Texans defeat Chiefs: Score, highlights, key moments from ‘SNF’ showdown

The Houston Texans (8-5) finally prevailed against the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs (6-7) with a 20-10 victory on “Sunday Night Football” that could be the proverbial nail in the Chiefs’ 2025 coffin. Houston is now on a five-game winning streak while Kansas City has lost four of its last five games. 

The Texans took a 10-0 lead into the locker room after multiple downfield catches of 40-plus yards from wide receiver Nico Collins set up both a 35-yard field goal and a 9-yard touchdown catch by running back Woody Marks. 

Houston’s offense faltered out of the gate in the second half, punting on their first five drives. That allowed the Chiefs to get back in the game by eventually stringing together a couple scoring drives that ended with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by running back Kareem Hunt and a 36-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker to tie the game at 10 with 1:50 left in the third quarter. 

Fast forward to the fourth quarter, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid opted to gamble twice on fourth down, and he and Patrick Mahomes came up short twice in a row. Kansas City faced a fourth-and-1 from its own 31, and Mahomes threw a wobbling pass under pressure slightly behind wide receiver Rashee Rice, and the football fell incomplete. This was the deepest in a team’s own territory a team had gone for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter of a tie game in 13 years, excluding fake punts per CBS Sports Research. Six plays later, Houston running back Dare Ogunbowale rumbled into the end zone for the go-ahead, 5-yard rushing touchdown. That made Reid even more willing to go for it on the ensuing fourth-and-4 from Kansas City’s 41, and the result of the play was the same: a Mahomes throw under duress to Rice that fell incomplete. 

Once again, the Chiefs defense forced another Texans punt. Once again, Kansas City’s offense just couldn’t come through. Mahomes connected with tight end Travis Kelce down the seam for a big gain, or so it seemed. Kelce bobbled the football back into the air, and off the bobble, Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair intercepted the football. Houston took over at the Chiefs’ 26 with 3:40 left to play up 17-10, and they were able to salt the game away from there with a 28-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining. 

Stroud (203 yards passing and a touchdown on 15 of 31 passing) thoroughly outdueled Mahomes (160 yards passing and three interceptions on 14 of 33 passing) to put the Chiefs’ playoff hopes on life support. Sunday night marked the first game of Mahomes’ career with no touchdowns and three interceptions. It’s fitting because Week 14 is the night the first iteration of the Mahomes-led Chiefs dynasty truly bit the dust.