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The Chiefs beat the Texans and are eyeing their second 16-win regular season in NFL history

Posted on by Taylor Reeves
The Chiefs beat the Texans and are eyeing their second 16-win regular season in NFL history

There was only one team that won 16 regular season games. That was the 2007 New England Patriots.

If the Kansas City Chiefs can keep up with the 2007 Patriots, it won’t carry the same weight. They play 17 games, not the 16 that was the NFL norm for years. But they could be on their way to a 16-1 record.

So much attention was paid to the Chiefs’ victory that the victory was overshadowed almost every week. The Chiefs improved to 14-1 this season and are closing in on the No. 1 seed in the AFC after a 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday. It was the Chiefs’ 16th consecutive victory in one-score games, extending their NFL record streak. It wasn’t a particularly dominant performance, but the result was known.

The Chiefs won in strange and sometimes unbelievable ways. They have rarely blown anyone away this season. But they keep winning and could end up with as many regular season wins as any team in NFL history.

Since the Chiefs were playing, it was no surprise that it was a close game.

Kansas City struck first. Patrick Mahomes suffered what was described as a mild high ankle sprain last week and there were brief concerns about his availability for this weekend’s game, but Mahomes played and had some nice runs early on. His 15-yard touchdown run opened the scoring.

The Texans fought back. QB CJ Stroud had a nice touchdown pass across his body to tight end Dalton Schultz. He also had a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell, but it was costly. Houston receiver Jared Wayne dived for the deep pass and accidentally landed in Dell’s knee. It was immediately clear that Dell had suffered a serious injury. He was carted off while his teammates were emotional. Stroud cried and had to be comforted by his teammates.

This injury understandably seemed to affect the Texans. They missed the extra point right after the Dell touchdown. The Chiefs continued their defense, with Xavier Worthy catching a touchdown pass, extending Kansas City’s lead to 24-16.

The Chiefs are hard enough to beat under ideal conditions. It didn’t help that the Texans were missing one of their best receivers and worried about him as he left the field on a cart. Houston didn’t score a touchdown after Dell’s injury.

In close games, the Chiefs clearly have the edge. The second half on Saturday looked like many other games in Kansas City.

In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had a 14-play drive that lasted 6:33 minutes. It ended in a field goal, but that kept the pressure on the Texans to be perfect.

Houston couldn’t come up with a long drive of its own after that. After trailing 27-19, Stroud was sacked on third down and the Texans beat a punt. Mahomes hit Samaje Perine for a big conversion in the third and fourth to waste more time. Kareem Hunt had a first down run after the two-minute warning to seal the win.

The Chiefs would have an 89 percent chance of becoming No. 1 after the win, NBC said on its broadcast. A win at the Steelers on Christmas Day next week will see them secure first place. A 15-1 Chiefs team would have nothing to play for in Week 18 and could miss some players. But a 15-2 regular season after back-to-back Super Bowls would be remarkable.

Over time, you’ll forget how the Chiefs got all those wins. It will be viewed as just another dominant Chiefs team that may be on its way to a historic championship.

The live broadcast has ended21 updates

  • Kareem Hunt wins the game, the Chiefs win 27:19

    A 20-yard run by Hunt gives the Chiefs their first down and ends any chance of a Houston comeback. The Texans are out of timeouts and Patrick Mahomes runs out the clock with two knee-downs.

    Kansas City improved to 13-1 and will finish the season undefeated at home (8-0), while the Texans fall to 9-6.

  • The Chiefs add a field goal and lead 27-19

    Harrison Butker’s second field goal of the game, a 27-yarder, puts the Chiefs ahead by eight points with 5:18 left.

  • The Texans settle for the field goal

    The Texans threatened a touchdown, but their 14-play, 50-yard drive ended with a 38-yard field goal by Fairbairn.

    Kansas City remains on top 24-19 with 11:51 left in the fourth quarter.

  • The Chiefs extend their lead with Xavier Worthy TD

    Another long Chiefs drive – 10 plays, 80 yards – ends with an 8-yard touchdown catch by Xavier Worthy.

    The Chiefs take a 24-16 lead.

  • Texans WR Tank Dell (knee) is out for the game

  • Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point after Dell was taken away by medical staff.

    The Chiefs remain on top at 17-16.

  • Tank Dell injures his leg during the Texans’ touchdown

    The Texans wide receiver collided with Jared Wayne as he caught CJ Stroud’s 30-yard pass.

    Texans players were emotional as Dell was attended to by medical personnel in the back of the end zone.

    Dell missed the remainder of the 2023 season after suffering a broken fibula in Week 13 last year.

  • Harrison Butker FG extends Chiefs lead

    Kansas City will take a 17-10 halftime lead.

  • Trent McDuffie stops the Texans’ drive with an INT

    Stroud tries to avoid a sack but throws it into the arms of McDuffee, who fends off a Texans drive with 50 seconds left in the first half.

    On the very next play, Samaje Perine rushed for 36 yards and put the Chiefs in scoring position.

  • Kareem Hunt puts the Chiefs back on top

    Kareem Hunt runs for a 3-yard touchdown and the Chiefs take the lead back.

    14-10 KC with 4:38 to play in the 2nd quarter.

  • A possible fumble recovery for the touchdown by the Texans is considered incomplete. Additionally, Derek Barnett is being tackled hard by the Texans after hitting Patrick Mahomes in the helmet while attempting to tackle him.

  • The Texans take the lead with a touchdown from Dalton Schultz

    A 13-play, 82-yard drive ends with Stroud finding an uncovered Schultz in the end zone for a 10-yard score.

    The Texans take a 10-7 lead with 10:09 left in the first half.

  • Chiefs LB Jack Cochrane is out for the game

    Cochrane left in the second quarter with an ankle injury. After being evaluated and deemed questionable to return, he was demoted to Out.

  • Texans G Shaq Mason is doubtful to return

    Mason injured his knee in the first quarter.

  • The Texans come onto the field with a field goal

    Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 33-yard field goal cut the Chiefs’ lead to 7-3 late in the first quarter.

  • Patrick Mahomes scores the Chiefs’ touchdown

    Patrick Mahomes’ ankle looks good as the Chiefs QB rushes 12 yards. On the next play, fourth down, Mahomes finds Hollywood Brown for a 12-yard gain. That was Brown’s first catch of the season after being sidelined since August with a shoulder injury.

    Mahomes then finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown for the first score of the game.

    It’s the 18th drive this season for the Chiefs that lasted 10 plays or longer.

  • Jaden Hicks defeats CJ Stroud early in the 1st quarter

  • A special guest is coming for the Chiefs-Texans

  • Patrick Mahomes is ready to go

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