NFL
NFL Divisional Round Fans Respond To Kansas City Chiefs’ Defense Pounding Houston Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs may not have performed like back-to-back Super Bowl champions Saturday and many NFL fans voiced their displeasure over at least three questionable officiating calls that went against the Houston Texans, but result was
The result?
Leaning on a strong defensive performance and quarterback Patrick Mahomes’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to record-setting tight end Travis Kelce, the Chiefs sacked the Texans, 23-14, at a chilly GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs advanced to their seventh consecutive AFC championship game and will face the winner of Sunday’s Baltimore Ravens/Buffalo Bills matchup.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who became the fourth coach to win at least 300 games, will coach in his 12th conference final, one shy of Bill Belichick’s all-time mark.
Despite the incomplete effort Saturday, the Chiefs improved to 10-1 in their last 11 home playoff games and 7-0 in their past seven playoff outings when played in weather that was 32 degrees or colder.
X (Twitter) users responded to the Chiefs’ defensive pressure on Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was sacked eight times …
SACK NATION IS ON ONE 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/CghvEOecF3
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2025
Dapper Mahomes dresses for success. Entering Saturday, the Chiefs’ quarterback was 15-3 in 18 career playoff games, registering 41 touchdowns and eight interceptions …
QB1's looking Golden ✨ pic.twitter.com/Fs1YcYWXpZ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 18, 2025
Stroud warmed up Saturday, eager to help the Texans capture an evasive road playoff game. After being sacked eight times, Stroud could not lift the Texans, who fell to 0-5 all-time in road playoff games …
QB1 warming up 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cskxCvU3pI
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2025
The pregame flyover …
No better start to the playoffs. Thanks for the flyover @11thECAB! pic.twitter.com/CmI6VGuk4J
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 18, 2025
The Texans got off to an inauspicious start. Following Texans’ Nikko Remigio’s 63-yard opening kickoff return, Kris Boyd executed a tackle and forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Samaje Perine. But Boyd was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing his helmet. En route back to the sideline, Boyd aggressively shoved special teams coach Frank Ross. The Chiefs eventually settled for Harrison Butker’s 32-yard field goal …
Another look at Texans CB Kris Boyd shoving his special teams coach Frank Ross. pic.twitter.com/dvpwL05Fhj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2025
Following a field goal by the Texans on their opening possession, a questionable roughing call on defensive end Will Anderson Jr. enabled the Chiefs to gain a first-and-goal situation. They again settled for a Butker field goal, this time from 36 yads out.
pic.twitter.com/fX2kj4h2Sx
Here's #Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy's acrobatic sideline catch @KPRC2— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 18, 2025
After Houston placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt badly, the Chiefs marched down the field and scored on running back Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run, lifting the Chiefs to a 13-3 lead with 4:56 left in the first half. Despite the 10-point advantage, the Chiefs’ offense struggled once they hit the red zone. On six plays inside the Texans’ 20-yard line, the Chiefs netted negative 11 yards. …
Kareem Hunt gives the Chiefs a 10-point lead 🍿
(via @Chiefs)pic.twitter.com/ROxR2UdF5A
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 18, 2025
Starting with the Anderson call, social media users started going crazy over a series of calls that appeared to favor the Chiefs. “#Rigged” started trending on X (Twitter) after this questionable roughing call …
3rd and 8… saved by a non penalty again… even the broadcasters and replay assistant all announced they didn’t deem this to be a roughing the passer…….. #Chiefs3PeatInFullEffect #BetAnyAndEverythingOnChiefs #Fyp @NFL @Chiefs #Rigged pic.twitter.com/R4nUl2mNOJ
— Hector Francisco (@H8ctorFrancisco) January 18, 2025
And this non-call hip tackle …
You're not gonna see a more clear "hip drop tackle" but of course no flag because it's the Kansas City Chiefs pic.twitter.com/K5p0CDAI3l
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) January 18, 2025
And on this play where two Texans defenders collided into each other harder than Mahomes …
I’m glad I’m not a @HoustonTexans fan because it sure looks like the @NFL is really pulling for the @Chiefs here.#rigged pic.twitter.com/yWqDwEoLzx
— HELLO FREN (@JustAnother11b) January 18, 2025
Despite the unfavorable calls, the Texans opened the second half with a 15-play, 82-yard drive that lasted 10:24 and was capped by Joe Mixon’s 13-yard TD run. Fairbairn missed the point-after attempt …
YESIRRRR 🤘#EasyToCelebrate | @budlight pic.twitter.com/5TVLUjPPzg
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2025
With girlfriend Taylor Swift in attendance sitting next to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, Kelce notched an 11-yard score on a play Mahomes kept alive under pressure. It proved to be the winning score …
Pase de Mahomes a Kelse y touchdown de los Chiefs qué amplían la ventaja #ChiefsKingdom #NFL #DeporteandoNFL pic.twitter.com/q6Uz8oo2jA
— DeporteandoNFL🏈 (@deporteandonfl) January 18, 2025
Did Kelce impress Swift, a pop singer, with his record? …
Travis Kelce is now the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason games with 100+ receiving yards. pic.twitter.com/usNZLEa9pa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2025
This is how the game went for Stroud on key downs. When the Chiefs needed a stop, they seemed to get it …
DEFENSE WOKE UP HUNGRY TODAY 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/JGw5bKEAHF
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 18, 2025
The Texans’ last great hope to win Saturday was blocked …
NOT IN OUR HOUSE ❌ pic.twitter.com/30gF7HthVI
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2025
Final score: Chiefs 23, Texans 14 …
Chiefs win!!! Kansas City will host the AFC Championship with the opponent yet to be decided. https://t.co/8A8XOfJlMS pic.twitter.com/RpzNgIoKyA
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) January 19, 2025