Mahomes and Kelce Teamed Up to Help Chiefs Qualify for AFC Title Game

Patrick Mahomes continued his winning streak in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. On the other hand, the Houston Texans haven’t won a single one. The Mahomes and Kelce partnership was enough for the Chiefs to win against the Texans, 23-14.

According to sportsbook pay per head experts, Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce seven times for a touchdown and 117 yards. Also, the latter had a pass rush. Thus, the back-to-back Super Bowl champs will head to the AFC title match for the seventh straight season.

The Chiefs join three other teams in NFL history that have lost in the conference title game after winning back-to-back Lombardi trophies; none of these teams have ever advanced to the finals. Arrowhead Stadium will host the Bills or Ravens next weekend, with the Bills playing in Buffalo on Sunday. This will give the reigning champions a chance to lose to one of these teams. Next week, the team will strive to reverse that.

Mahomes and Kelce Helps Chiefs to AFC Title Game

However, the streak is far from ended. The Chiefs (16-2) are vying for a record third consecutive Lombardi Trophy, and they’ll need the support of Kelce’s fiancée Taylor Swift and WNBA standout Caitlin Clark. Mahomes, who completed 16 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown, tied Joe Montana for second all-time in playoff quarterback victories with Tom Brady, passing him in that category. That includes his unparalleled 7-0 record in games played in the divisional playoffs.

With the aid of Mahomes and Kelce, Andy Reid became only the fourth NFL coach in history to reach 300 career victories. Joking was rampant in Saturday night’s Kansas City locker room. However, it was the opposite in the Texans locker room. Two humiliating losses to Kansas City have kept them winless in six divisional games.

Despite suffering an ankle injury that cast doubt on his participation, Joe Mixon rushed for 88 yards and scored their lone touchdown, while Stroud was sacked eight times for a loss of 245 yards passing. To keep their comeback chances alive and make it a one-possession game, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt, a PAT try, and another field goal attempt with 1:46 left. You can open an NFL sportsbook before the conference title games next week.

Chiefs Open the Game with a Kick Return TD

There was an immediate catastrophe on the Texans’ special teams. Curiously, Houston cornerback Kris Boyd almost shoved his assistant coach to the ground after the Chiefs nearly scored on a kick return touchdown in the first quarter.

Despite limiting the Chiefs to two field goals in the first half, the Texans’ defense could not prevent the AFC West champs from taking a 13-3 lead in the second quarter, thanks to a bruising touchdown run by Kareem Hunt.

After falling by one possession at halftime, the AFC South champs appeared revitalized after kicking a 48-yard field goal in the face of frigid, swirling winds.

With four third-down conversions, including one when the quarterback drew a brutal hit while scrambling to the sideline, Stroud expertly guided a 15-play, 82-yard drive that consumed most of the third quarter. After finishing the drive with a 13-yard run, Mixon saw Fairbairn’s extra point attempt, which would have knotted the game, blasted wide right. The momentum could have turned against them because of that missed opportunity.

Like they did in their previous eight playoff games, the Chiefs replied with a lengthy drive. On the 81-yard drive, Mahomes completed four passes to tight end Kelce, including a touchdown throw to the man who had helped him win two Super Bowl MVP awards while Mario Edwards Jr. of Houston dragged him to the game.

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