Kansas City Chiefs’ stars shined in NFL playoff victory over Houston Texans: report card

The Chiefs are headed to their seventh straight AFC Championship Game, and sixth at home.

Their 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon, in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, earns the Chiefs a date next weekend against the winner of Sunday’s other AFC Divisional Round game between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs got big games from Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a Chris Jones- and George Karlaftis-led defense that recorded eight sacks.

Here’s the story of the game, with a brief look ahead to next weekend:

KC STAR OF THE GAME

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was at his playoff best. A 49-yard reception was his longest play of the season and longest of his postseason career. Then he worked himself free in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown, the 20th of his playoff career.

Kelce finished with 117 receiving yards, his most in a game this season.

Next: The Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The game will kick off at 5:30 p.m., and be televised by CBS. The Bills meet the Ravens on Sunday in Buffalo, N.Y.

REPORT CARD

Passing offense: A

Nothing came easily for the Chiefs, but Mahomes and the offense put together a solid game. They scored on four of their first five possessions, and the biggest came in the second half. Following a Texans’ 10-minute touchdown drive, the Chiefs responded with an 81-yard drive on their own. Mahomes went four for five on the drive, including the touchdown to Kelce.

Xavier Worthy made one of the best contested catches of the season for 21 yards, but the Chiefs settled for a field goal for the second straight possession that ended in the red zone.

Will Anderson Jr., created havoc against the Chiefs’ offensive line, which started Joe Thuney at left tackle and Caliendo at left guard. Anderson sacked Mahomes, one of two takedowns of Mahomes in the first half, after shooting past Thuney. Anderson finished with a pair of sacks.

Rushing offense: C

Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run was well-blocked, with Mike Caliendo pulling from left guard to get a key hit. Hunt’s been the Chiefs best short-yardage option all season.

Between Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, who has been injured most of the season, Hunt was the more effective back. He picked up 23 yards on two carries in in the fourth quarter that helped produce a field goal.

Otherwise, it was tough sledding against the Texans’ formidable front. This same defense yielded 50 yards on the ground to the Chargers last week. Mahomes had a 15-yard scramble in the first half, the Chiefs longest run of the game.

Passing defense: A

The Chiefs got a sack on three first half Houston possessions, none bigger than Charles Omenihu’s — which came with a forced fumble. The Texans got it back, but that disruptive play stretched the field-goal attempt by Ka’imi Fairbarin to 55 yards, and he pushed it.

That gave the Chiefs a short field for their first-half touchdown drive.

The Chiefs were strong in the fourth quarter with a pair of stops, putting big-time pressure on Houston QB C.J. Stroud. George Karlaftis came up with a 16-yard sack to end one drive. Karlaftis finished with three sacks Saturday — a fantastic game for him.

As a team, the Chiefs finished with eight sacks — eight! — after recording two against the Texans in Week 16.

Rushing defense: C

Texans RB Joe Mixon is a workhorse who hits the hole with a burst. His longest run of the first three quarters came on the 13-yard touchdown, but he punished the Chiefs all day. He finished with 88 yards on 18 carries.

Special teams: A

Nikko Remigio nearly pulled off the opening-kickoff touchdown, just as Knile Davis did 10 years ago in the playoffs against the Texans. Remigio was pulled down at the Houston 30-yard line and fumbled, but teammate Samaje Perine was there for the recovery.

Houston had bigger kicking issues, like missing a field goal and and extra point, both pushed left by Fairbairn. And Leo Chenal blocked his second field goal of the season in the fourth quarter as the Texans were trying to hang on.

The Chiefs were glad to see Harrison Butker return to his more accurate self. He nailed all of his attempts: three field goals and two extra points.