The Kansas City Chiefs mustered just 10 points in a loss to the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football” in what proved a nightmare game for Travis Kelce.
Kansas City was trailing by seven points with a little under four minutes to play when the offense began a drive from its own eight-yard line. After an incomplete pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Kelce on first down, the QB went back to his typically trusty tight end on second down.
The football hit Kelce directly in the hands well beyond the first-down marker, but he let it slip through his fingers and into the arms of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The play all but ended the game, as Houston converted on a field goal and took a 10-point lead, ultimately winning the contest by a score of 20-10.
The NBC cameras panned to a distraught Kelce on the sideline several times in the aftermath, who wore the guilt of the Chiefs’ critical loss across his face. Mahomes spoke about his longtime friend and teammate’s difficult outing during the postgame press conference.
“Every season I’ve had with him these last few years I’ve tried to cherish because you never know,” Mahomes said. “He got himself in great shape this year and he’s played great football, and he’ll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season. But I know one thing, he’ll give everything he has the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.”
Chiefs Offense Struggled Across the Board Against Texans Top-Ranked Defense
GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Head coach Andy Reid also spoke after the game about drops across Kansas City’s pass-catching group, including Kelce’s costly mistake that sealed the team’s fate.
“Listen, these are great players,” Reid said. “We gotta make sure we catch the ball. They know that. They’re trying, it’s not a lack of effort there. The ball went through their hands, and it happens.”
Kelce finished the night with just one catch for eight yards on five targets. Mahomes also had a tough game, completing 14-of-33 pass attempts for 160 yards and three interceptions, though his final turnover of the night was entirely Kelce’s fault.
Houstons top-ranked defense also sacked Mahomes twice and logged eight quarterback hits on the evening.
Chiefs’ Playoff Chances Plummet After Loss to Texans, but Hope Remains
GettyHead coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City is now in dire straights with regards to its playoff chances.
Following Sunday’s loss to Houston, the Chiefs (6-7) have just a 15 percent chance to earn a spot in the postseason. In Mahomes’ previous seven seasons as the starting quarterback, Kansas City has never once failed to earn at least a place in the AFC title game.
The Chiefs probably have to run the table to maintain any real hope of playing into mid-January and beyond. However, Kansas City’s schedule provides an opportunity for that to happen.
The Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4), currently among the AFC teams in the playoff picture, next week. Kansas City then travels to take on the Tennessee Titans (2-10) before playing its final home game in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos (11-2), which will be the Chiefs’ toughest test over the final month of the campaign.
Kansas City will end the season on the road against the two-win Las Vegas Raiders.
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