Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2024 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-21, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 27–19 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +14.65 total EPA, and +0.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.65 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+12.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (12:30) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle to 3-T.Dell to KC 23 for 16 yards (20-J.Reid). HOU-57-B.Fisher was injured during the play.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +14.65 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Dell · Houston Texans · Receiving · +10.44 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Stroud · Houston Texans · Passing · +5.34 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hopkins · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.34 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Hunt · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +3.26 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Perine · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.13 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Brown · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.24 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Schultz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — P. Mahomes (Q1 51:39)
• Houston Texans — D. Schultz (C. Stroud pass) (Q2 40:16)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (Q2 34:42)
• Houston Texans — T. Dell (C. Stroud pass) (Q3 26:48)
• Kansas City Chiefs — X. Worthy (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 17:46)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q1 48:12)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:24)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q4 11:56)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 5:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 15 (Q1 51:39) — (6:39) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 51:31) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 15 (Q1 48:12) — (3:12) 15-K.Fairbairn 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 10–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 10 (Q2 40:16) — (10:16) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle to 86-D.Schultz for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN [56-G.Karlaftis].; Houston Texans added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 40:09) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 3 (Q2 34:42) — (4:42) 29-K.Hunt right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 34:38) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 26 (Q2 30:24) — (:24) 7-H.Butker 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 30 (Q3 26:48) — (11:48) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 3-T.Dell for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 8 (Q3 17:46) — (2:46) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 1-X.Worthy for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 17:42) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 20 (Q4 11:56) — (11:56) 15-K.Fairbairn 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 9 (Q4 5:22) — (5:22) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Houston Texans (Q2 42:30) — (12:30) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle to 3-T.Dell to KC 23 for 16 yards (20-J.Reid). HOU-57-B.Fisher was injured during the play. [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.06]
• Houston Texans (Q3 26:48) — (11:48) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 3-T.Dell for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +3.70]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 24:57) — (9:57) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco up the middle to KC 49 for no gain (97-M.Edwards). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -3.37]
• Houston Texans (Q3 16:27) — (1:27) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 86-D.Schultz to KC 36 for 24 yards (6-B.Cook) [95-C.Jones]. [WPA +8.2% · EPA +3.61]
• Houston Texans (Q4 13:39) — (13:39) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep right to 12-N.Collins to KC 10 for 16 yards (20-J.Reid). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +1.62]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Houston Texans (Q3 26:48) — (11:48) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 3-T.Dell for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +3.70]
• Houston Texans (Q3 16:27) — (1:27) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 86-D.Schultz to KC 36 for 24 yards (6-B.Cook) [95-C.Jones]. [WPA +8.2% · EPA +3.61]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 24:57) — (9:57) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco up the middle to KC 49 for no gain (97-M.Edwards). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -3.37]
• Houston Texans (Q1 45:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 12-N.Collins pushed ob at KC 48 for 30 yards (2-J.Williams; 21-J.Hicks) [95-C.Jones]. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +3.19]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 49 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +0.4% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +14.65 total EPA
• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 44 dropbacks · 52.3% completion · +0.9% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +5.34 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Houston Texans +0.06, Kansas City Chiefs +0.11) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Houston Texans: 9 drives, +4.29 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 9 drives, +9.08 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 51:39 · HOU 15 · Score 0-6
   (6:39) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 51:31 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
3. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 48:12 · KC 15 · Score 3-7
   (3:12) 15-K.Fairbairn 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
4. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 40:16 · KC 10 · Score 9-7
   (10:16) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle to 86-D.Schultz for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN [56-G.Karlaftis].
5. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 40:09 · KC 15 · Score 10-7
   15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 34:42 · HOU 3 · Score 10-13
   (4:42) 29-K.Hunt right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 34:38 · HOU 15 · Score 10-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:24 · HOU 26 · Score 10-17
   (:24) 7-H.Butker 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 26:48 · KC 30 · Score 16-17
   (11:48) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 3-T.Dell for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 17:46 · HOU 8 · Score 16-23
    (2:46) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 1-X.Worthy for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 17:42 · HOU 15 · Score 16-24
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
12. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 11:56 · KC 20 · Score 19-24
    (11:56) 15-K.Fairbairn 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 5:22 · HOU 9 · Score 19-27
    (5:22) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.