Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2024 Divisional Recap

Game story

In the Divisional of the 2024 NFL season on 2025-01-18, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 23–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Stroud (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with +2.20 total EPA, and +7.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.22 — 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: (9:56) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud scrambles right guard to KC 39 for 28 yards (21-J.Hicks).

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 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +10.22 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.28 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Schultz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.24 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.56 EPA/play
3. 3 N. Collins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Hunt · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +4.44 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Metchie · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.57 EPA/play
6. 6 X. Hutchinson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.04 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Stroud · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.20 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +1.87 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.06 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 — K. Hunt (Q2 34:39)
• Houston Texans — J. Mixon (Q3 19:42)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q4 11:57)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 59:01)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q1 53:44)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 49:03)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 30:20)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 30:16)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 4:41)

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 6–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q1 59:01) — (14:01) 7-H.Butker 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 12 (Q1 53:44) — (8:44) 15-K.Fairbairn 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 18 (Q1 49:03) — (4:03) 7-H.Butker 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q2 34:39) — (4:39) (Shotgun) 29-K.Hunt right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 34:36) — 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 29 (Q2 30:20) — (:20) 15-K.Fairbairn 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the HOU 35 (Q2 30:16) — 15-K.Fairbairn kicks 63 yards from HOU 35 to KC 2. 81-N.Remigio to KC 26 for 24 yards (13-D.Phillips; 43-N.Hewitt)..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 13 (Q3 19:42) — (4:42) 75-A.Deculus reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon right tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 10–4. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-M.Edwards].; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 11:52) — 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 9 (Q4 4:41) — (4:41) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Houston Texans registered a safety from the HOU 82 (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Punt formation) 14-M.Araiza right end ran ob in End Zone for -18 yards, SAFETY (13-D.Phillips).; Houston Texans registered a safety from the KC 20 (Q4 0:11) — 7-H.Butker kicks 70 yards from KC 20 to HOU 10. 31-D.Pierce to HOU 21 for 11 yards (44-Ca.Jones; 13-N.Johnson)..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q2 39:56) — (9:56) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud scrambles right guard to KC 39 for 28 yards (21-J.Hicks). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.04]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 60:00) — 15-K.Fairbairn kicks 60 yards from HOU 35 to KC 5. 81-N.Remigio to HOU 32 for 63 yards (17-K.Boyd). FUMBLES (17-K.Boyd), recovered by KC-34-S.Perine at HOU 26. PENALTY on HOU-17-K.Boyd, Unsportsmanlik [WPA +12.2% · EPA +3.73]
• Houston Texans (Q2 37:06) — (7:06) 15-K.Fairbairn 55 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend. [WPA -12.2% · EPA -2.89]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-M.Edwards]. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.42]
• Houston Texans (Q1 57:50) — (12:50) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 86-D.Schultz to KC 35 for 34 yards (6-B.Cook). [WPA +10.5% · EPA +2.36]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 60:00) — 15-K.Fairbairn kicks 60 yards from HOU 35 to KC 5. 81-N.Remigio to HOU 32 for 63 yards (17-K.Boyd). FUMBLES (17-K.Boyd), recovered by KC-34-S.Perine at HOU 26. PENALTY on HOU-17-K.Boyd, Unsportsmanlik [WPA +12.2% · EPA +3.73]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce to HOU 6 for 49 yards (39-H.To'oTo'o). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.63]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-M.Edwards]. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.42]
• Houston Texans (Q4 1:52) — (1:52) 15-K.Fairbairn 35 yard field goal is BLOCKED (54-L.Chenal), Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend, RECOVERED by KC-21-J.Hicks at KC 13. 21-J.Hicks pushed ob at KC 23 for 10 yards (6-T.Townsend [WPA -1.8% · EPA -3.26]

Quarterback report card

C.Stroud led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 43 dropbacks · 44.2% completion · +7.1% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.20 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 33 dropbacks · 48.5% completion · +0.3% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +1.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.10 vs -0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 9 drives, -3.23 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 9 drives, +6.53 total EPA, 6 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.
• T. Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Stroud (HOU) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 59:01 · HOU 14 · Score 0-3
   (14:01) 7-H.Butker 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
2. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 53:44 · KC 12 · Score 3-3
   (8:44) 15-K.Fairbairn 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 49:03 · HOU 18 · Score 3-6
   (4:03) 7-H.Butker 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 34:39 · HOU 1 · Score 3-12
   (4:39) (Shotgun) 29-K.Hunt right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 34:36 · HOU 15 · Score 3-13
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
6. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:20 · KC 29 · Score 6-13
   (:20) 15-K.Fairbairn 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:16 · HOU 35 · Score 6-13
   15-K.Fairbairn kicks 63 yards from HOU 35 to KC 2. 81-N.Remigio to KC 26 for 24 yards (13-D.Phillips; 43-N.Hewitt).
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 19:42 · KC 13 · Score 12-13
   (4:42) 75-A.Deculus reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon right tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 11:57 · HOU 11 · Score 12-19
   (11:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-M.Edwards].
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 11:52 · HOU 15 · Score 12-20
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 4:41 · HOU 9 · Score 12-23
    (4:41) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
12. Houston Texans Safety (+2) — Q4 0:15 · HOU 82 · Score 14-23
    (:15) (Punt formation) 14-M.Araiza right end ran ob in End Zone for -18 yards, SAFETY (13-D.Phillips).
13. Houston Texans Safety (+2) — Q4 0:11 · KC 20 · Score 14-23
    7-H.Butker kicks 70 yards from KC 20 to HOU 10. 31-D.Pierce to HOU 21 for 11 yards (44-Ca.Jones; 13-N.Johnson).