Kansas City Chiefs cruise past Texans to reach seventh straight AFC title game | NFL

Patrick Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a landing, most of it going to finest buddy Travis Kelce, and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship recreation for the seventh consecutive season.

With girlfriend Taylor Swift watching alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark from a set, Kelce had seven catches for 117 yards and a rating, serving to the Chiefs (16-2) preserve alive their dream of successful an unprecedented third consecutive Tremendous Bowl title.

The Chiefs are the fourth workforce in NFL historical past to observe back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the convention title recreation, and the three earlier misplaced. They may attempt to change that pattern at Arrowhead Stadium subsequent weekend towards the Payments or Ravens, who play on Sunday in Buffalo for a shot at dethroning the defending champs.

Mahomes improved 16-3 within the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL historical past behind Tom Brady, and he’s 7-0 within the divisional spherical. Mahomes additionally helped Andy Reid turn out to be the fourth NFL coach with 300 profession wins.

In the meantime, the Texans (11-8) nonetheless have by no means gained in six divisional video games. Twice they’ve misplaced to Kansas Metropolis.

Houston quarterback CJ Stroud threw for 245 yards however was sacked eight occasions. Joe Mixon, who had been questionable to play with an ankle harm, caught a few passes whereas working for 88 yards and a landing.

Texans kicker Kai’imi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard discipline purpose try, an extra-point try to had one other discipline purpose try blocked with 1:46 left, which might have stored Houston’s comeback hopes alive by making it a one-possession recreation.

Taylor arrived a lot sooner than common – about two hours earlier than kickoff – and was dressed almost head to toe in Chanel, together with a black-and-white tweed jacket, a quarter-zip romper, a pearl strand belt and pendant earrings.

She spent a number of the recreation sitting in a set alongside Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who’s likewise a giant Chiefs fan.

Swift started her high-profile romance with Kelce final season, when he invited the Anti-Hero singer to observe him play in a September matchup with the Bears. Since then, the 2 have spent loads of time collectively, typically with cameras following them.

She has been spending extra time in Kansas Metropolis currently after wrapping up her record-setting Eras Tour on 8 December in Canada.