Chiefs vs Texans: Chiefs will host AFC Championship after impressive comeback

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are in their second successive AFC title game. They got there with a stunning comeback from a 24-0 hole.

Patrick Mahomes threw for four touchdowns in the second quarter in the 51-31 victory. He had five altogether as the Chiefs scored TDs on a record seven straight possessions.

Damien Williams ran for two scores. Kansas City will host Tennessee for the AFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs have not been there since winning Superbowl IV. The Titans lost their only Super Bowl appearance in 2000.

5:31 p.m. | The Chiefs defeat the Houston Texans 51-31. They will host the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead next week for the AFC Championship.

5:02 p.m. | Harrison Butker kicks a field goal to put another three points on the board. It's now 51-31 Chiefs.

4:48 p.m. | Blake Bell adds to the list of Chiefs with a touchdown. Butker makes the kick. The score is 48-31 Chiefs.

4:43 p.m. | At the end of the third quarter the Chiefs lead 41-31.

4:38 p.m. | Deshaun Watson runs the ball in for a Texans touchdown. It's now 41-31 Chiefs.

4:37 p.m. | Rashad Fenton gets a sack for the Chiefs.

4:28 p.m. | Damien Williams makes his return to the end zone for another Chiefs touchdown. That's 41 unanswered points for the Chiefs and a score of 41-24.

4:17 p.m. | Frank Clark sacks Deshaun Watson.

4:12 p.m. | After battling an injury all week only to score three touchdowns in the first half, Travis Kelce is questionable to return to the game with a hamstring injury.

4:08 p.m. | The Chiefs start the second half with another touchdown. Damien Williams gets the ball in, but he's charged with unsportsmanlike conduct. Butker's point is no good, so it's 34-24 Chiefs.

3:49 p.m. | The game enters halftime at 28-24 Chiefs despite a field goal attempt from the Texans.

3:43 p.m. | The play is good. Butker's kick is good for a 28-24 Chiefs lead.

3:40 p.m. | Kelce snags another catch in the end zone to bring the score to 27-24 Chiefs. The play is under review.

3:22 p.m. | Travis Kelce finds the end zone yet again. With a good kick, that's 24-21 Texans. Three touchdowns for the Chiefs in just over three minutes.

3:19 p.m. | Darwin Thompson snags a dropped ball out of the air to run it back into scoring territory for the Chiefs.

3:15 p.m. | Travis Kelce lands in the end zone for a touchdown. The fans of Arrowhead have come back to life. A clean kick from Butker means its 24-14 Texans.

3:04 p.m. | The Chiefs find the end zone for the first time and Damien Williams runs it in for a touchdown. The kick from Butker is good and it's 24-7 Texans.

2:58 p.m. | The Texans attempt a field goal and the kick is good, bringing the score to 24-0 Texans.

2:50 p.m. | The first quarter ends with the score remaining at 21-0 Texans. Fans at Arrowhead were booing the players for how many times the Chiefs dropped the ball during the quarter.

2:38 p.m. | The Texans run the recovered punt for a touchdown. With a good extra point, that's 21-0 Texans.

2:37 p.m. | Frank Clark sacks Deshaun Watson, but the Chiefs drop the punt and the Texans recover it.

2:19 p.m. | A Chiefs punt attempt is blocked and the Texans pick it up to run it in for a touchdown. The extra point is good and the score is 14-0 Texans just a few minutes into the game.

2:12 p.m. | The Texans score on the opening drive when Kenny Stills catches a pass for a touchdown. The extra point is good, and the score is 7-0 Texans.

2:05 p.m. | The Kansas City Chiefs game against the Houston Texans is officially underway at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs kicked off against the Texans.

12:30 p.m. | Chris Jones is inactive against the Texans. This will leave a noticeable gap in the Chiefs defense. Morris Claiborne, Jackson Barton, Chad Henne, Andrew Wylie, Ryan Hunter and Darron Lee are also listed as inactive.

Travis Kelce will play today despite an injury early in the week.

11 a.m. | The Chiefs and fans of Chiefs Kingdom arrived at Arrowhead Stadium ahead of Sunday's playoff game against the Houston Texans.

41 Action News was ready with team coverage of the big day.

MVP Patrick Mahomes arrived in style, in a red coat and sunglasses, to take on the Texans.

Chiefs fans were ready to tailgate before the sun came up, even though gates to the parking lots didn't open until 9 a.m.

The view of Chiefs Kingdom from the sky hours before the game was memorable.

Leftover ice and snow from the weekend winter storm didn't slow the festivities at Arrowhead Stadium.

Crews worked tirelessly through Saturday to get the home of the Chiefs ready for playoffs.

41 Action News meteorologists pointed out that winter isn't quite through with Kansas City yet this weekend. There is a chance for a wintry mix toward the end ofthe playoff game.

EARLIER | The last time the Kansas City Chiefs played a January game at Arrowhead Stadium, they were playing for a trip to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs came up short in overtime that night, but it laid the foundation for the 2019 season's championship dream.

This afternoon, the Chiefs will try to take a step toward Super Bowl LIV in Miami against the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2:05 p.m.

Full schedule:
9 a.m. — Parking Gates Open
9:30 a.m. — Ford Tailgate District Opens
11:30 a.m. — Club Level Gates Open
Noon — All Stadium Gates Open
12:30 — Team Warm-Ups Begin
1:54 — Texans Team Intro
1:55 — Chiefs Team Intro
1:58 — National Anthem
2:03 — Coin Toss
2:0 — Open
ing Kickoff

A win will put the Chiefs back into the AFC Championship game for the second year in a row, a game that would be played in Kansas City after the Tennessee Titans upset top-seeded Baltimore on Saturday night.

The second-seeded Chiefs finished the regular season 12-4, but two of those loses came against the only teams remaining in the AFC playoffs — the Texans on Oct. 13 at home and the Titans on Nov. 10 in Nashville.

Of course, a few things have changed for Kansas City those midseason defeats.

Heading into practices earlier this week, head coach Andy Reid and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes talked about how they are getting ready for the Texans.

Later in the week, we talked with safety Tyrann Mathieu, defensive lineman Mike Pennel and safety Jordan Lucas about how they are getting ready for today’s game.

Despite having some extra time off thanks to the bye week, a couple of key Chiefs players — tight end Travis Kelce (knee) and defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) — appeared on the team’s injury report late in the week.

For the keys to today’s game, catch Nick Jacob’s game preview.

You can also listen to the "4th and 1" podcast crew preview the game

For fans heading to the game, the first 50,000 fans into Arrowhead will receive a Chiefs Kingdom stick flag.

Former linebacker Tamba Hali will kick things off just before the game by banging the drum.

With weather possible during the game, the Chiefs say they are ready to battle all the elements.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.