Kansas City Chiefs beat Houston Texans to close on top seed

If the Buffalo Bills lose on Sunday or if the Chiefs beat the Steelers on Christmas Day, they'll clinch the No 1 ranking. 

Patrick Mahomes led Kansas CIty Chiefs to victory. Pic: Ed Zurga/AP

The Kansas City Chiefs closed in on the top seed in the AFC with a 27-19 victory over Houston Texans.

Patrick Mahomes, who overcame an ankle problem to start the game, rushed for one touchdown and threw another to Xavier Worthy as the Chiefs improved their record to 14-1 in their bid to win an unprecedented third successive Super Bowl.

Kansas City will clinch the top seed and a bye to the second round of the play-offs if the Buffalo Bills lose on Sunday or if the Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

MAHOMES TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR THE TD 🔥

📺: #HOUvsKC on NBC/Peacock📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/soKpySTT8L

— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2024

Mahomes immediately allayed fears over his health, making the most of a defensive turnover to lead an 11-play, 66-yard touchdown drive which he finished off himself with a 15-yard run.

The Texans, who have also already booked their post-season berth, ran the Chiefs close as quarterback CJ Stroud threw touchdowns to Dalton Schultz and Tank Dell, who suffered a serious-looking injury in the process.

But the Chiefs defence picked off Stroud twice and held the Texans to just one field goal in the fourth quarter.