Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs beat Steelers, lock up AFC home-field edge
Travis Kelce became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions and also took over the franchise lead with his 77th career touchdown catch. Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson also caught scoring passes and Kareem Hunt rushed for a touchdown for the Chiefs (15-1) during the Christmas Day affair.
Russell Wilson completed 23 of 37 passes for 205 yards and one interception as Pittsburgh (10-6) failed to clinch the AFC North for the second straight game. The Steelers have lost three consecutive games.
Mahomes was 29-of-38 passing while helping the Chiefs win their sixth straight game. Kansas City also set a franchise record with its 15th victory.
Kelce had eight catches for 84 yards to raise his career receptions total to 1,004. Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and Jason Witten (1,228) are the only two tight ends with more catches.
Ironically, it was Gonzalez's franchise record for receiving scores that Kelce broke. He celebrated by doing Gonzalez's signature dunking of the football through the uprights. Gonzalez was a college basketball player in addition to being a star football player.
The Chiefs racked up five sacks and thrived defensively without star tackle Chris Jones (calf).
Kansas City led by six at halftime and increased the lead to 16-7 on Harrison Butker's 32-yard field goal with 12:21 left in the third quarter.
The Steelers responded with Chris Boswell's 36-yard field goal to move back within six with 5:45 left in the quarter.
Kelce's 1,000th grab was a 19-yard gain late in the third quarter and helped set up Hunt's 2-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion pass failed and the Chiefs settled for a 22-10 advantage.
On the next possession, Kelce caught a 12-yard scoring pass with 12:38 remaining in the game to increase the margin to 19.
Mahomes threw two first-half touchdown passes as Kansas City held a 13-7 halftime lead.
On the first one, Worthy lined up in the backfield and flared into the left flat to catch a 7-yard scoring pass. His celebration drew a 15-yard penalty, and Butker's ensuing 48-yard extra point was wide right.
Later, Mahomes tossed a 11-yard touchdown pass to Watson with four minutes left in the opening quarter. Mahomes also teamed up with Watson on a 49-yard play earlier in the drive.
The Steelers got on the board with 10:28 left in the half when Wilson scored from the 1 by barely getting the ball across the goal line at the left pylon.
Chiefs star Travis Kelce becomes third TE with 1,000 receptions
Kelce reached the milestone by making a 19-yard catch late in the third quarter. He later caught a touchdown to set a franchise record for receiving scores.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and Jason Witten (1,228) were the first two tight ends to gain membership in the 1,000 receptions club. Witten, a 11-time Pro Bowl selection, retired after the 2020 season and isn't yet eligible for enshrinement.
Kelce also caught a touchdown pass to become Kansas City's all-time leader with 77, one more than Gonzalez, who earned 10 of his 14 Pro Bowl selections with the Chiefs.
After making the catch to surpass Gonzalez's touchdown mark, Kelce dunked the football over the crossbar. Gonzalez, who also played college basketball, celebrated TD catches with the same maneuver.
Kelce's touchdown catches rank fifth all-time among tight ends.
Kelce had seven receptions for 75 yards with under 12 minutes left in the game to give him 1,003 receptions for his career. He is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on baby's birth: 'Any day now'
The couple has two children: daughter Sterling and son Bronze. A baby girl will be arriving soon, and the three-time Super Bowl champion said he wants to be in attendance.
"Any day now," Mahomes, 29, told Netflix studio host Kay Adams of Brittany's due date. "Brittany says I've been stressing her out too much this season, so I gotta try to not put that much stress on her through these football games and get that bye. And hopefully God works the right way and we can have that baby maybe on the bye week somewhere and then everything will work out perfectly."
"(She's the) MVP because she'll go in there and crush it and what, three babies? I can take a break for a long time and just focus on playing football and raising those babies."
On Wednesday, Mahomes and the Chiefs (14-1) were visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) in what will be the third game in 11 days for both teams. If Kansas City wins, it clinches the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs -- and Mahomes may have a break in his schedule as a result.
The Chiefs conclude the regular season against the host the Denver Broncos in Week 18.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones (calf) inactive vs. Steelers
Jones, 30, did not practice on Monday and was limited on Tuesday. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has five sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 37 tackles in 15 starts this season.
Also inactive for the Chiefs (14-1) are starting left tackle D.J. Humphries, offensive linemen Ethan Driskell and C.J. Hanson, defensive ends Joshua Uche and Malik Herring, and defensive back Chamarri Conner.
For the host Steelers (10-5), pass-rusher Preston Smith, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., defensive end Dean Lowry and wide receiver Ben Skowronek are all inactive. Justin Fields (abdominal) will be the emergency third quarterback.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones, RT Jawaan Taylor questionable
Jones, 30, did not practice Sunday or Monday but was limited on Tuesday with a calf injury. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has five sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 37 tackles in 15 starts this season, his ninth with the Chiefs.
Taylor, 27, has been limited in practice all week with a knee injury. Including 15 starts this season, he has started all 98 games since being drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.
Also Tuesday, the Chiefs (14-1) ruled out left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and nickelback Chamarri Conner (concussion). Kansas City can clinch the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed with a win against the Steelers (10-5).
Short-rested Chiefs, Steelers gear up for Christmas Day clash
His excitement lasted for only a short time.
"Until I realized it was on Wednesday," Mahomes said Monday.
Plenty of sore bodies will take the field Wednesday when the Chiefs (14-1) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) in what will be the third game in 11 days for both teams.
Both squads just played on Saturday. The Chiefs posted a 27-19 home win over the Houston Texans and the Steelers fell 34-17 to the host Baltimore Ravens.
"You're not going to feel great," Mahomes said of the short week. "That's kind of just what it is. You don't make excuses in this league. You go out and play football, and you fight until the very end, and you try to get a win at the end of the day.
"You're motivated to play a great football team, to play in Pittsburgh in a great environment, a great stadium. It'll be rocking playing on Christmas, so everybody's going to be watching."
If Kansas City wins Wednesday, it clinches the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The Chiefs have 14 victories for the third time in the past five seasons. The franchise has never won 15 games in a season.
Kansas City hasn't committed a single turnover during its five-game winning streak.
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson isn't fond of hearing "turnover" after he made two big mistakes in Saturday's loss to the Ravens.
Wilson lost a fumble after a 19-yard gain to the Baltimore 4-yard line in the second quarter and later was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Wilson called it "unacceptable" and now has his focus on making amends against Kansas City.
"I don't think there's enough time to really sulk or worry or fear," Wilson said. " ... The one thing I'm not going to do is keep my head down, though. I know for us we got so much great confidence in who we are and what we can do and how we're going to respond.
"We can't let a tough game like this take us into a negative state of mind because there's a lot more to play for and a lot more we're searching for, and we can still win the (AFC) North."
Wilson is correct. If the Steelers win their final two regular-season games, they will win their division. They would have clinched it last weekend if they had won in Baltimore.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is hardly concerned about Wilson's miscues. It was the veteran signal-caller's first time committing multiple turnovers in nine games with the team.
"He's tough on himself because he's got a desire to be great," Tomlin said. "He wants to lead us to victory. He owns that. I don't expect that to be an issue in terms of his readiness or trajectory of this week."
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) missed Pittsburgh's walkthrough on Monday.
Standout receiver George Pickens (hamstring) was a full participant and may return after missing the past three games. Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) also could return to action.
Jackson's return would be big if Porter can't play.
Kansas City also held a walkthrough on Monday. Left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring), safety Chamarri Conner (concussion) and star defensive end Chris Jones (calf) missed the session. Jones was injured against Houston.
Meanwhile, Mahomes said his sore ankle is feeling better than it did last week.
The Chiefs lost 20-14 to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day last season.
Kansas City has won the past three meetings with the Steelers, including a 42-21 rout in an AFC wild-card game on Jan. 16, 2022.
Chiefs knock off Texans in matchup of division leaders
Mahomes appeared unfazed by the high right ankle sprain that sidelined him in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He finished 28 of 41 for the Chiefs (14-1), who converted 7 of 13 third downs to keep the Texans (9-6) at bay.
Both teams have already clinched division titles.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But he also tossed two interceptions that the Chiefs converted into 10 points, and he was sacked twice. The Texans committed six penalties and finished 1 for 3 in the red zone to undermine their upset bid.
Xavier Worthy had seven receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Marquise Brown finished with five catches for 45 yards in his Chiefs debut. Eight Chiefs players caught passes.
Jaden Hicks' interception of Stroud snuffed the Texans' initial drive, and when the Chiefs took over, Mahomes moved the sticks with a 12-yard pass to Brown on fourth-and-1. Mahomes capped the 11-play, 66-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 6:31 left in the first.
Houston rallied to a 10-7 lead, starting with a seven-play, 55-yard drive that culminated in Ka'imi Fairbairn's 33-yard field goal with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
On the Texans' next possession, Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for a 10-yard scoring pass with 10:09 remaining in the first half. Houston converted three first downs during the 13-play, 82-yard drive.
But the Chiefs responded, capitalizing on a pair of crucial Houston penalties en route to their own 13-play, 82-yard drive, which Kareem Hunt capped with a 3-yard touchdown run.
When Trent McDuffie picked off Stroud with 52 seconds left in the second quarter, Harrison Butker drilled a 44-yard field goal put the Chiefs ahead 17-10 at the break.
Houston lost receiver Tank Dell to a significant left knee injury during his 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that pulled the Texans to within 17-16. Dell had his left leg stabilized before being carted off the field and taken to a hospital. Dell had six catches for 98 yards.
Texans WR Tank Dell suffers knee injury vs. Chiefs
While Dell made a diving catch of a C.J. Stroud pass, Texans receiver Jared Wayne tumbled into Dell as both went to the ground. Dell maintained possession of the ball but was removed from the game by emergency personnel via cart with his leg immobilized in a brace.
Stroud was visibly emotional as Dell departed. Both were selected during the 2023 draft.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward left the game in the first half via cart with a foot injury.
Chiefs WR Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown active vs. Texans
Brown, who was listed as active for the game, has worked his way back after being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.
Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).
Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.
The Chiefs (13-1) opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
While Brown will play on Saturday for Kansas City, the team listed the following players as inactive: defensive ends Joshua Uche and Malik Herring, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, defensive back Chamarri Conner, offensive tackles D.J. Humphries and Ethan Driskell and offensive lineman C.J. Hanson.
As for the Texans (9-5), guard Nick Broeker, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, defensive end Jerry Hughes, wide receiver John Metchie, center Juice Scruggs, tight end Cade Stover and inside linebacker Devin White were listed as inactive for Saturday's game.
Chiefs' Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes likely to start vs. Texans
Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday despite nursing an ankle sprain he suffered during the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
"We'll most likely end up playing him," Reid said on Thursday.
Reid added that he liked what he saw from Mahomes during practice.
"He did look good out there," Reid said. "He moved around pretty good. So, you're always looking to make sure they can get out the way, not to further any harm to them. So that's what I look at.
"I've been through it with him before and he amazed me every time he does it. The guy, he's been so mentally tough and just puts it into a mindset that he has going into it (from) where he was a few days ago.''
Mahomes and the Chiefs (13-1) can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Texans (9-5) and a loss or tie by the Buffalo Bills (11-3) against the visiting New England Patriots (3-11).
Carson Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Chiefs and would get his 94th career start if Mahomes sits. Wentz played the final two possessions last week.
Report: Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown to make season debut
ESPN reported Thursday that the Chiefs (13-1) are planning to activate Brown ahead of their home game against the Houston Texans (9-5).
Kansas City opened Brown's 21-day practice window last Friday. He has been on injured reserve since Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.
Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).
Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.
The Chiefs opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes practices again, signs point to start vs. Texans
Mahomes hurt an ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win at Cleveland but said Tuesday his dedicated treatment plan was paying off.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy took a cautious angle on Wednesday saying the workouts the past two days were light in comparison to usual practices because of the shorter week and games four days apart. The Chiefs (13-1) play Christmas Day -- Wednesday -- at Pittsburgh.
"I thought for him, it's a lighter day for us with the schedule that we have. So I thought, all things considered, he did well," Nagy said.
Head coach Andy Reid outlined a plan for making decisions on player gameday participation later this week. That includes Mahomes and possibly wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who hasn't played since a training camp shoulder injury forced him to injured reserve in September.
Mahomes and the Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Texans and a Buffalo Bills' loss or tie against the Patriots.
"We know our schedule this week, a little bit of a shorter week, so there's a balance there to that," Nagy said. "But so far, I think his mindset is to do everything he can. But at the same time, you still have to be able to see how he does throughout the week."
Carson Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Chiefs and would get his 94th career start if Mahomes sits. Wentz played the final two possessions last week.
"I got my feet wet a little bit at the end of the last game and felt good out there, and nothing's going to change this week," Wentz said. "Obviously, Patrick's had some nicks and bruises all year, and I've prepared like I was going to play every week. So, on my end, nothing's really going to change."
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes wants to face Texans but might not
Initially saddled with a recovery period described as week-to-week, Mahomes was listed as a full participant in practice on Tuesday and said he aims to start for the Chiefs (13-1) this weekend. However, backup Carson Wentz fully is in play.
"That's the reason you play this game is to push to play," Mahomes said. "So I'll get the work in practice and try to push it to see where I get to. But at the end of the day, I'm not going to put our team in a bad position. So if I feel that I can play and go out there and win a football game, I'll play. If I don't feel that's the best-case scenario, I'll let Carson play.
"It's just about pushing it this week, seeing where I'm at and making the best decision then."
Mahomes projected optimism despite the injury, noting the progress made with treatment that followed the Sunday victory. With the AFC West title already in the bag and a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the top seed in the AFC, the Chiefs aren't exactly pressed to insert a hobbled Mahomes into their starting lineup.
Yet he is still willing to give it a shot.
"Obviously we've put ourselves in a good position where I wouldn't say it's dire that I play," Mahomes said. "We have a little bit of room to spare, but at the end of the day, we're trying to win. And I'm a competitor and I want to go out there and play.
"I'll push myself to get to the best place possible over these next few days and we'll make a decision then."
Like Kansas City, the Texans (9-5) already have clinched a playoff berth, securing their second consecutive AFC South crown with their 20-12 home win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
While the Texans could elevate their seeding with a strong closing kick, the likelihood that they remain fourth in the standings seems as plausible as igniting a sudden, late-season surge.
That leaves Houston facing the annual predicament plenty of teams face after locking up a postseason berth while a handful of games remain in the regular season: How will the Texans approach the final three contests in advance of a wild-card tilt once the schedule is complete?
"Even though we've clinched the AFC South, it still doesn't change our approach," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "When we line up and play, we're still trying to improve as a football team in all areas and try to play our best ball when playoffs time hits. So, we're trying to still improve, still do our best."
The first game for the Texans with the playoffs guaranteed will hinge as much on Mahomes' availability as their effort. Even considering the Chiefs' overall excellence, Mahomes remains the ultimate game-changer, and the Texans' odds for success are greater if he rests.
"I have no idea on if he's playing or not, so I really can't focus on it or be concerned about it," Ryans said. "... The light shines on Patrick a lot, but if you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an outstanding unit.
"Coach (Andy) Reid and the offense, they're going to find a way no matter who is there, they'll find a way to move the football. And so, we just have to be on it in all areas of the game whether Patrick is there or not."
The Texans' quarterback, C.J. Stroud, threw a combined three touchdown passes and no interceptions over the past two games, but his yardage total in that span (373 combined) wasn't massive. And Joe Mixon was held to 23 yards on 12 carries against the Dolphins after topping 100 yards in six of the previous eight weeks.
Houston had six players absent from practice on Tuesday: defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (ankle), wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder), linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips (foot), center Juice Scruggs (foot), tight end Cade Stover (illness) and backup quarterback Davis Mills (illness).
Tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion) missed the Chiefs' Tuesday practice. Wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, nearing a return from an injured-reserve stint caused by a shoulder ailment, was a full practice participant.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: Ankle responded, feels 'push to play'
Mahomes said Tuesday he was ready to take the field, shaking off concern that his "mild high-ankle sprain" could derail Kansas City's push to the playoffs.
Head coach Andy Reid tempered the mood slightly, noting the most important time for Mahomes will be the hours and days after practicing to assess any limitations caused by the discomfort expected from testing his mobility.
The Chiefs (13-1) practiced on their typical day off because they play the Houston Texans (9-5) on Saturday and face another tight turnaround with a Week 17 Christmas Day game at Pittsburgh (10-4) on Wednesday. With a win Saturday and a loss or tie by the Buffalo Bills (11-3), the Chiefs would clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
"Let's just see what he does (in practice)," Reid said.
Mahomes said the injury in the fourth quarter of a 21-7 win at Cleveland on Sunday was a normal football play. He was connected to electric stimulation hours after the game ended and has iced the ankle religiously.
"I feel it really responded really well," Mahomes said Tuesday.
Without Mahomes, No. 2 quarterback Carson Wentz would be in line to start.
"My hope is to go out there to play," Mahomes said of his prognosis for the week. "The reason you play this game is to push to play."
Reid said wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown would participate in workouts again this week with a chance to make his debut against the Texans.
Brown has been on injured reserve since Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason.
He signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after playing three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).
Brown faced the Texans last season as a member of the Cardinals and caught two passes for 18 yards.
Chiefs release RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The 25-year-old running back led the Chiefs in rushing yards his rookie year after being selected with the 32nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, bursting onto the scene with 803 yards and four touchdowns.
The LSU product struggled to match that statistical production afterwards, however, rushing for fewer yards in each subsequent season. After starting 13 games as a rookie, he started 10 in 2021, six in ‘22 and three in ‘23.
Edwards-Helaire had managed to remain productive, averaging at least 4.3 yards per carry every year until his average dipped in ‘23 (3.2 ypc).
Edwards-Helaire had yet to see the field in 2024, getting buried on the depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and Carson Steele.
He tipped off the move on social media Monday afternoon, thanking the Kansas City community for their support.
Over the summer, Edwards-Helaire revealed that he has experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for over 5 1/2 years. He acknowledged experiencing flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.
"Sometimes I'm admitted into the hospital, something like I can't stop throwing up and it's just, I (don't) know (anything) pretty much to stop it," Edwards-Helaire said.
"... Real bad dehydration ... but it's really just mentally just not being there. It is one of those things where early on guys who kind of pay attention like Travis (Kelce) and Kadarius (Toney) at times, they can even, they'll know ahead of time like, ‘OK, Clyde's not laughing, he's not giggling, he's not himself.'"
Report: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) week-to-week
The injury, which is considered mild, occurred with 7:57 remaining in Sunday's 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns when Mahomes took a hit from Dalvin Tomlinson. The two-time NFL MVP was replaced by backup Carson Wentz.
Mahomes asked to return to the game but the request was denied, according to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He finished the game 19-of-38 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs have a tight upcoming schedule with a home game Saturday against the Houston Texans and another four days later on Christmas on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The two-time defending champion Chiefs are 13-1 this season as Mahomes has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 3,348 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also has rushed 52 times for 262 yards and another TD.
In eight NFL seasons, all with the Chiefs, Mahomes has completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 31,772 yards, 241 touchdowns and 74 interceptions. The three-time Super Bowl winner, who also has three Super Bowl MVP awards, has 2,198 career rushing yards and 13 TDs on the ground.
Patrick Mahomes (ankle) leaves Chiefs' latest win in fourth quarter
However, Mahomes never did, finishing the day with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 19-for-38 passing.
Since the Chiefs were leading 21-7 at the time of the injury, it is unknown if Mahomes was really unable to continue playing or if Kansas City made the change under center for precautionary reasons.
Wentz threw only two passes, completing both for 20 yards.
In 14 games (all starts) this season, the 29-year-old Mahomes has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 3,348 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The Chiefs improved to 13-1 with the win on Sunday and have a busy schedule coming up. They will face the Houston Texans on Saturday, then travel to Pittsburgh for a meeting with the Steelers four days later.
Patrick Mahomes injures ankle in Chiefs' win over Browns
Mahomes completed 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards but had to be replaced by veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz after getting caught up under Cleveland defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson with 7:57 left in the game.
Kansas City (13-1) had already built its 21-7 lead at the time, so it is unknown if Mahomes really was unable to continue playing or if the change under center was simply precautionary.
The Browns (3-11) also switched quarterbacks after Jameis Winston had 146 yards and three interceptions on 16-for-25 passing. Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over and hit on 4 of 9 passes for 18 yards and a pick.
Jerome Ford provided one of the few highlights for Cleveland, rushing for a 62-yard TD with 3:16 left in the third quarter to get the Browns within 21-7. Jerry Jeudy hauled in 11 catches for 108 yards as Cleveland fell for the fifth time in six games.
Nick Chubb bobbled a pass from Winston on the first play from scrimmage of the second half. Kansas City linebacker Nick Bolton picked up on the mishap and pried the ball away from Chubb as the running back was trying to control it, resulting in an interception.
The takeaway ended up leading to points, as Xavier Worthy bolted to the end zone from 21 yards out to put the Chiefs up 21-0 just 2:01 into the third quarter.
Kansas City went three-and-out on the game's opening drive but quickly got the ball back after James Proche II fumbled during his punt return. Three plays later, Mahomes found JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 7-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Mahomes made it 14-0 by capping a 14-play, 87-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring strike to a wide-open Noah Gray with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter.
The Chiefs had a chance to add on right before the break, but Harrison Butker shanked a 29-yard field-goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half.
Chiefs activate K Harrison Butker (knee) from IR
Butker, who is eligible to kick in Sunday's game at Cleveland, has been on IR since Nov. 14. He missed four games following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and returned to practice this week.
In his place, the Chiefs used Spencer Shrader and Wright, who combined to hit 11 of 12 field goals and eight extra-point attempts.
Wright was named the NFL's special teams player of the week after he connected on a 31-yard game-winning field goal on the final play of the game last Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The kick clinched the ninth consecutive AFC West title for the Chiefs.
Butker, 29, has not played since the Chiefs' 16-14 home win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 10. He is 18 of 20 on field-goal attempts (long of 53) and 21 of 22 on extra-point attempts this season.
For his career, the three-time Super Bowl champion has converted 89.2 percent of his field goals and 94.6 percent of his PATs. Butker needs 25 points to become the third player in Chiefs history with 1,000.
Also on Saturday, the Chiefs (12-1) downgraded left tackle D.J. Humphries to out due to a hamstring injury. He initially was listed as doubtful.
They also activated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and tight end Anthony Firkser from the practice squad.
Reports: Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown nearing return
Brown, 27, reportedly received medical clearance to return to practice on Thursday. He has been on injured reserve since Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason.
He signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after playing three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).
Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (12-1) could use Brown's track record of producing explosive plays as they enter the home stretch. Three of Kansas City's final four games are on the road, starting with Sunday's contest at the Cleveland Browns (3-10).
Chiefs aim to avoid letdown against Browns
There is plenty of football left to be played for Kansas City, which will try to maintain its momentum when it faces the host Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon.
The Chiefs (12-1) clinched the division for the ninth straight season by edging the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17. Matthew Wright was the hero, doinking a 31-yard field goal off the left upright and in as time expired.
It was another wild win for a Kansas City team that hasn't been rolling over opponents like it has in years past. Ten of the Chiefs' 12 wins this season came by seven points or fewer, with five of those victories coming by no more than three points.
Perhaps that's why Reid is insisting his players keep their focus while going against Cleveland (3-10).
"We're not just putting the tent up right here and calling it a day," Reid said. "We've gotta keep playing and playing aggressively. Like I said, we're playing some real good football teams that are trying to get themselves into the playoffs, so they're gonna be hungry and attacking. ...
"Great achievement (clinching the AFC West), but there's more left."
While Kansas City drives toward the postseason, the Browns are simply playing for pride at this point. A 27-14 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week officially eliminated Cleveland from playoff contention, but Browns right guard Wyatt Teller doesn't believe that's any reason to stop competing.
"Every game's a part of your resume," Teller said. "It doesn't matter if you're in the playoffs or not or in playoff contention. ... You're always fighting for something, you're always working for something. You also have a family and a brotherhood within the team that you're not going to let down."
Although Cleveland dropped four of its past five games, it at least showed promise on offense, averaging 378.2 yards per contest during that stretch.
The last thing the Chiefs need on Sunday is a shootout, as they are scheduled to play again on Dec. 21 (against the Houston Texans) before engaging in a Christmas Day battle with Pittsburgh -- three games in 11 days.
"You never want to play this many games in this short of time. It's just not great for your body," Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "But at the end of the day, it's your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it."
The Chiefs are about to see the return of starting kicker Harrison Butker after the 29-year-old was sidelined by a left knee injury. Butker was limited in practice on Wednesday, as was offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee). Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries didn't participate because of a hamstring issue.
Personal reasons kept star defensive end Myles Garrett out of Cleveland's practice on Wednesday, while guard Joel Bitonio (back) and tight end David Njoku (hamstring) also were missing from the session. Teller (glute) and cornerback Martin Emerson (shin) were among those limited.
Any day but Tuesday: KC, Patrick Mahomes bracing for three games in 11 days
"You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It's not great for your body," said Mahomes of Kansas City's upcoming Sunday-Saturday-Christmas Day (Wednesday) schedule combination. "But at the end of the day, it's your job, your profession, you have to come to work and do it."
The Chiefs begin the gauntlet of games Sunday in a Week 15 matchup at Cleveland. They return for a short week of preparation and a Saturday home game against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, then play the Steelers at Pittsburgh on Christmas Day in the first scheduled NFL game on a Wednesday since 2012.
"It's a unique situation," Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who shared that he told the team to take one day at a time through the unprecedented stretch.
"The main thing is you get guys ready for the game. Give them a chance to get ready for the game. (Players are) going to do whatever you present to them. You try to help them out with that. Right now, we have a normal week right here. We have to take care of business here."
When the season ends, the Chiefs will have played a regular-season game every day of the week except Tuesday. Kansas City beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday.
Injuries have caused havoc for the Chiefs this season. Current left tackle DJ Humphries (hamstring) was hurt Sunday night and required an MRI exam. He did not practice Wednesday.
Kansas City's top two wide receivers Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (knee) have been out most of the season. Brown, Reid said Wednesday, is "getting close" to returning from a training camp injury. Top running back Isiah Pacheco missed Weeks 3-12 with a broken fibula.
Houston had a bye in Week 14 to rest for the daunting finishing stretch and largely the same scheduling challenges as the Chiefs. Houston hosts the Miami Dolphins on Sunday before the trek to play Kansas City six days later. The Texans are home on Christmas Day to play Baltimore.
Texans GM Nick Caserio broke down the logistics with a focus on limited practice time after the typical week of preparation for Miami.
"Then you kind of lose a day. We're playing Saturday night. Then after that game, then you basically don't practice. You have walk through in preparation. So, I think the focus for the players and coaches, especially early, will be Miami. We have other people and other resources allocated staff-wise kind of preparing, kind of looking ahead a little bit to provide the information to the coaches.
"All we can do is focus on Miami. And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next - look, these are good football teams we're playing. The next four games, good football teams. We're either going to earn it, or we're not. Not to oversimplify it, but that's the truth."
The Ravens (8-5) began the season at Kansas City and had a unique December bye in Week 14 before taking on a similarly unique challenge with a trip Sunday to play the Giants, then a Saturday afternoon (Dec. 21) rematch with division rival Pittsburgh in Baltimore. On Christmas Day, the Ravens draw a playoff rematch with the Texans.
From the time the Ravens kick off against the Giants in New Jersey, Baltimore will play two more times with 10 days.
"It's a Sunday right now," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the upcoming stretch. "This is the season; it kind of begins now. The season is important to determine the important outcomes for the rest of the way - that's what we're focused on. We'll be focusing on this game, putting everything we've got into it, and then we'll go from there."
The Steelers and Ravens had a 2020 regular-season game postponed multiple days to Wednesday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chiefs OT D.J. Humphries (hamstring) sits; Harrison Butker returns
Humphries, 30, injured his hamstring in his first game with the Chiefs, a 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.
"We're just going to take it day by day and see how he does," coach Andy Reid said of Humphries, who played 60 offensive snaps.
The Chiefs (12-1) signed the Pro Bowl tackle on Nov. 23 after Humphries worked his way back from a torn ACL sustained last season while playing with the Arizona Cardinals.
Humphries started 15 games last season and all 98 in which he's played since the Cardinals selected him with the 24th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released in March.
Butker, 29, has not played since the Chiefs' 16-14 home win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 10. He had surgery on his left knee and went on injured reserve.
"We're going to see how he does. He has a chance," Reid said of Butker playing in Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Browns.
Butker is 18 of 20 on field-goal attempts (long of 53) and 21 of 22 on extra-point attempts this season. He has won three Super Bowl titles with Kansas City.
The Chiefs replaced Butker with rookie Spencer Shrader, then he went on injured reserve due to a right hamstring injury. Kicker Matthew Wright stepped in for Shrader and made all four field-goal attempts against the Chargers, including the game-winning 31-yarder off the left upright as time expired.
CB Steven Nelson ends retirement, signs with Chiefs
Nelson, 31, worked out for the team before signing a deal to return to his first NFL club.
The Chiefs are short in the defensive secondary due to injuries Jaylen Watson, who underwent ankle surgery in late October, and Joshua Williams, who came out of Kansas City's 19-17 win over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday due to a chest ailment.
Nelson was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2015 draft, and he played for Kansas City from 2015-18.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Monday, "He was a good player when he was here. He came out of Oregon State with the ability to return and play corner and then he developed into a starting corner in the league. He had a nice career for the last (nine) years. It was the ability to add a little depth to that spot."
Nelson subsequently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2019-20), the Philadelphia Eagles (2021) and the Houston Texans (2022-23). Last season, he appeared in all 17 games for Houston, making 16 starts and recording 63 tackles, four interceptions and 12 passes defensed.
In 130 career NFL games (115 starts), Nelson has 456 tackles, 13 interceptions, 78 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one sack.
Chiefs top Chargers on game-ending FG to win AFC West title
Mahomes guided a 14-play, 47-yard drive, which was capped by Wright's game-winning kick, as the Chiefs extended their NFL record to 15 consecutive one-score victories going back to last season, counting playoff games.
Wright, who finished with four field goals, is Kansas City's third kicker this season with Harrison Butker and Spencer Shrader both out with injuries.
Isiah Pacheco had 55 yards rushing and Travis Kelce finished with five receptions for 45 yards, including a key first-down catch just after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, as Kansas City won its ninth consecutive division title.
Justin Herbert had 213 yards passing with a touchdown, and Joshua Palmer had six receptions for 78 yards for the Chargers. Quentin Johnston had five receptions for 48 yards and a TD for Los Angeles, which lost for just the second time in its past seven games.
The Chiefs won both games between the two teams this season. Kansas City beat Los Angeles 17-10 on the road in September.
After they were shut out in the first half, the Chargers took the lead in the third quarter. Gus Edwards ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 7:12 left in the quarter and Herbert threw a 4-yard TD pass to Johnston with 3:30 remaining to give Los Angeles a 14-13 edge.
The teams exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter before Wright's game winner. Wright made a 50-yarder with 13:04 remaining to give the Chiefs a 16-14 lead. The Chargers moved in front 17-16 with 4:35 on the clock after a 37-yard kick from Cameron Dicker.
Kansas City scored the only points of the first quarter when Matthew Wright made a 47-yard field goal with 10:05 remaining.
The Chiefs added a 33-yard field goal from Wright near the midway point of the second quarter and took a 13-0 lead into halftime after a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to DeAndre Hopkins with less than a minute remaining before the break.
The Chiefs held the Chargers to 127 net yards in the first half, including 93 net yards passing.
Chiefs place WR Mecole Hardman (knee) on IR
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday that Hardman suffered the injury before the team's on-field work when his "knee locked up on him."
The earliest Hardman can return is Week 18 against the host Denver Broncos.
Hardman, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs in June, just months after he caught the game-winning touchdown in Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
A three-time Super Bowl champion, Hardman has 12 catches for 90 yards as well as five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown this season. He also has 20 punt returns and five kick returns.
Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets to start the 2023 season before being traded back to the Chiefs.
In a corresponding move, the Chiefs signed receiver Nikko Remigio off the practice squad, where he has spent the entire season after not making the 53-man roster in training camp.
The Chiefs (11-1) are set for a divisional matchup Sunday night against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).
Kings of the close call: Chiefs look to squeak out another win vs. Chargers
Wins aside, the aura of invincibility surrounding the two-time defending champions, however, continues to fade.
The Chiefs enter the Week 14 matchup with an impressive 11-1 record. However, in their four victories over their past five games, one win came in overtime and three others came by three points or fewer.
The latest close call came last Friday when Kansas City held on for a 19-17 home victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs finally sealed the victory when the Raiders botched a snap in shotgun formation with 15 seconds remaining while already in field-goal range.
Yet even as it seems like the rest of the league is starting to catch up to the Chiefs, they do know how to finish off tight games. They are 9-0 this season in games decided by one possession.
Three times this season the Chiefs have scored fewer than 20 points, and they won each contest.
"The hope is that with all of these close finishes, we're getting wins but it's keeping us hungry so that we can try to continue to get better as the season goes on," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.
Close games are reason for concern with the Chiefs, who are on their third kicker. With Harrison Butker down and Spencer Shrader going on injured reserve this week, Matthew Wright was signed from the practice squad after he made 4 of 5 kicks against the Raiders.
"Wright will go this weekend and if he just keeps doing what he has been doing, he has done a nice job for us," Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said.
Mahomes still threw for 306 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders, while tight end Travis Kelce had a team-best seven receptions. But the Raiders had 434 yards of total offense to 329 for the Chiefs, and Mahomes was sacked five times for minus-40 yards.
The Chargers hope they can lean into a defense that enters the week tied for sixth in the NFL with 36 sacks. Los Angeles (8-4) has plenty of momentum with five victories in its last six games, while allowing fewer than 20 points in four of those five wins.
The Chargers have the best defense in the NFL when it comes to opponents' points, allowing an average of 15.7. The Chiefs are eighth with 19.6 points allowed.
Where Los Angeles will look to improve is with an offense that gained just 187 total yards and earned 10 first downs in a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Chargers' Tarheeb Still had a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Still not only had two interceptions against the Falcons, he also provided the Chargers' only points of the second half, other than the ensuing two-point conversion. The rookie's efforts earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
"Great defense wants to be on the field, you know what I mean?" said the Chargers' Derwin James Jr., who sealed the victory on his own interception with less than a minute remaining. "I feel like we had that talent and we finished how we wanted to finish as a defense."
Cameron Dicker had three field goals on a day when Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert was 16-of-23 passing for 147 yards and was sacked five times.
"Yeah, we could do some things better (on offense)," head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "But we were at our best when our best was needed most. Maybe just like the defense, it's going to translate."
Linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee) was the only Chargers player held out of Wednesday's practice because of injury. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) was among those with limited participation.
Outside of their kicking situation, the Chiefs are healthy, with all players full participants Wednesday.
Chiefs place K Spencer Shrader (hamstring) on IR
Shrader, who will have to miss at least four games, was injured early last week and missed the Chiefs' 19-17 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Friday.
He was filling in for starting kicker Harrison Butker, who went on injured reserve with a knee injury on Nov. 14 and is eligible to return after this Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Shrader, 25, played in two games for the Chiefs and made all three field-goal attempts with a long of 41 yards and all six extra-point attempts. He also appeared in one game apiece for the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets this season.
Wright, 28, made his debut for the Chiefs against the Raiders and made 4 of 5 field-goal attempts with a long of 42 yards, and 1-for-1 on extra points. He played in one game for the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 10 and went 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points in a 36-24 win at the Seattle Seahawks.
In parts of five NFL seasons with five different teams (and two stints with Kansas City), Wright is 47-for-55 (85.5 percent) on field goals with a long of 59, and 39-for-41 (95.1 percent) on extra points in 26 regular-season games.
Chiefs first to clinch playoff spot after edging Raiders
Kansas City (11-1) has played in a slew of close games this season and wrapped up this win when Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson unexpectedly snapped the ball. It caromed off the upper right arm of quarterback Aidan O'Connell, and Nick Bolton of the Chiefs recovered it at the Kansas City 37-yard line with 11 seconds left.
Mahomes threw one scoring pass to become the franchise leader with 238, surpassing Hall of Famer Len Dawson (237). Fill-in kicker Matthew Wright matched his career high of four field goals for the Chiefs.
Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker caught touchdown passes for Las Vegas (2-10), which dropped its eighth straight game. Bowers had 10 receptions for a career-best 140 yards.
O'Connell completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders. It was his first appearance since he broke his right (throwing) thumb in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
O'Connell was pressed into duty after Gardner Minshew sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in last Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Wright kicked a 32-yard field goal with 9:53 left in the game to give Kansas City a 19-17 lead.
The Raiders had a chance to take the lead but Daniel Carlson was short on a 58-yard field goal attempt with 2:17 remaining. Carlson also missed attempts from 56 and 55 yards.
Carlson looked in line for one final chance before the errant snap on a play from the Kansas City 32.
The Raiders trailed by 13 before stunning the Chiefs with two touchdowns in a span of 1:48.
Las Vegas moved within six when O'Connell tossed a 33-yard scoring pass to Bowers with 1:40 remaining in the third. The score was set up by a 68-yard kickoff return by Ameer Abdullah.
Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, O'Donnell threw deep and connected with Tucker on a 58-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 17-16 edge.
Mahomes passed the mark of Dawson, who retired after the 1975 season, with a 6-yard scoring pass to Watson to give the Chiefs a 10-3 lead with 2:14 left in the first half.
Wright kicked field goals of 42 and 35 yards in the third quarter to boost Kansas City's lead to 16-3. Wright was signed this week to handle place-kicking duties with Harrison Butker and last week's hero, Spencer Shrader, sidelined with injuries.
Chiefs activate RB Isiah Pacheco, DE Charles Omenihu from IR
Pacheco, Kansas City's starting running back, sustained a broken fibula is his team's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Omenihu, a defensive lineman, has yet to make his season debut. He has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last season's AFC Championship Game victory against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chiefs (10-1) also ruled out rookie kicker Spencer Shrader (right hamstring) and listed linebacker Cam Jones (illness) as questionable after he missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday but was a full participant Thursday.
Game-day elevations were kicker Matthew Wright and tight end Anthony Firkser.
Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards with a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.
Omenihu, 27, had seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.
Shrader, 25, did not practice this week. Formerly with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets this season, he has played in two games for the Chiefs as a replacement for injured starter Harrison Butker (knee), who is on IR, and was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts.
Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco, Charles Omenihu to play vs. Raiders
Pacheco, Kansas City's starting running back, sustained a broken fibula is his team's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Omenihu, a defensive lineman, has yet to make his season debut. He has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last season's AFC Championship Game victory against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.
Omenihu, 27, had a career-high seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.
The Chiefs (10-1) currently are the top seed in the AFC.
Chiefs not discounting Raiders after holiday upset in '23
The Las Vegas Raiders would be happy with any type of victory since they are winless since Sept. 29. But the Raiders (2-9) are hoping to pull another holiday surprise in an AFC West battle on Black Friday after Las Vegas spoiled Christmas Day 2023 at Arrowhead.
Kansas City (10-1) is tied with the Detroit Lions for the top record in the NFL. But the Chiefs haven't been racking up victories in the dominant fashion they did in past seasons.
Five of Kansas City's victories this season have been determined on the final play of the game -- two made field goals, one rushing touchdown in overtime, one blocked field goal and one opponent touchdown overturned.
Mahomes said the close wins are a product of the club's studying during the week.
"Being prepared for the moment," Mahomes said Tuesday of the team's methodology. "Obviously, you want to do it throughout the entire game but when it's do or die time and you have to make it happen, guys go out there and make it happen."
The latest close call was nearly even more of a stunner as Kansas City needed a 31-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader to post a 30-27 road victory over the Carolina Panthers, one of the NFL's worst teams.
The Chiefs led by 11 points in the fourth quarter before blowing the lead and getting rescued by Shrader, a fill-in for injured regular kicker Harrison Butker.
Kansas City coach Andy Reid had to give a pep talk in the down winner's locker room following the escape. Mahomes explained why the mood was downcast.
"I think we hold ourselves to an extremely high standard," Mahomes said. "So unless we felt we play our best, guys are itching to get back out there and go for more. I felt there were times we played good football ... and we were able to find a way to win at the end of the game.
"Unless we play the way we expect to play, we're going to strive to be better every time we step on the football field."
The Chiefs registered a 27-20 road win over the Raiders in Week 8 when they didn't need late-game heroics or good fortune to win.
Las Vegas has dropped seven consecutive games and is tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL.
Five of their losses have been by double digits, including the past three. The Raiders lost 29-19 to the visiting Denver Broncos last weekend.
Las Vegas also lost quarterback Gardner Minshew for the rest of the season with a fractured left collarbone.
Aidan O'Connell, who broke his right (throwing) thumb in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams, returned to practice this week and is expected to start. He was a full practice participant on Tuesday. Desmond Ridder, who replaced Minshew after the injury against Denver, will be the backup.
"We've got a short week, so obviously, the timeline is kind of sped up," Raiders interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner said. "We're going to evaluate those guys. Ultimately, Coach (Antonio Pierce) will make the decision on who we're going with. You've just got to get somebody ready to play in a short period of time, but there's nothing you can do about it."
Ridder joined the Raiders one day after O'Connell's injury.
"I've been here almost a month and now I feel comfortable with the offense," Ridder said. "I'm ready to go."
Cornerbacks Nate Hobbs (ankle) and Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and running back Zamir White (quadriceps) missed practice Wednesday for Las Vegas.
Shrader (right hamstring) and linebacker Cam Jones (illness) were the only Chiefs to miss practice Tuesday. Kansas City signed kicker Matthew Wright to its practice squad and he will handle the duties if Shrader can't go.
The Chiefs have won 17 of the past 20 meetings.
Chiefs hold off pesky Panthers, win on last-second FG
It was a bounce-back effort for the Chiefs (10-1), who lost for the first time this season a week earlier against the Buffalo Bills. Kansas City never trailed yet had to use a 57-yard drive to move into scoring position to close the game.
Mahomes was 27 of 37 for 269 yards, tight end Noah Gray caught two touchdown passes and Shrader kicked two field goals.
Carolina's Chuba Hubbard ran 1 yard for a touchdown with 1:46 remaining and tacked on a two-point conversion run to knot the score at 27-all. It was the second try on the conversion after a defensive pass penalty on an incomplete throw.
Bryce Young threw for 263 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Eddy Pineiro kicked field goals from 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards.
Carolina tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was carted off the field just before halftime and was hospitalized with a neck injury. Sanders had movement in all extremities, according to head coach Dave Canales.
Both teams scored touchdowns on their first possessions of the second half.
Carolina used 15 plays and more than 8 1/2 minutes, resulting in Young's 1-yard TD pass to David Moore. Kansas City pushed its edge to 27-16 on a 75-yard march in 10 plays with DeAndre Hopkins grabbing Mahomes' 3-yard pass.
The Chiefs seemed in a hurry to wipe away the disappointment from the previous week. Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards into Carolina territory and on the third snap, Mahomes connected with Gray for a 35-yard touchdown.
The next four scoring plays were field goals - two for each team.
The Chiefs then drove 92 yards in 14 plays to score on Gray's 11-yard reception, pushing their lead to 20-6 with 44 seconds left in the first half. Kansas City scored on all four of its first-half possessions.
The Panthers weren't finished, moving to the Kansas City 11 before settling for their third field goal on the last play of the half.
Chiefs keep healthy RB Isiah Pacheco on shelf till Black Friday
Reid said Friday he won't put running back Isiah Pacheco on the field at Carolina on Sunday, when the Chiefs visit the Panthers for a Week 12 matchup, to give him more time to recover from a broken fibula. Because of the short week of preparation before Friday's game with the Las Vegas Raiders, Reid opted not to activate Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu to face the Panthers.
Reid said Thursday that the Chiefs, including input from trainers and offensive coaches, were already considering protecting Pacheco by taking the decision out of his hands this week.
"He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way, and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point."
Pacheco and Omenihu practiced the entire week.
With three more light practice days before the weeknight game, both players could return for the division clash on Friday.
Kareem Hunt, who is averaging 3.7 yards per carry as the primary ballcarrier during Pacheco's absence, remains the starter.
Pacheco was placed on injured reserve Sept. 18 with a broken fibula sustained in a Week 2 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Omenihu has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last year's AFC Championship Game victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.
Omenihu, 27, had a career-high seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.
Chiefs move past first loss, place target on Panthers
The Panthers (3-7) have won two games in a row and are coming off an open week.
The Chiefs (9-1) don't have a winning streak for the first time since January. They lost last weekend at Buffalo, though they share the best record in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs are bound to be paying attention to more details after a rare disappointment for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions.
"Try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end," Mahomes said of the loss to the Bills.
Mahomes said the Chiefs are keeping perspective after their first defeat since Christmas Day 2023 (20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders).
"The undefeated thing was cool, but that's not our ultimate goal," he said.
Kansas City lost back-to-back games once last season but not during their 14-3 season in 2022. They dropped two in a row once in 2021 and finished 12-5 but ran up a 14-2 record in 2020 without losing consecutive games.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the focus clicked quickly from Buffalo to the Panthers without players discussing being undefeated.
"I don't really hear a lot of that talk from them or think they care too much about that, other than exhausting yourself the best you can to prepare yourself for that team there that week." Reid said. "Then you get to a point where you say, 'Listen, I've done everything I possibly can. Here's a product.' And you go play."
Mahomes challenges defenses in multiple ways even operating with an offense dented by injuries. There's a chance running back Isiah Pacheco (broken leg) returns from injured reserve, but Reid said that decision wouldn't be made until late in the week.
Pacheco's hard-charging style commands a team approach to tackling, but Carolina doesn't want to distract from intent to keep Mahomes under wraps.
With defensive backs doing better at formation identification, the Panthers are giving themselves a stronger chance to be effective at the back end.
"And making plays when the ball comes to them," first-year coach Dave Canales said. "So a lot of growth there."
The Panthers are sticking with Bryce Young at quarterback, something that was expected given a couple of victories since he returned to the first-string role.
"This is about the continued progress," Canales said. "Bryce looks more and more confident."
With a quarterback who's still trying to settle in and bolster production, the Panthers expect that the Chiefs will dial up some defensive packages to test Young's ability to handle different looks.
"We just have to be prepared for those answers," Canales said. "They're going to have variety, (so) let's do our best stuff as fast that we can to try to put a little bit of stress on them."
The Panthers won't be overconfident by any stretch. They're aware of what the Chiefs are all about.
"I feel like we just got to tighten up our details even more knowing that they're coming in to find a way to win," Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn said.
The Panthers were without starting left guard Damien Lewis because of illness Wednesday, but otherwise the team's list of available players should be growing.
Receiver Adam Thielen is expected to be in action for the first time since September as he comes off a hamstring ailment.
Perhaps the biggest development that has been brewing for a few weeks is that running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) should be set for his NFL debut.
"I have really high hopes for him playing this Sunday," Canales said. "Particularly with Miles (Sanders) out (ankle), to give us another running back in there with Chuba (Hubbard)."
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) could return from IR this week
But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday.
"We'll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we're at the end of this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said. "But yeah, just have to see. (It's a) day-by-day type thing."
Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.
While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He's keeping the door open for one or both to show they're ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he's not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input.
"He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point."
Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game.
Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn't ready to practice.
"Making very good progress, (I) can't tell you when he'll be back," Reid said. "He's another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he's approached the whole thing."
Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August.
Josh Allen's clutch TD run ices Bills' win over Chiefs
Facing the choice of attempting a short field goal or handing the defending Super Bowl champions and quarterback Patrick Mahomes the ball and time to drive for a win, Bills coach Sean McDermott turned the game over to Allen, who first looked to pass, then diced through a Chiefs defense that is among the league's best against the run.
The Bills improved to 9-2. The Chiefs fell to 9-1.
Allen completed 27 of 40 passes for 262 yards and led the Bills (9-2) with 55 rush yards.
Buffalo appeared to take control by dominating the time of possession in the second half, a category the Chiefs have controlled.
With the Bills defense containing Mahomes, Allen bloomed in the fourth quarter. His 12-yard pass to wideout Curtis Samuel with 12:51 left paid off a 10-play, 83-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock and gave the Bills a 23-14 lead.
But Mahomes led the Chiefs 70 yards in 4:58 to trim the lead to 23-21 on his second touchdown pass -- a 1-yarder -- pass to tight end Noah Gray.
Buffalo has won six straight this season and the last four regular-season games in the series. The eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs eliminated the Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs in Buffalo in January, however.
A first half that featured four lead changes ended with the Bills leading 16-14 after Buffalo's Tyler Bass kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired.
James Cook gave the Bills a 6-0 lead just five minutes into the game with a 3-yard run, but the extra point kick failed.
The Chiefs took a 7-6 lead seven seconds into the second quarter on Mahomes' 10-yard pass to Xavier Worthy.
Buffalo responded immediately, however, using a 6-yard run by Cook for a 13-7 lead.
Chiefs K Harrison Butker undergoes surgery on left knee
"Surgery went great! Thank you for the prayers," Butker wrote on X.
The Chiefs announced Friday they had placed Butker, 29, on injured reserve and confirmed the signing of kicker Spencer Shrader, who had been on the New York Jets practice squad.
Eighth among NFL kickers in points with 75 this season, Butker connected on 18 of 20 field-goal attempts and 21 of 22 extra points. Both of the missed field goals were on tries beyond 50 yards.
Butker's career 89.21 field-goal percentage ranks third in NFL history. He has won three Super Bowl titles with Kansas City.
Shrader has limited NFL experience.
A 25-year-old rookie from Notre Dame, Shrader connected on both of his field-goal attempts for the Jets last week at Arizona. He joined the Jets after being released by the Indianapolis Colts, who used Shrader in Week 1 for three successful PATs as the injury replacement for kicker Matt Gay.
The Chiefs (9-0), seeking their 16th consecutive win dating back to last season, visit the Buffalo Bills (8-2) on Sunday in a key AFC game.
Chiefs pluck untested Spencer Shrader from Jets, place PK Harrison Butker (knee) on IR
Butker won't be on the field when the Chiefs (9-0) visit the Buffalo Bills (8-2) on Sunday trying to win an 16th consecutive game dating to last season.
Eighth among NFL kickers in points with 75 this season, Butker connected on 18 of 20 field-goal attempts and 21 of 22 extra points. Both of the missed field goals were on tries beyond 50 yards.
Butker's career 89.21 field-goal percentage ranks third in NFL history.
The Chiefs have won seven of nine games by a one-possession margin in 2024. Their last visit to Buffalo was a 27-24 nail-biter win in last seasons's AFC Divisional Playoffs, and the regular-season meeting with the Bills was a 20-17 loss. The Chiefs also dropped a 24-20 decision to the Bills in the 2022 regular season.
A 25-year-old rookie from Notre Dame, Shrader connected on both of his field-goal attempts for the Jets last week at Arizona. He joined the Jets after being released by the Indianapolis Colts, who used Shrader in Week 1 for three successful PATs as the injury replacement for placekicker Matt Gay.
He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and played college football only after first pursuing a pro soccer career. He enrolled at USF in 2019 and was the primary kicker for four seasons. As a graduate transfer in 2023, Shrader had four 50-yard field goals for the Fighting Irish.
Butker, 29, signed a self-negotiated four-year, $25.6 million extension in August that made him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
Butker set the Super Bowl record for longest field goal during the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII earlier this year. Butker's 57-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the third quarter supplanted the previous record that had been set just one quarter earlier by 49ers rookie Jake Moody, who kicked a 55-yarder to give San Francisco an early 3-0 lead.
Originally drafted out of Georgia Tech by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Butker has played all seven of his NFL seasons with the Chiefs.
Shrader participated in the Colts' 2024 offseason program and training camp after originally signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.
Quest for perfection takes Chiefs back to Buffalo
The Bills (8-2) appear to be the greatest impediment standing in the way of the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs becoming the first NFL team to go undefeated in the regular season since the New England Patriots in 2007.
History and hyperbole are plentiful as the Chiefs (9-0) land in Buffalo for what is being framed as the marquee game of Week 11 and potentially the 2024 regular season.
Based on recent matchups between these rivals, the final minutes are likely to be worth the wait yet again in this storybook series. The Chiefs have come from behind eight times this season, while the Bills have won three teams when trailing at the half.
It's just the fifth time since 1970 that NFL teams with eight or more wins meet in Week 11 or sooner. The home team won each of the previous four matchups.
Kansas City is attempting to become the first team to go undefeated in a 17-game regular season.
It's tough to discern where the momentum stands even with the Chiefs entering the game undefeated.
They needed a last-second blocked field goal to knock off the Denver Broncos last week, sparking Mahomes to send a warning to his teammates.
"I mean, you're playing the best. The best of the best. That's what you want in this league," he said of facing Josh Allen and the Bills. "I've been able to go up against Josh a multitude of times, and every single game it seems like it comes down to the very end. He is a guy that competes and has that fire. I think you can see that fire that he plays with and that kind of goes through his entire team."
Buffalo, which has won five consecutive wins overall, has claimed the past three regular-season games in the series, all of which were played in Kansas City. And the Bills can still tap into a revenge factor. The eventual repeat Super Bowl champion Chiefs eliminated the Bills in the AFC divisional playoffs 27-24 at Buffalo in January.
Despite owning good individual stats against Kansas City, Allen is focusing on the bottom line.
"I know we haven't beat them in the playoffs," he said on Wednesday, "so that's the only thing that really matters."
The matchup features two of the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL: two-time MVP Mahomes and the decorated but overshadowed Allen.
Their offenses have been getting the job done in different ways. Although Mahomes has just three more touchdowns (12) than interceptions, Kansas City hangs onto the ball thanks to a league-leading third-down conversion rate (52 percent).
The Bills are tied for third in points per game (29) -- the Chiefs average 24.3 -- and Allen didn't throw two picks in a game until a win over the Indianapolis Colts last week.
Buffalo leads the NFL in turnover margin at plus-13. And the Bills bring a respectable defense of their own. The group is allowing just 19.3 points per game and has 19 takeaways, the latter figure ranking second in the league.
Red-zone defense figures to be paramount against a Chiefs offense that keys off Mahomes' dynamic decision-making and threat to run or unleash brazen throws.
Buffalo allows touchdowns on just 47.2 percent of red-zone incursions (eighth in the NFL), while the Chiefs have scored on 53.6 percent of the time (13th).
The Kansas City defense, meanwhile, allows just 17.9 points per game (tied for fifth best) and is fourth in yards allowed (289.9).
"I think they do a great job switching the looks that they're giving," Allen said. "Obviously, we know Chris Jones is a game-wrecker, one of the best if not the best interior D linemen in the game right now. You pair that up with some of their DBs and linebackers and they're flying all over the field. ... We're going to have our hands full."
Allen is tied for fourth in the NFL with 17 touchdown passes. All four of his interceptions this season have come in the past three games.
"He's doing a great job with the ball," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He's using everybody and he's not forcing anything in there, obviously, so I think he's doing great with his decision-making."
However, Allen's decimated receiving corps will present another difficult scenario against Kansas City. Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman is out with a wrist injury, wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) is questionable after sitting out Wednesday. Right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle) also did not practice on Wednesday.
The Chiefs reported no significant injuries on Wednesday and actually had encouraging news with defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) and running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) returning to practice. Reid said that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was closer to returning, whereas Pacheco and Omenihu weren't viewed as candidates to play Sunday.
"We'll see as we go through practice, but if it's up to him, he's back," Reid said of Smith-Schuster.
After Sunday, the Chiefs finish the regular season with the Panthers, Raiders, Chargers, Browns, Texans, Steelers and Broncos. Those teams have averaged four wins so far this season. Only the Chargers, Texans and Steelers currently have a winning record. Kansas City beat the Chargers 17-10 in Los Angeles on Sept. 29.
