Texans stifle Patrick Mahomes and
Chiefs in 20-10 victory to keep pace in AFC South race
[December 08, 2025]
By DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to
Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next
game.
Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully
for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston
out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to
keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.
“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed
to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”
Did enough, anyway.
C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on
the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the
Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big
boost to their postseason hopes.
Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare
Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as
the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a
game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.
“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about
accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for
winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what
it took.”
Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for
160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of
the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was
trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.
“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and
relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”
While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether
it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow
to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst
record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.
“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these
opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but
we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”
The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that
divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another
Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely
when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.
The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and
perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018
version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the
once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason
fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming
performances and too many mistakes across the board.
The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.
Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his
return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain
that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that
led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.
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Houston Texans cornerback Ameer Speed (37) reacts to Kansas City
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) missing a field goal attempt
during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025,
in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained two more
significant injuries, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and
cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive
back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three
backups.
“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some
of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”
Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they
trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes
at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the
Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.
The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight
consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed
Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on
Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.
Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the
fourth quarter.
With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own
35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their
own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete
with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards
out to give Houston the lead again.
The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee
Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down.
And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was
picked off to end any hope of a comeback.
“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim
opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris
Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10
percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we
have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the
cards fall where they fall.”
Injuries
Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not
return.
Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were
inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first
half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and
without its best defensive back.
Up next
Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.
Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.
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