KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Through a fantastical series of events, the Kansas City Chiefs earned a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs during the final week of the season.
The Mahomes Magic wasn’t unexpected.
Kansas City, which beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-21 behind running back Damien Williams’ big game and Mecole Hardman Jr.’s 104-yard kickoff return touchdown, has won 11 of the last 12 games against its AFC West rival from San Diego/Los Angeles.
The FitzMagic? For the Dolphins. Against the Patriots. In New England. With a bye at stake. With a lead late in the fourth quarter. With that defense.
Yeah, that was considerably more unexpected, but it made for a stirring 15 minutes of Kansas City sports history. (Thanks, Kevin Harlan!)
Kevin Harlan is OUTSTANDING.
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 29, 2019
Announcing the Chiefs game, he gives play-by-play of the Dolphins taking the lead over the Patriots to secure a bye for KC.
This call is amazing, the crowd reaction is tremendous, the Chiefs player reaction is incredible. I love EVERYTHING about it. pic.twitter.com/imVO3B9IkJ
Essentially, that series of events handed the Chiefs a playoff victory, because it advanced coach Andy Reid’s team past the opening weekend of the playoffs.
Rather than fighting for their spot in the Divisional round against Tennessee this weekend, Kansas City has the luxury to sit back and watch New England handle Ryan Tannnehill and the Titans' defense.
The Chiefs were allowed to relax as the AFC Wild Card dust settled Saturday and next Sunday’s opponent at Arrowhead Stadium was decided.
Houston’s 22-19 overtime victory against Buffalo in the early AFC Wild Card game Saturday afternoon eliminated on potential opponent.
When the Tennessee TItans delivered New England’s third loss in the last four games at Gillette Stadium, a methodical 20-13 win, it ensured the Texans would be Kansas City-bound for a 2:05 p.m. kickoff next Sunday and a berth in the AFC Championship Game.
Houston won a previous matchup in in October by a touchdown. Here’s a little more about the Chiefs’ upcoming opponent:
HOUSTON TEXANS
Seed: No. 4
2019 record: 10-6 (AFC South champions)
All-time record vs. Chiefs (playoffs record): 5-6 (0-1)
Offense (NFL rank): Scoring — 23.6 ppg (14th), Total — 362.0 ypg (13th), Passing — 236.4 ypg (15th), Rushing — 125.6 ypg (9th)
Defense (NFL rank): Scoring — 24.1 ppg (19th), Total — 388.3 ypg (28th), Passing — 267.2 ypg (29th), Rushing — 121.1 ypg (25th)
Three players to watch
QB Deshaun Watson — The 12 interceptions are a concern and the 44 sacks highlight the biggest ongoing issue for the Texans’ offense, protecting the quarterback, but there’s no denying Watson’s star power. The Pro Bowl QB from Clemson backed up a breakout 2018 season by throwing for 3,852 yards with 26 touchdowns — and will make Houston a tough team to bounce from the postseason.
DE J.J. Watt — He played eight games before suffering a torn pectoral muscle, racking up only four sacks with an eye-popping 21 QB hits in a half-season. Even if he’s not vintage, former Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, his presence makes the defense markedly better and gives Houston an emotional and psychological lift as well.
WR Will Fuller V — Limited to 11 games, Fuller still finished with 49 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns. His presence takes pressure off All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins and newcomer Kenny Stills, who was acquired in a preseason trade from Miami. When Fuller’s healthy, the Texans offense is a handful. He sat out the Wild Card win versus Buffalo with a groin injury.
How do the Chiefs match up?
It’s easy to point to Houston’s 31-24 win Oct. 13 in Kansas City as proof this is a bad matchup for the Chiefs, but that ignores what happened in the remaining 10 games of the season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was hobbled in the loss and is now healthy again. The Chiefs’ defense struggled in that game and is now jelling. The Texans’ porous secondary combined with a raucous Arrowhead crowd should have coach Andy Reid’s crew favored, but getting to Watson and finishing the job with sacks will be important to avoid more additions to his growing career highlight reel.
NFL POSTSEASON-AT-A-GLANCE
[Note: No. = seed; () indicates broadcast partner]
AFC Wild Card playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 4
No, 4 Houston 22, No. 5 Buffalo 19 (OT)
No. 6 Tennessee 20, No. 3 New England 13
NFC Wild Card playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 5
No. 6 Minnesota at No. 3 New Orleans, 12:05 p.m. (Fox)
No. 5 Seattle at No. 4 Philadelphia, 3:40 p.m. (41 Action News)
NFL Divisional playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 11
Minnesota/Seattle/Philadelphia at No. 1 San Francisco, 3:35 p.m. (41 Action News)
Tennessee/Buffalo/Houston at No. 1 Baltimore, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Jan. 12
Buffalo/Houston/New England at No. 2 Kansas City, 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
Seattle/Philadelphia/New Orleans at No. 2 Green Bay, 5:40 p.m. (Fox)
NFL Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan. 19
AFC Championship, 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
NFC Championship, 5:40 p.m. (Fox)
Super Bowl LIV
Sunday, Feb. 2
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 5:30 p.m. (Fox)
