth-and-6. Townsend then angled a 39-yard punt that Xavier Hutchinson downed at the Kansas City 3, pinning the Chiefs deep.
Chiefs come up empty after long march and missed field goal
Kansas City mounted a long, mixed-tempo drive that began at its own 3 after being pinned deep. Kareem Hunt gave the offense some breathing room, and Mahomes worked gradually downfield with completions to Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster, aided by a face-mask penalty that moved the ball near midfield. Mahomes later found Worthy on a deep sideline throw to reach the Houston 37, but the possession stalled when Autry dragged Mahomes down for a 3-yard loss on third-and-5. Butker attempted a 43-yard field goal to salvage the drive, but his kick struck the right upright and missed, leaving Kansas City empty on a possession that covered significant ground but produced no points.
Houston tried to generate a late-half scoring threat but never settled into rhythm. An offensive pass interference call on Collins erased an early completion, and C.J. Stroud followed with an incompletion before hitting Schultz and Collins on back-to-back throws to reach the 45. A false start on Aireontae Ersery halted the momentum, and Jones closed the pocket for a 5-yard sack on the next snap. After a hurried incompletion to Marks, the Texans ran out of time and the drive fizzled without crossing midfield. Texan go into halftime leading 10-0
Third quarter
Chiefs defense opens the half with a swift three-and-out
Houston opened the second half with a stalled series after Marks was stopped for a 4-yard loss on the first play. Stroud threw two incompletions — one short and one deep — and the Texans went three-and-out. Townsend’s 43-yard punt was fair caught by Worthy at the Kansas City 44, giving the Chiefs favorable field position to start their first drive of the half.
Hunt punches it in as Chiefs cap sharp opening drive of the half
Kansas City capitalized on the strong field position with a crisp, balanced march. Mahomes hit Brown deep down the right sideline for 35 yards to move the ball to the Houston 21, and Smith added 7 yards on a sweep to keep the drive in rhythm. Hunt handled the bulk of the work from there, converting a third-and-short and pushing Kansas City inside the 10. After an incompletion, Mahomes scrambled to the 2, setting up fourth-and-1. The Chiefs kept the offense on the field, and Hunt powered through the right guard for a 2-yard touchdown to cut into Houston’s lead.
Houston’s next possession went nowhere after Marks managed only 2 yards on the opening snap. Stroud followed with consecutive incompletions — one toward Hutchinson and another aimed at Collins — bringing on the punt team. Townsend delivered a 57-yard punt that Worthy returned to the 13, but an illegal block on Edwards pushed Kansas City back to its own 7 to begin the next drive.
Kansas City opened the drive backed up near its own goal line after the penalty on the punt return but worked out of trouble with a quick throw to Kelce and a pair of steady interior runs from Hunt. Mahomes then connected with Worthy on a deep out to reach the 38, but the momentum stalled. An incompletion to Worthy and a short gain from Isiah Pacheco set up third-and-4, and Mahomes’ pass to Kelce on the left side fell incomplete. Araiza punted from midfield, angling a 44-yard kick out of bounds at the Houston 12 as the Chiefs’ offense failed to build on its earlier touchdown.
Houston went three-and-out again as the Chiefs’ front held firm. Marks was stopped for no gain on second down, and Stroud misfired twice — first toward Collins on a short out and then deep to Kirk with Nohl Williams in coverage. Tommy Townsend’s 36-yard punt went out of bounds at the Houston 48, setting Kansas City up on the plus side of midfield.
Butker trims the margin with a 36-yard field goal
Kansas City took over on a short field and produced a steady march into scoring range. Mahomes hit Rice on the left sideline and later scrambled 15 yards to move the ball inside the Houston 30. Pacheco added a short run, and Mahomes again used his legs to reach the 18, but a third-down pass to Hunt fell incomplete. Butker came on for a 36-yard attempt and converted, pulling the Chiefs closer as they continued to chip away at Houston’s lead.
Houston’s offense stalled yet again as Kansas City continued to control the line of scrimmage. After an incompletion on a short out, Marks was stopped for no gain on a perimeter run, and Stroud’s deep middle attempt was disrupted by interior pressure from Jones. Townsend’s 39-yard punt was fair caught by Worthy at the Kansas City 38, giving the Chiefs another possession near midfield.
Kansas City opened the drive near its own 40 but generated little rhythm. Patrick Mahomes’ quick throw to Rashee Rice fell incomplete, and Isiah Pacheco picked up 4 yards on a right-guard run to set up third-and-6. On the final snap of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter
Mahomes opened the fourth quarter by taking a deep shot to Marquise Brown down the left sideline, but cornerback Kamari Lassiter stayed in phase and intercepted the pass at the Houston 16, halting the Chiefs’ possession before it could gain traction.
Houston opened the fourth quarter backed up deep and never found a rhythm against a tightening Kansas City defense. After Marks gained 4 yards on first down, George Karlaftis blew through the line for an 11-yard sack, setting up third-and-long. Stroud answered with a 17-yard strike to Higgins to reach the 26, but the Texans stalled again as Marks and Noel were limited to short gains and an offensive holding call on Jake Andrews was declined. Facing fourth-and-1 at the 35, Houston sent out Tommy Townsend, who delivered a 43-yard punt that Xavier Worthy fair caught at the Kansas City 22.
Kansas City took over at its own 22 and immediately sputtered. Patrick Mahomes threw back-to-back incompletions, then scrambled for 9 yards to set up a manageable fourth-and-1. But the Chiefs kept the offense on the field, and Mahomes’ quick throw to Rashee Rice on the left side was broken up by Derek Stingley Jr., with Will Anderson Jr. applying pressure. The turnover on downs handed Houston prime field position and continued a frustrating stretch for a Chiefs offense that couldn’t finish drives.
Texans go back in front, 17–10
Houston reclaimed the lead with a deliberate, methodical drive built on tough inside running from Marks and a key third-down pickup from Stroud to Higgins. Stroud added a scramble to move the ball deeper into the red zone before Marks tore around the right side to set up first-and-goal at the 5. From there, Dare Ogunbowale finished the series by punching in a 5-yard touchdown run, putting the Texans back on top 17–10.
Kansas City began the drive with Hunt running left for six yards, then trying the middle on the next snap but getting stacked up for no gain to bring up third-and-four. Patrick Mahomes then went to Rashee Rice twice in a row, first with Danielle Hunter disrupting the throw and then with Denico Autry getting pressure as another short-left attempt fell incomplete. On fourth-and-four, Mahomes again looked for Rice, but the pass was dropped, and the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs at their own 41.
Houston took over near midfield but couldn’t take advantage. Marks was stuffed on first down for no gain, then managed only three yards on a run left. A delay-of-game penalty wiped out a third-and-seven snap, and Stroud’s deep shot to Kirk on the following play fell incomplete. Townsend then punted from the Kansas City 43, dropping the ball inside the 10, at the Chiefs’ 8-yard line.
Backed up inside their own 10, the Chiefs tried to lean on Kelce to jump-start the drive, but Patrick Mahomes’ first throw toward his tight end fell incomplete. On the next snap, Mahomes took a deep shot to Kelce up the right sideline, but linebacker Al-Shaair stayed in perfect position and intercepted the pass at the Kansas City 26, ending the possession after just two plays and giving Houston another short field.
Houston leaned heavily on Marks as it worked into scoring range, with the rookie back stringing together a series of modest gains that moved the ball from the Chiefs’ 26 to the Kansas City 13. Kansas City burned its remaining timeouts trying to preserve the clock, but the Texans stayed patient on the ground before Marks was stopped for a loss on third down inside the 10. That set up Fairbairn, who converted a 28-yard field goal to extend Houston’s lead to 20–10 in the final minute.
Starting at their own 30, Mahomes hit Rice over the middle for 15 yards to move the Chiefs near midfield before stopping the clock with a spike. A false start on offensive lineman Esa Pole wiped out the next snap, then Mahomes threw a short pass to Noah Gray on second-and-long, and the tight end turned upfield for 14 yards to the Houston 46 to end the game.
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