Patrick Mahomes threw for 260 yards and ran in a touchdown on his ailing ankle as the Kansas City Chiefs closed in on the top seed in the AFC with a 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans.
Mahomes, who overcame an ankle problem to start the game, rushed for one touchdown and threw another to Xavier Worthy as the Chiefs improved their record to 14-1 in their bid for a third Super Bowl after to win each other.
Kansas City will receive the top seed and a bye to the second round of the playoffs if the Buffalo Bills lose on Sunday or if the Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
Worthy had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, Kareem Hunt ran for 55 yards and another score, and Marquise Brown had five catches for 45 yards for Kansas City in his first game this season after a layoff on a shoulder injury.
CJ Stroud had 244 yards and two touchdown passes for Houston, although one of those touchdowns came at a heavy cost, with Tank Dell, who had six catches for 98 yards, suffering a serious injury. left knee.
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Patrick Mahomes powers through the Houston Texans defense for a 15-yard touchdown to the Kansas City Chiefs
Heads of statistics
Texas Texas
- Passing by: CJ Stroud, 23/39, 244 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Chasing: Joe Mixon, 14 carries, 57 yards
- Getting: Tank Dell, 6 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD
Kansas City Chiefs
- Passing by: Patrick Mahomes, 28/41, 260 yards, 1 TD
- Chasing: Kareem Hunt, 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
- Getting: Xavier Worthy, 7 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
The magic of Mahomes is fueling the success of the most recent Chiefs
Mahomes immediately allayed fears about his health, making the most of a defensive turnover to lead an 11-play, 66-yard drive that he himself finished with a 15-yard run.
The Texans answered with a 33-yard field goal, then went on a 13-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Stroud's touchdown to Schutlz.
But the Chiefs quickly regained the lead when Hunt drove into the end zone, and tacked on a field goal after Stroud's second interception to lead 17-10 at the break.
Dell was injured on the Texans' opening drive in the third quarter. He came across the back of the end zone and made a spectacular catch but hit teammate Jared Wayne on his way to the ground.
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CJ Stroud is left heartbroken as teammate Tank Dell suffers a game-ending injury after a touchdown
He immediately clutched his left knee, and Stroud was teary and visibly shaken as one of his top wide receivers was carried off the field.
Ka'imi Fairbairn missed the extra point immediately, and any Houston momentum could have been derailed.
Kansas City marched the other way, relying heavily on Worthy, who touched the ball four times on the road. He finished with an eight-yard reception, giving the top-ranked first-round pick for receiving yards and his eighth touchdown.
The Chiefs defense then picked off Stroud twice and held the Texans to just one field goal in the fourth quarter.
What was said?
QB Patrick Mahomes Leaders: “I ask a lot from the people around me. I feel like if I'm going to ask them to play through pain and bumps and bruises, I have to do it, too,” Mahomes said. “That's something I'm proud of being out there. that with my boys.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans: “All our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now. You can see how much he means to our whole team. It hurts to see him go down like that. He was having a great game , playing very well for us.”
What next?
The Chiefs enter the final week of the regular season when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, while the Texans are back at home to host the Baltimore Ravens.
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