Chiefs Defeat Texans, Advance to AFC Championship

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans 23-14, advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the seventh consecutive season, a feat achieved by only three other teams in NFL history following back-to-back Super Bowl victories. Patrick Mahomes continued his perfect record in the divisional round, connecting with Travis Kelce for a key touchdown, while the Chiefs' defense sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud eight times. Despite outgaining the Chiefs in first downs and total yardage, the Texans were hampered by missed opportunities, notably kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn's three failed attempts, including a blocked field goal that could have narrowed the score. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans lamented self-inflicted mistakes, which ultimately led to Houston's sixth consecutive loss in the divisional round. The Chiefs will now prepare to face either the Bills or Ravens in the upcoming championship game, eyeing a chance to break the trend of previous teams that faltered after achieving back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. With Mahomes tying Joe Montana for the second-most postseason victories by a starting quarterback, the Chiefs remain a formidable force in the playoffs.