Posted on Dec 10

Chiefs fall to Texans 20-10; Kelce records more drops than catches for first time

Posted Dec 10, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes dimmed following a disappointing 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans, marked by uncharacteristic struggles from star tight end Travis Kelce.

Why it matters: This defeat not only resulted in a significant setback for the Chiefs' postseason aspirations but also ended their remarkable streak of nine consecutive AFC West titles, underscoring a troubling trend in performance as the season nears its conclusion.

With this loss, the Chiefs fell to 6-7, significantly lowering their playoff odds to just 12%, according to ESPN Analytics.
Facing all AFC opponents in their remaining games, the path to redemption is steep and fraught with challenges.

What’s new: In an unusual turn, Kelce recorded more drops (2) than receptions (1) in a game for the first time in his 13-year career.

His back-to-back drops late in the fourth quarter directly contributed to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ third interception, a critical turning point in the match.
The Chiefs collectively registered five drops during the game, tying for the second most this season, which reflects deeper issues in offensive execution.

Yes, but: Despite the setbacks, there remains a glimmer of hope within the roster, particularly from Kelce himself.

Following the game, he expressed raw frustration: “You put in all this f---ing work and hope that it pays off... And this year, I just can't find them.”
Kelce's commitment to turning things around is evident as he vowed to make every game count, emphasizing a strong desire to keep competitive fire alive even amidst adversity.

What to watch: The upcoming games will be crucial for the Chiefs as they navigate through the rest of their schedule against divisional rivals.

The performances of Kelce and Mahomes will be scrutinized closely; both need to bounce back to reestablish any semblance of offensive rhythm.
How the team responds to this loss and addresses their drop issues will be pivotal as they aim to claw back into playoff contention.

The bottom line: The Chiefs face a critical juncture in their season, needing to rally quickly not only to salvage their playoff hopes but also to restore confidence in their core players, particularly after such a disheartening performance.

As Mahomes noted about Kelce, “He'll give everything he has for the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.” Whether that determination translates into success will be the defining question moving forward.

In summary, the Chiefs' recent loss serves as a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins in the NFL and highlights the importance of maintaining composure and execution in high-pressure situations.

Chiefs fall to Texans 20-10; Kelce records more drops than catches for first time

Alex Parker

Posted Dec 10, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes dimmed following a disappointing 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans, marked by uncharacteristic struggles from star tight end Travis Kelce.

With this loss, the Chiefs fell to 6-7, significantly lowering their playoff odds to just 12%, according to ESPN Analytics.

Facing all AFC opponents in their remaining games, the path to redemption is steep and fraught with challenges.

What’s new: In an unusual turn, Kelce recorded more drops (2) than receptions (1) in a game for the first time in his 13-year career.

His back-to-back drops late in the fourth quarter directly contributed to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ third interception, a critical turning point in the match.

The Chiefs collectively registered five drops during the game, tying for the second most this season, which reflects deeper issues in offensive execution.

Yes, but: Despite the setbacks, there remains a glimmer of hope within the roster, particularly from Kelce himself.

Following the game, he expressed raw frustration: “You put in all this f---ing work and hope that it pays off... And this year, I just can't find them.”

Kelce's commitment to turning things around is evident as he vowed to make every game count, emphasizing a strong desire to keep competitive fire alive even amidst adversity.

What to watch: The upcoming games will be crucial for the Chiefs as they navigate through the rest of their schedule against divisional rivals.

The performances of Kelce and Mahomes will be scrutinized closely; both need to bounce back to reestablish any semblance of offensive rhythm.

How the team responds to this loss and addresses their drop issues will be pivotal as they aim to claw back into playoff contention.

As Mahomes noted about Kelce, “He'll give everything he has for the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.” Whether that determination translates into success will be the defining question moving forward.

In summary, the Chiefs' recent loss serves as a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins in the NFL and highlights the importance of maintaining composure and execution in high-pressure situations.