They did it again. Although the Chiefs never really looked like an overwhelming team at any point this season, they clinched their seventh straight AFC Championship title after a 23-14 victory over the Texans. It was a sloppy game, but that’s nothing new for the Chiefs in 2024-25. The days of mass chunk plays with the Legion of Zoom are long gone. This team plays a style of football that hasn’t produced much statistical success lately, other than the most important statistic, wins. Kansas City deserves credit for entering the AFC title game (again) with a 16-2 overall record, but their actual performance left a lot to be desired some Doubts about whether they have what it takes to beat the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills in the next round.
And that’s exactly what they must do to continue their quest for the first Super Bowl three-peat in NFL history.
On a game-by-game basis, the Chiefs offense just had one of its worst games of the entire season. According to TruMedia, their 37.7% success rate was the third-lowest mark of the season (excluding the Week 18 game that featured almost no starters). Kansas City’s problems along the offensive line were exacerbated by an aggressive Texans defensive line led by Will Anderson, who had two sacks and three tackles for a loss. The Chiefs were able to survive by getting some heroic moments from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but overall they didn’t play consistently well, especially in the first half where they had a 34.6% success rate. With some help from special teams and defense, the Chiefs were able to build a 13-6 halftime lead that they never relinquished.
“This is unreal. I say the same thing to the fans. We are very lucky that this is the case.” [Mahomes] “Here,” head coach Andy Reid said after the game. “What he’s doing just doesn’t happen. “That’s why he’s the greatest, because he did what he did here in his relatively young career.”
It actually feels like the Chiefs’ supporting cast has been reduced to just seeing what plays Mahomes can make on impossible chances. He actually delivered, especially when he threw his only touchdown of the game to Kelce when he was sacked and fell. Fortunately, those few key plays from Mahomes were all the Chiefs needed, as their defense played at the level they had set in 2023, not where they had fallen back in 2024. Texas quarterback CJ Stroud fought hard, but the Chiefs were able to get a whopping eight sacks on him. In the fourth quarter, the Texans had a 28.6% success rate and only converted four first downs. A touchdown and a field goal in the final frame were enough for the Chiefs to put this game on ice.
The big caveat here is that the Texans can’t keep up with Buffalo and Baltimore. Houston has had one of the worst offenses in the league this year, and Kansas City’s next opponent is guaranteed to be one of them The Elite units in the NFL. Next week will be significantly more difficult, and the Chiefs were just sloppy enough in their game against the Texans to raise some doubts about where they stand heading into the AFC Championship Game. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Bills QB Josh Allen will face a tougher battle than the beleaguered Texans offense.
Even considering they face a bigger challenge next week, it’s impossible to ever completely discount this team. As long as Mahomes is under center and Andy Reid is under the headset, the Chiefs have a chance to make something happen. There is no reason to say that this team tilt Go back to and win another Super Bowl – only it looks more precarious than ever.
(Now watch Mahomes throw for .350 and five touchdowns next week as an act of justice against this article.)