NFL-best Chiefs beat Texans while Ravens clinch playoff spot
Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs rushes for a touchdown during an NFL win against Houston (David Eulitt)
Patrick Mahomes passed for a touchdown and also scored one himself, helping the Kansas City Chiefs achieve an impressive 14-1 record, the best in the NFL, on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens secured a spot in the playoffs with their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the Super Bowl twice in a row, secured a victory over Houston with a score of 27-19. They now only require one more win or a loss from the Buffalo Bills (11-3) to secure the top seed and ensure home-field advantage for the entire AFC playoffs.
Mahomes connected on 28 out of 41 throws for 260 yards and threw one touchdown. He also rushed five times for 33 yards, scoring another touchdown. This performance quickly showed that he had bounced back from a high left ankle sprain he sustained during last weekend's win against Cleveland.
"It was a great experience for us to find a way to succeed as a team," Mahomes mentioned. "Our offensive line really stepped up and met the challenge head-on."
Lamar Jackson of Baltimore passed for 207 yards and threw three touchdown passes, while Derrick Henry rushed for 162 yards, leading the Ravens to a dominant 34-17 victory over the Steelers and securing their spot in the NFL playoffs.
"We anticipated the kind of game we were about to face," Jackson remarked. "I believe we performed better than they did, and we managed to secure the win. It feels great."
Following four defeats in his last five matches against Pittsburgh, Jackson expressed relief at having "finally shaken off that little burden for now."
The Steelers and Ravens, each with a record of 10-5, are tied for the top spot in the AFC North division. Along with the Chiefs, Bills, and Texans, they have already secured their places in the playoffs. In the NFC, the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles have also locked in their playoff positions.
"We simply need to push forward," Jackson expressed. "We must remain focused."
All four teams that are playing on Saturday will have another game on Christmas. Baltimore will face Houston, while the Chiefs will take on Pittsburgh next Wednesday, marking their third game in just 11 days.
"I'm going to take a break and watch some film," Mahomes mentioned.
Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was one of the spectators as the team achieved an impressive 8-0 record at home for the first time since 2003.
The Chiefs secured their 11th victory of the season by a margin of eight points or less, showcasing an impressive track record in tightly contested games.
Kansas City safety Jaden Hicks picked off a pass from C.J. Stroud, leading to an 11-play, 66-yard touchdown drive for the Chiefs. The drive concluded with Mahomes rushing for a 15-yard touchdown.
Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 33-yard field goal, and Stroud threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Stroud, which put Houston in the lead at 10-7. However, Kareem Hunt responded with a 3-yard touchdown run, and Harrison Butker added a 44-yard field goal, allowing the Chiefs to take a 17-10 advantage by halftime.
- Major setback for Dell -
Just 3 minutes and 20 seconds into the second half, Stroud threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell. Unfortunately, the third-year wide receiver sustained a serious injury to his left leg after being hit by teammate Jared Wayne in the back of the end zone while falling to the ground.
The match was paused for a few minutes while Texans players were visibly upset as Dell, his leg in a protective air cast, was placed on a stretcher and wheeled off the field in a cart to a nearby hospital.
After the game, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned that Dell sustained a "major" injury and will be staying in the hospital for the night. He expressed his concern, saying, "It's painful to watch him get hurt like that."
Following the emotional setback, Fairbairn failed to convert the extra point after Dell's touchdown, keeping the Chiefs in the lead at 17-16.
Mahomes threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy, while Fairbairn and Butker traded field goals in the final moments for the last points of the game.
In Baltimore, Jackson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, giving the Ravens the lead. However, MyCole Pruitt quickly responded with a 1-yard touchdown catch from Russell Wilson, allowing Pittsburgh to tie the game at 7-7.
Jackson connected with Rashod Bateman for a 14-yard touchdown throw, while Justin Tucker of Baltimore and Chris Boswell of Pittsburgh exchanged 51-yard field goals. This left the Ravens leading 17-10 at the end of the first half.
They traded touchdown passes in the third quarter, with Wilson throwing a 12-yard pass to Cordarrelle Patterson and Jackson responding with a 7-yard throw to Mark Andrews.
Marlon Humphrey from Baltimore picked off a pass and ran it back 37 yards for a touchdown, while Tucker kicked a crucial 23-yard field goal in the closing moments to secure the victory.
