Texans at Chiefs - Divisional Playoff Game

I'm going to put in a brief post mostly to simply make the statement that does need to be said because millions of fans who've made the Chiefs their No. 1 NFL enemy are still convinced of this.

Sorry, but no, the officials did not win this game for the Chiefs.

Did two-thirds of the Texans play well enough to win? Absolutely. Give them their due. Did the officials miss a couple of calls that favored the Chiefs? They did, most notably the Justin Reid off-sides on the missed Texans FG attempt and the hip-drop tackle by Bryan Cook. That last one, if called, would have been one of the rare times they would have called it, though, because even though it is a new rule, I've rarely seen a defensive player penalized for it this year.

It isn't that they shouldn't. They should.

But that's a key point regarding the two personal foul calls some think shouldn't have been called, ones that did indeed favor the Chiefs. The first was the roughing the passer call on their fine linebacker, one that was indeed, roughing the passer. Sorry, it was. The second was when another of the LBs dropped on top of Mahomes after he made an awkward slide. I kind-of agree that it really wasn't so violent as to be worthy of the call, but you still can't do that.

Otherwise, while two-thirds of the Texans played terrific ball and made this a real game, that other third that is the special teams did not play well enough to beat the Chiefs who have a pretty good special teams. To wit:

The Chiefs kicker made three FGs and two PATs. 100% of his kicks, total. The Texans kicker missed a FG, a PAT, and had a FG attempt blocked. By Leo Chenal of all people! Again with that! The guy is a kick-blocking maniac!

The Chiefs opened the game with Nikko Remigio almost pulling a Knile Davis, taking the kick to the house. He didn't quite make it, but still took it to all the way down to about their 20.

It was also sad that former Chief punter Tommy Townsend had a chance to pin the Chiefs back late in the game when the Texans were still in it. He plopped the ball to midfield allowing the Chiefs to control field position.

Couple more things.

First, the main one, and it is not an unusual one. Two words:

Travis Kelce. 

He pretty much took the team and its wilting offense and put it on its back. He made big plays when needed, scored a much needed touchdown -- you know, standard Travis Kelce playoff stuff.

Second, the Texans pass protection just seemed to wear down late. George Karlaftis did not -- the dude has a motor running at 100% for the duration. I believe he sacked CJ Stroud three times in the 4th quarter. Spags also did his blitzing thing at just the right times to stuff the Texans, when again, they generally played really well.

Their running game was great, especially with Joe Mixon handling those duties. Their receivers, particularly their best WR Nico Collins and their fine tight end, were making impossible catches late in the game to keep them matriculating.

I will never not appreciate a Chiefs win, especially in the postseason, but I kind-of feel bad for the Texans. They played like crazy, were in this game, and could have easily won. Really. As it is this is the 5th time in five a Houston pro football team has lost to the Chiefs -- or the first time it happened, to the Dallas-yes-Texans.

Remember?

1962 AFL Championship: Dallas (later Kansas City) 20, Houston Oilers 17, in OT.

1993 AFC Divisional: Kansas City 28, Houston Oilers 20.

2015 AFC Wild Card: Kansas City 30, Houston Texans 0.

2019 AFC Divisional: Kansas City 51, Houston 31.

2024 AFC Divisional: Kansas City 23, Houston 14.

Ouch. I know how much that hurts, it was agony when we simply couldn't beat Indianapolis in the playoffs, remember that? Or do you want to forget too.

It wasn't that Houston was expected to win this game, but still, the fact they played so well, it has to hurt. Houston still must really not like Kansas City.

Meanwhile we just learned that the Washington Commanders upset the heavily favored Detroit Lions, a team that has never even been in a Super Bowl. 

Wow. This NFL football thing can be a bitch. Back before the Mahomes era we knew that so very well. But that's the nature of this thing, it just is.

Can't deny that we may feel the wrath of this next week when we face one of two excellent teams, the Bills or the Ravens. Whichever one wins tomorrow will be out for blood playing the Chiefs, they definitely won't let us off the hook in that one. So many things need to be much better for us next week whoever we play if we hope to make a truly legit run at the three-peat.

On to our seventh straight AFC Championship Game!

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The photo is from Steve Sanders at the official Chiefs site. Thank you.

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