KANSAS CITY, Jan. 19, 2025 — In a brutal, bone-chilling battle at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense put on a masterclass, stifling the Houston Texans and propelling the Chiefs to a 23-14 victory and their seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance. The victory keeps Kansas City’s quest for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title very much alive — and it was their defense that played the starring role.
In a game defined by frigid temperatures and fierce competition, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit stepped up when it mattered most. Led by a ferocious performance from George Karlaftis, who racked up three sacks and eight pressures, the Chiefs relentlessly harassed Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud all game. Kansas City tallied eight sacks as a team, battering Stroud into submission and rendering the Texans’ offense almost impotent despite outgaining the Chiefs 336 to 212 yards.
“The defense was dominant,” said head coach Andy Reid. “They didn’t break, they bent, but they kept the pressure on. This is playoff football at its finest.”
Karlaftis, along with fellow defensive stalwarts Chris Jones, Justin Reid, and Trent McDuffie, ensured that Houston’s only touchdown was not enough to stave off Kansas City. Stroud, who finished with 245 passing yards, was under siege all night, leaving the Texans with no answer for Kansas City’s defense, especially in crunch time.
While the Chiefs’ offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, was far from its explosive best, it came through when it mattered. Mahomes, who threw for just 177 yards and a touchdown, showed his trademark poise in tight moments, especially with his connection to tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce was sensational, racking up 117 yards on seven catches, including a key 49-yard reception that set up a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes found Kelce in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown that put Kansas City up 19-12, giving them a lead they would never relinquish.
“This is what we do,” Kelce said. “When the defense is playing like that, we know we just need to take care of business on our side. Pat makes it easy.”
As dominant as Kansas City was defensively, the Texans also had moments where they looked ready to pull off the upset. Rookie pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. was a force in the first half, recording two sacks, three tackles for loss, and four pressures, while the Texans’ defense did everything it could to slow down the Chiefs’ high-powered offense. Houston limited Kansas City to just 212 yards, including a paltry 4-of-11 on third down, and even held Mahomes to under 200 passing yards — an achievement few teams can claim.
But in the end, the Texans’ inability to close the deal on offense and their mistakes on special teams ultimately doomed them. The game started with disaster for Houston when they allowed a 63-yard kickoff return from Nikko Remigio on the opening play. That set up a field goal and, later, a touchdown. Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, who had been stellar all season, had an off day, missing an extra point and a 35-yard field goal attempt in the final minutes, putting the Texans’ comeback hopes in jeopardy.
“We made too many mistakes,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “You can’t afford to do that against a team like Kansas City. They find a way to capitalize, and that’s what they did.”
The Texans also suffered from key penalties that added salt to the wound. Houston was flagged for eight penalties, totaling 82 yards, including two contentious roughing-the-passer calls on Mahomes. The second came after Mahomes had scrambled for a first down, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty that set up the Chiefs’ eventual game-sealing touchdown pass to Kelce.
“We’re going to hear about it, but that’s the nature of the game,” Mahomes said with a shrug after the game. “At the end of the day, we won.”
The Texans’ defensive effort may have been admirable, but in the playoffs, execution in all phases is required to pull off a win — and the Chiefs’ defense was simply too much to handle.
Kansas City’s win extends an incredible playoff streak for Mahomes, who now has an 7-0 record in the Divisional Round, the most consecutive wins in the round in NFL history. The Chiefs have now won eight consecutive playoff games, surpassing legends like Troy Aikman and Joe Montana.
Now, the Chiefs are once again headed to the AFC Championship Game, where they’ll look to secure a Super Bowl berth for the third consecutive season. With the defense continuing to shine and Mahomes still pulling the strings on offense, the Chiefs remain the team to beat.
Next Up: Kansas City will await the winner of today’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens as they chase history and the chance for a third straight Super Bowl appearance.