KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes' determination to push through a lingering ankle sprain was on full display Saturday against the Houston Texans. The Chiefs' star quarterback didn’t hesitate to test his limits, using a 15-yard scramble to punctuate Kansas City’s opening drive with a touchdown.
Mahomes, clearly unbothered by the injury, threw for 260 yards and a touchdown while leading the Chiefs to a 27-19 win over Houston. The victory puts Kansas City (14-1) in prime position for the AFC's top seed, needing either a Buffalo loss or a win over Pittsburgh on Christmas Day to lock it in.
“I ask a lot from the guys around me,” Mahomes said. “If I’m going to ask them to play through pain, I’ve got to do it too.”
For Houston (9-6), the game was marred by a devastating knee injury to receiver Tank Dell. The explosive wideout had six catches for 98 yards before being carted off after a touchdown grab in the third quarter. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans called it “a heartbreaking loss” for the team.
“All our thoughts are with Tank,” Ryans said. “He’s been a spark for us all year.”
Texans QB C.J. Stroud finished with 244 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, but the team struggled to overcome mistakes and injuries. Kareem Hunt added 55 rushing yards and a touchdown for Kansas City, while first-round pick Xavier Worthy caught seven passes for 65 yards and a score in a breakout performance.
The Texans had their chances early, trading blows with the Chiefs in a high-energy first half. Stroud connected with tight end Dalton Schultz for a touchdown, and Houston’s defense managed a pair of key stops. But turnovers and penalties continued to haunt the Texans, as Kansas City took a 17-10 lead into halftime.
The second half brought more frustration. After Dell’s injury stalled Houston’s opening drive of the third quarter, the Chiefs capitalized with Worthy’s 8-yard touchdown reception to extend their lead. From there, Houston couldn’t regain momentum, and Kansas City’s defense sealed the deal with a late sack by Josh Williams to force a three-and-out.
Despite the loss, Ryans remained optimistic. “This was a playoff atmosphere against a top-tier opponent. We have to finish stronger, but I’m proud of how we battled.”
Injuries
Texans: OG Shaq Mason (knee) exited early, while FS Jimmie Ward (foot) was sidelined just before halftime.
Chiefs: LB Jack Cochrane fractured his ankle on special teams, RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) left in the third quarter, and DT Chris Jones suffered a minor calf strain late.
Up Next
The Texans return home for a Christmas Day clash with Baltimore, while Kansas City heads to Pittsburgh to continue their postseason push.
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