The Kansas City Chiefs are back in a familiar spot.
Despite losing in most statistical categories, the two-time defending Super Bowl champs beat the visiting Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship for the seventh year in a row.
The Chiefs will host the winner of Sunday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and visiting Baltimore Ravens next week.
The Texans missed a chance to tie it at 13-13 in the third quarter when kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an extra point. The kicker also missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked.
After the missed extra point, Kansas City drove down the field and extended the lead to eight when star quarterback Patrick Mahomes got rid of the ball while being tackled and found star tight end Travis Kelce for an 11-yard touchdown.
The Chiefs defence once again was outstanding, sacking Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud eight times. Stroud had to be helped off the field after the final sack.
The Chiefs were aided by two questionable penalties on Houston for hits on Mahomes — unnecessary roughness and roughing the passer. The Chiefs scored a combined 10 points on the drives with those penalties.
