There’ll be plenty of eyes on Patrick Mahomes when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football.”
Although the Chiefs fell short to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, Mahomes played extremely well. The three-time Super Bowl champion completed 23-of-34 pass attempts for 261 yards with four touchdowns. It was arguably his best performance of the season.
While the Chiefs haven’t been very consistent this season, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans refuses to overlook his Week 14 opponent. After all, he’s playing a quarterback who he nicknamed “Houdini” on Wednesday.
“Patrick is still Patrick,” Ryans told reporters. “Should call him ‘Houdini.’ He finds a way to make plays all over the field. That’s why this team has always been a threat.”
It’s do-or-die for the Chiefs.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Chiefs have a 40% chance of making the playoffs. That means every game is considered “must win” from this point forward.
“You’ve got to win every game now and hope that’s enough,” Mahomes said after the Thanksgiving loss to Dallas. “We’re going to play a lot of good teams coming up. If we’re going to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to win them all. That’s got to be the mindset when we step into the building when we get back.”
As of this Thursday, the Chiefs trail the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card standings.
A loss to the Texans on Sunday would just about end the Chiefs’ hopes of making a playoff run. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
