KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With less than 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs already faced a monumental challenge: Only three teams had ever overcome a larger deficit to win a playoff game.
Before the first half was over, the Chiefs, who opened as a 7-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook, had a lead over the Houston Texans they wouldn’t again relinquish. Their domination over the game’s final 41 minutes in their 51-31 divisional round victory was even more complete than the Texans’ control in the first 19 minutes. The Texans scored a touchdown on a return of a blocked punt and recovered a Chiefs fumble on the Kansas City 6 to help build an early 24-0 lead.
But then the game shifted to the Chiefs, and in a hurry.
Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdowns passes in the final 10 minutes of the second quarter, becoming only the second player in postseason history to have four scoring throws in one period, following Washington’s Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII.
The Chiefs led 28-24 at halftime, making them the first team to lead at the break after trailing by at last 24 points, according to Elias. They continued their barrage until the game’s final moments, becoming the first playoff team to win by 20 after trailing by 20 points, according to Elias.
Travis Kelce caught three of Mahomes’ TD passes in the second quarter. He’s the first NFL player with three scoring catches in one period of a postseason game.
The momentum seemed to change when the Chiefs, trailing 24-7, stopped Houston’s fake punt on 4th and 4 from the Texans’ 31 for a two-yard gain. Mahomes threw his second TD pass of the quarter three plays later.
The Chiefs will face the Tennessee Titans next Sunday at Arrowhead in the AFC championship game.
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