Patrick Mahomes threw for 260 yards and a ran in a touchdown on his ailing ankle as the Kansas City Chiefs closed in on the top seed in the AFC with a 27-19 victory over Houston Texans.
Mahomes, who overcame an ankle problem to start the game, rushed for one touchdown and threw another to Xavier Worthy as the Chiefs improved their record to 14-1 in their bid to win an unprecedented third successive Super Bowl.
Kansas City will clinch the top seed and a bye to the second round of the play-offs if the Buffalo Bills lose on Sunday or if the Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
Worthy had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, Kareem Hunt ran for 55 yards and another score, and Marquise Brown had five catches for 45 yards for Kansas City in his first game this season after recovering from a shoulder injury.
CJ Stroud had 244 yards and two touchdown passes with two interceptions for Houston, though one of those touchdown throws came at great expense, with Tank Dell, who had six catches for 98 yards, suffering a serious-looking injury to his left knee.
Mahomes magic inspires latest Chiefs triumph
Patrick Mahomes powers through the Houston Texans defence for a 15-yard touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes immediately allayed fears over his health, making the most of a defensive turnover to lead an 11-play, 66-yard touchdown drive which he finished off himself with a 15-yard run.
The Texans answered with a 33-yard field goal, then went on a 13-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Stroud’s touchdown toss to Schutlz.
But the Chiefs quickly regained the lead when Hunt barrelled into the end zone, and they tacked on a field goal after Stroud’s second interception to lead 17-10 at the break.
Dell was hurt on the Texans’ opening drive of the third quarter. He came across the back of the end zone and made a spectacular catch but collided with teammate Jared Wayne on his way to the ground.
CJ Stroud is left distraught as teammate Tank Dell suffers a game-ending injury after scoring a touchdown
He immediately grabbed his left knee, and Stroud was tearful and visibly shaken as one of his top wide receivers was carted from the field.
Ka’imi Fairbairn promptly missed the extra point, and any momentum Houston might have had disappeared.
Kansas City marched the other way, relying heavily on Worthy, who touched the ball four times on the drive. He finished it off with an eight-yard reception, giving the first-round pick a season-high for receiving yards and his eighth touchdown.
The Chiefs defence then picked off Stroud twice and held the Texans to just one field goal in the fourth quarter.
Stats leaders
Houston Texans:
- Passing: CJ Stroud, 23/39, 244 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
- Rushing: Joe Mixon, 14 carries, 57 yards
- Receiving: Tank Dell, 6 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD
Kansas City Chiefs
- Passing: Patrick Mahomes, 28/41, 260 yards, 1 TD
- Rushing: Kareem Hunt, 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Xavier Worthy, 7 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
What’s next?
The Chiefs enter the penultimate week of the regular season when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, while the Texans are back at home to host the Baltimore Ravens.
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