KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are back in a familiar spot thanks to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a touchdown, and Kelce caught seven passes for 114 yards, including an 11-yard TD on a play when Mahomes was falling down, to power the Chiefs to a 23-14 divisional-round win against the Texans on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. The victory puts the Chiefs in the AFC title game for the seventh year in a row.
“It’s been a special run with everybody here in Kansas City,” Mahomes said. “From the organization to the community and the team and my family. I just try to cherish that. I still remember moments from the World Series that my dad played when I was 5 years old. These are moments that I’ll have with my family for the rest of my life.”
Mahomes, though, is hoping to make more memories this postseason as the Chiefs look to become the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl three years in a row. Having three weeks of rest certainly helped Kelce, who had just one 100-yard receiving game this season.
But Kelce looked like his younger self, even getting a 49-yard catch-and run.
“He’s the greatest tight end there’s ever been,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He can still play. He’s all right.”
After the Texans got a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-12, they missed the extra point, and the Chiefs took full advantage. Mahomes guided the Chiefs on a 13-play, 81-yard drive that culminated in Kelce’s 11-yard touchdown pass across the middle.
It was third-and-goal, and Mahomes took the snap and dropped back then stepped up in the pocket. With a defender wrapped around his legs, Mahomes threw from about the 15-yard line as he was falling down.
With three Texans in the area, Kelce caught the ball as Mahomes had just enough zip on it to beat the defense to put the Chiefs up 20-12 with 11:52 to go in the fourth quarter.
“You find a way in those big moments,” Mahomes said. “And that was a big moment, and I was glad that Travis was in that spot and I was able to get him the football. It was either going to be a touchdown or a pick. But that’s something we worked on, and we were able to do that.”
Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt wasn’t on the field for Kelce’s touchdown, but for a brief moment he thought it wasn’t going to turn out in the Chiefs’ favor.
“I thought it was going to be an interception,” Hunt said with a laugh. “But 15, he’s the man of magic. He’s able to make those plays and throws off-balance. It’s crazy.”
Hunt added 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and the Chiefs defense had eight sacks, including three by George Karlaftis. Mahomes improved to 7-0 in the divisional round and 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for second most postseason wins.
The win also marked the 300th in Reid’s coaching career including postseason, as he became only the fourth coach in NFL history to reach the 300-win mark.
“More than a great coach, he’s a great person,” Mahomes said. “And guys just want to play for a guy like that. He’s been so instrumental in making me who I am and all of my success. I told him that we need to get to 302, though, before we can worry about next year.”
