KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans faced off at 7:20 p.m. Sunday evening in a game that shook the AFC playoff picture.
The Chiefs would lose the must-win game and now see their playoff chances essentially gone. The defense performed well, but the offense ended up being the Chiefs’ Achilles heel, headlined by Patrick Mahomes’ three interceptions and a banged-up-to-say-the-least offensive line.
Here’s a look at the inactives for both teams:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kristian Fulton – Cornerback
- Jalen Royals – Wide receiver
- Elijah Mitchell – Running back
- Trey Smith – Guard
- Jawaan Taylor – Tackle
- Nikko Remigio – Wide receiver
Houston Texans
- Jamal Hill – Linebacker
- Braxton Berrios – Wide receiver
- Graham Mertz – Quarterback
- Alijah Huzzie – Cornerback
- Ja’Marcus Ingram – Cornerback
- Solomon Byrd – Defensive end
- Jarrett Kingston – Tackle
First Quarter
- Kansas City begins with the football. KC’s opening drive begins at the 33-yard line.
- After just one play, LT Wanya Morris goes down with an apparent knee injury. Morris is filling in for Josh Simmons, who is missing the rest of the year after wrist surgery.
- KC goes three and out after three plays– two runs and an incompletion. Chiefs will punt.
- Texans convert a third down on a short run. Nick Bolton is then called for a hold, granting the Texans another first.
- Following the penalty, Ashton Gillote and Jerry Tillery combine for a sack on Texans QB CJ Stroud.
- The Chiefs hold up on third down with some pressure from the D-line, specifically Chris Jones. Houston will punt.
- Chiefs pick up a first down with a short pass to Xavier Worthy.
- Wanya Morris is officially listed as questionable to return with a knee injury.
- Shortly after, Chiefs are forced to punt after an incomplete Mahomes pass.
- Trent McDuffie comes up hurt after giving up a 46-yard reception to Texans wideout Nico Collins. 1st and 10 for Houston on the KC 21-yard line. Nohl Williams comes in for McDuffie.
- CJ Stroud completes a pass to Dalton Schultz for a touchdown, but flags come for an illegal shift. Texans will replay first down from the KC 21.
- Andy Reid uses a challenge to reverse a first down for Houston. Texans go up 3-0 with a field goal after an unsuccessful tush push attempt.
- Mahomes uses his legs for a couple of first downs early in the Chiefs’ third series.
- Mahomes takes a sack on second down, forcing a third-and-long. Matt Ariza to punt.
Second Quarter
- Wanya Morris is ruled out for the rest of the game. Trent McDuffie is questionable to return.
- Texans get first-and-goal after a 52-yard reception for Nico Collins. Collins is now above 100 yards receiving well before halftime.
- Stroud finds Woody Marks for a touchdown. Texans up 10-0.
- A decent return sets KC up at the 35-yard line, but a deflected Mahomes pass is intercepted and the Texans take back possession.
- Chiefs force a fourth and six; Texans punt near midfield and pin the Chiefs back at the two.
- Mahomes works some magic, battling through a facemask and finding JuJu Smith-Schuster to get the ball to the 41-yard line.
- Mahomes is sacked on third down, forcing the Chiefs to settle for a field goal attempt, which goes off the upright. Texans remain up by 10.
- After barely missing a fourth-down sack on CJ Stroud, Chris Jones steps up to end the first half with a sack.
Third Quarter
- Chris Jones comes up big again, sacking Stroud and pressuring him to force third and 14. Houston fails to convert and will punt.
- Mahomes finds Hollywood Brown deep downfield for a big gain. KC is now at the 21. First down.
- The Chiefs go for it on fourth and one in the redzone, and Kareem Hunt powers it in for a two-yard touchdown. Chiefs on the board, 10-7.
- Chiefs force a quick three-and-out. Tommy Townsend out to punt.
- Trent McDuffie is downgraded to out for the rest of the game as KC punts the ball back to Houston after a drive with momentum, but all for naught.
- Chiefs force another quick three-and-out.
- On the next Chiefs drive, KC is forced into a fourth down. Butker ties the game up with a field goal.
- The Chiefs defense comes out in the second half and forces a third-straight third-and-out. The Chiefs will receive the ball once again via Tommy Townsend.
- Mahomes is picked off following the punt.
Fourth Quarter
- Later, in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs fail to convert a key fourth down, giving the ball back to Houston in tremendous field position. The Texans take advantage and climb back on top 17-10.
- Mahomes and the Chiefs fail to convert again on fourth and medium. Houston regains possession with 5:26 left on the clock.
- After the Texans punted the ball back to KC, Mahomes is intercepted for the third time off the hands of Travis Kelce to essentially seal the game.
- Houston knocks through another field goal to put them back up by two scores with 28 seconds left. The Chiefs would go on to lose 20-10.
