Chiefs move step closer to historic Super Bowl 'three-peat'

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in the NFL playoffs, moving one step closer to an unprecedented "three-peat." After a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Chiefs began their divisional round at home on Saturday, facing the Houston Texans.

As the reigning NFL champions, the Chiefs won 23-14, keeping alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs have reached the NFL championship game four times in the past five years, winning it three times.

Last season, they became the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005, and now they are just one step away from reaching the final again. Travis Kelce was also crucial to the Kansas City dynasty, securing the victory with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Kareem Hunt also scored a touchdown, helping the team to a 13-6 lead in the first half.

Houston kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed two chances to tie the score, with a field goal and an extra point attempt going wide, before having a late field goal attempt blocked. But ultimately the Chiefs won comfortably, meaning they will participate in their seventh consecutive AFC Championship game next week, against the winner of Sunday's game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills.

Like last season, Kelce's performance this year has been relatively subdued, but he continued his excellent record in the playoffs, with his partner Taylor Swift supporting him in the cold Arrowhead Stadium. WNBA star Caitlin Clark, a lifelong Chiefs fan, was a guest in Swift's box, and they both stood up when Nico Remigio returned the opening kickoff for 63 yards, only to fumble when tackled, but it was recovered by Kansas City.

The Chiefs opened the scoring with a Harrison Butker field goal on their opening drive, and led 6-3 after two field goals in the first quarter. Fairbairn's next field goal attempt was blown wide by the wind, well wide of the right upright, before Kelce completed his first highlight play. Mahomes found Kelce in the middle, who ran for 49 yards, his longest reception of the season, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by running back Hunt.

Fairbairn's second field goal narrowed the gap to one point at halftime, and Houston had an offensive drive of more than 10 minutes to start the third quarter. Joe Mixon eventually ran into the end zone from 13 yards out, but Fairbairn's extra point attempt went wide, so Kansas City still led 13-12. Then, the Chiefs extended their lead on their next drive, with Mahomes finding Kelce three times, before showing his athleticism to throw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kelce at a 45-degree angle.

The Kansas City defense helped them win the game, Butker added his third field goal, and Fairbairn's bad day continued. The Chiefs conceded a safety at the end of the game, while Kelce finished with 117 receiving yards and is now just two touchdowns away from Jerry Rice's record for touchdown receptions in the playoffs (22).