Chiefs-Texans: 5 things we learned from the divisional round victory

The Kansas City Chiefs entered Saturday’s divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with one goal in mind: defeat the Houston Texans and advance to their seventh straight AFC championship.

That’s exactly what they did. They controlled the game from kick-off until the final whistle. Saturday’s 23-14 victory provided compelling proof that in the playoffs, experience and composure are just as important as talent.

Suffering from multiple self-inflicted wounds, the Texans saw their playoff hopes bleed. With just under two minutes remaining, the Chiefs saw the light go out of their eyes as they blocked the Texans’ final field goal attempt.

Here are five things we learned as Kansas City continued its quest for glory.

1. Defense Special teams win championships

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s unit set the tempo of this game, starting with Nikko Remigio’s 63-yard return on the opening kickoff. This allowed the Chiefs to score their first field goal, establishing a lead that the team would never relinquish.

The game put the Texans in a pressure cooker, forcing them to keep pace with Kansas City. This created a claustrophobic atmosphere in which the visiting team could not operate effectively.

Then, in the final two minutes, the unit did exactly what it did against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. As Houston lined up for one last field goal attempt, safety Justin Reid flew off the line to get the Texans’ attention. ‘ blockers, opening the way for linebacker Leo Chenal to block the attempt.

Then, with seconds left, punter Matt Araiza cleverly chewed up as much time as possible in the end zone, deliberately allowing a safety the Chiefs could afford — rather than opening the door for a punt return dangerous release.

Meanwhile, placekicker Harrison Butker scored on all five of his kicks.

On Saturday, Toub and his unit held a clinic.

2. Bright lights are reserved for the biggest stars

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In what has become an annual tradition, Travis Kelce took his game to another level in the playoffs, having his best game of the season as he and quarterback Patrick Mahomes impersonated Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, connecting in the biggest moments to keep the Texans in the rearview mirror.

One of them could be one of the best throws of Mahomes’ illustrious career.

Kansas City players are famous for a reason: the bigger the stage and the brighter the lights, the better they play.

Now that Kansas City has Johnny Cage out of the way, he can focus on his next fight against Goro. You can bet Kelce and Mahomes will be ready to take down the next four-armed monster.

3. The pass rush could be a sleeping giant

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

You can say that Houston’s offensive line is horrible – and maybe it is – but I’m not taking any of the Chiefs’ flowers on this: the defensive line deserves enormous credit for what they’ve done in the trenches.

Defensive end George Karlaftis recovered three bags. It was his best playoff performance. He has now recorded seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits in eight playoff games.

Extrapolating those numbers over an entire season, that’s almost 15 sacks and 26 quarterback hits — which isn’t too bad by any standard. Chris Jones, Charles Omenihu and Tershawn Wharton also recorded sacks. Hell, even Felix Anudike-Uzomah landed one!

This unit has shown that it can handle gaming.

4. Don’t hate the player, hate the game

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

On social media, many outraged people claim that NFL officials saved the leaders once again, allowing the evil empire of Kansas City to advance, continuing to devastate the villages of the league’s innocent victims.

Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. made it 11.

Let’s not be too dramatic, Mr. Anderson.

The referees didn’t steal anything from the Texans. The first quarter rough passer flag against Anderson (and the third quarter unsportsmanlike conduct call against Henry To’oTo’o after Mahomes began his slide) were both penalties under the rules.

In the first, the ball was already out – but Anderson kept moving forward to hit Mahomes in the header area. It doesn’t have to be helmet to helmet for it to be a penalty.

On the late play, Mahomes had already started his slide. The defender led with his helmet. This is also a penalty.

If you think the calls were sweet… fine. You can say they were borderline – but they were far blatant. They certainly weren’t part of a conspiracy to help the Chiefs win.

If you think the rules are wrong, fine. But the rules are the rules. If there are loopholes – or ways to use them to your advantage – then every player (and team) should do just that until the league decides to change them. It’s no different than a player shooting a charge in basketball or a baseball team employing a shift before it was banned.

No one uses the rules to his advantage better than Mahomes. Personally, I appreciate the outrage this causes in others.

Why not look into our wickedness? Let’s have fun with this!

5. Step 2 of the Chiefs’ mission is accomplished

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

Was it the most resounding victory in Chiefs history?

No.

Was this supposed to be the case?

No.

Kansas City was like Bachman-Turner Overdrive: taking care of business, every day and in every way – and if necessary, overtime. As a result, the Chiefs will compete for their seventh straight AFC championship.

Three Two more victories until immortality.