Chiefs win first playoff game in 22 years, shutting out Texans
The fifith-seeded Kansas City Chiefs came into the postseason as the hottest team in the NFL, winning their last 10 regular-season games. And they’ve added one more, as they ended the fourth-seeded Houston Texans’ season, 30-0 in their AFC wild-card matchup on Saturday.
It was the first postseason win for Kansas City in 22 years, though it came in a familiar city – the last time the Chiefs recorded a playoff “W” was against the Houston Oilers at the late, great Astrodome on Jan. 16, 1994. They went 0-7 in the postseason between that day and Saturday.
It was also the first postseason shutout in a decade; in another 4 vs. 5 game in 2006, the Carolina Panthers beat the New York Giants, 23-0.
The Chiefs took a 7-0 lead just 11 seconds into the game, as running back Knile Davis returned the game’s opening kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown. From that point, they took advantage of numerous mistakes by Texans’ starter Brian Hoyer.
Hoyer, who hadn’t committed more than one turnover in any game this season had five against Kansas City – four interceptions and one fumble.
Perhaps the most costly was Hoyer’s second, when he threw into coverage on the goal line and was picked off by Josh Mauga on second down from the 3 late in the first half. At the time, the Texans were down only 13-0. Though the Chiefs did not get points off that turnover, it killed all of the offensive momentum Houston had gained on the drive.
As has been the Chiefs’ custom during their win streak, quarterback Alex Smith was not asked to do too much. Smith completed 17-of-22 passes for 190 yards with one touchdown and his first interception in four postseason starts. A first-quarter pass intended for Jeremy Maclin was deflected and ended up in Brian Cushing’s hands.
Kansas City’s offense remained balanced, with 141 rushing yards on 37 attempts.
For all of the good feelings the win engendered in Kansas City, the Chiefs will be moving on but will likely be without their top receiver when they play next weekend, as Jeremy Maclin suffered a right knee injury in the third quarter. He’s scheduled for an MRI on Sunday.
