The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense struggled against the Houston Texans’ aggressive defense in their 23-14 Divisional round victory. The Texans held the Chiefs to a season-low 212 total yards, including just 60 receiving yards on 16 targets for skill-position players.
One key factor was the Texans’ focus on defending short passes. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was limited to just 31 yards on seven quick pass attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per attempt. The Texans’ nickel defender anticipated the play and broke up several opportunities, including a crucial stop on tight end Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs attempted to counter with timing screens, but none were successful. Mahomes also struggled with accuracy, making several throws behind his target. However, when given space downfield, Mahomes excelled, completing five of seven passes for 122 yards and a score.
Despite the Texans’ strong defense, the Chiefs had two clear chances at deep shots that fell incomplete. The misses were due to the safety’s anticipation on these plays.
Houston’s aggressive coverage left them vulnerable further downfield, allowing Mahomes to take advantage when needed. For the Chiefs, it’s now or never to find more space for quick passes through strong play design and exploit the Bills’ defense in the AFC Championship.
Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/1/21/24347509/chiefs-roster-quick-passes-bottled-up-against-texans