Chiefs’ playoff hopes dim after loss to Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Houston Texans by seven with just over six minutes remaining Sunday night.

- WIRE REPORTS

CHIEFS STAR Patrick Mahomes is tackled by Texans lineman Will Anderson Jr.

(JAMIE SQUIRE Getty Images)

They had the ball at their own 35-yard line, and their chances of making the playoffs hinged on what would come next.

For nearly a decade, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had come through in precisely this kind of dire situation.

This season hasn't been like the rest.

Kareem Hunt was bottled up on first and second downs. Mahomes threw incomplete on third. Rather than punt and play defense on fourth down at their own 41, Chiefs coach Andy Reid elected to go for it, and Rashee Rice dropped an easy pass over that middle that would have given Kansas City a first down and kept its comeback hopes alive.

The Texans went on to add a field goal in the final minutes, giving them a 20-10 victory inside Arrowhead Stadium.

“We had chances,” Mahomes said afterward, “and we didn't execute it.”

It didn't help that the Chiefs were down to their fourth-string tackle with Josh Simmons on injured reserve, Jawaan Taylor inactive and Wanya Morris hurting his knee on the first play of the game. Or that top cornerback Trent McDuffie also hurt his knee.