Knowing Jerick McKinnon would get the ball on the next play in overtime, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reminded him to keep both hands on the ball.
McKinnon looked at Mahomes and said, “I’m about to score.” McKinnon was right as his 26-yard touchdown run delivered the Chiefs a 30-24 win against the Texans on Sunday in Houston and gave the Chiefs their seventh straight AFC West title.
“It was great blocking,” said McKinnon, who rushed for 52 yards and caught eight passes for 70 yards and another score. “I didn’t get touched on the play. They made it easy for me. So shoutouts to everybody.”
McKinnon started up the middle, then ran left and turned up field, getting a block from JuJu Smith-Schuster to seal it. Mahomes, who completed 36 of 41 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, also gave credit to the offensive line for getting a strong push.
“They brought everybody up on the line of scrimmage to stop the run, and our offensive line washed them down,” Mahomes said. “Then (McKinnon) hit the hole at the right spot and showed off his speed and got in the end zone. It was good execution by everybody. When we do that, we’re hard to stop.”
The Chiefs (11-3) trailed much of the game as turnovers and penalties kept the Texans (1-12-1) in it. Isiah Pacheco and Smith-Schuster each fumbled the ball, and the Chiefs had 102 penalty yards. Harrison Butker also missed an extra point and a field goal, but Mahomes added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the defense came up big late.
After the Chiefs punted, Frank Clark forced a fumble on Houston quarterback Davis Mills on the Texans’ first play in overtime, and Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay recovered, setting up McKinnon’s game-ending TD run.
“This is my second year with the team and two AFC West championships,” McKinnon said. “It’s a blessing. Some guys go their whole career and never win their division, never make the playoffs. So when you have the opportunity to be in this moment you’ve got to enjoy it and cherish it because everybody doesn’t get that opportunity.”
The Chiefs still have a lot to play for as they are trying to get the No. 1 seed in the AFC but that currently belongs to Buffalo. Mahomes said the Chiefs will enjoy their division title for a few hours then get back to work and prepare for the Seahawks on Saturday.
“You have to enjoy that,” Mahomes said of winning the division. “And I told the guys to do that and enjoy it for the plane ride home and tonight. But we got a short week this next week. So enjoy it and we’ll get right back to it.”
