KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Patrick Mahomes knew he could run with the ankle he sprained last week. The Chiefs quarterback’s bigger concern was how he would stop when all the weight, pressure and momentum landed directly on him.

The solution against Houston was simple: Mahomes didn’t stop.

The two-time MVP continued to chug forward until he plowed into the end zone with a 15-yard scramble to cap the Chiefs’ first drive of Saturday. Mahomes threw for 260 yards and another score without once appearing troubled by his sore ankle, leading Kansas City to a 27-19 victory that put the Chiefs on the brink of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs .

The Chiefs (14-1) can clinch the postseason bye and home-field advantage if Buffalo loses or ties Sunday against New England. If the Bills win, Kansas City can close it all out with a win over Pittsburgh on Christmas Day – its third game in 11 days.

“I demand a lot from the guys around me. I feel like when I ask them to play through pain, scrapes and bruises, I have to do the same,” Mahomes said. “That’s what I’m proud of, being out there with my boys.”

Xavier Worthy had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, Kareem Hunt ran for 55 yards and another score and Marquise Brown had five catches for 45 yards for Kansas City in his first game this season after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid described the result as his team’s most comprehensive performance this season.

As for Mahomes?

“He spoils us, he’s so tough,” Reid said. “You get used to it. But most guys don’t come back from it like he did.”

CJ Stroud threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions for Houston (9-6), and one of those TD throws came at a heavy cost. Tank Dell, who had six catches for 98 yards, suffered a devastating knee injury during the game and was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he would stay overnight.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now. You see what he means to our entire team,” Ryans said. “It hurts to see him go down like that. He had a fantastic game and played really well for us.”

Stroud was visibly shaken by the injury and had to be comforted by his teammates on the sidelines.

“I mean, all you can really do is pray,” he said.

There were questions earlier in the week about whether Mahomes, who has suffered from ankle injuries in the past, would even play after suffering a severe ankle sprain in last week’s win over Cleveland. But he was no longer listed on the injury report Friday, and he was on the field and led the Chiefs to a touchdown on their first possession.

His struggle to score was just the start of a back-and-forth first half.

The Texans answered with a 33-yard field goal and then went on a 13-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Stroud’s touchdown toss to Dalton Schutlz. But the Chiefs quickly regained the lead when Hunt stormed into the end zone, and a few minutes later after Stroud’s second interception, they scored a field goal and led 17-10 at halftime.

Dell was injured in the third quarter of the Texans’ opener. He got behind the end zone and made a spectacular catch, but collided with teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. He immediately grabbed his left knee and players from both teams surrounded him as he was loaded onto a cart and driven off the field.

Ka’imi Fairbairn promptly missed the extra point and any momentum Houston might have had was gone.

Kansas City marched the other way, relying heavily on Worthy, who touched the ball four times on the drive. The first-round pick finished the game with an 8-yard reception, giving him a season-high for receiving yards and his eighth touchdown of the year.

The teams made the same field goals in the fourth quarter, and the Texans took the lead, trailing 27-19, with just over five minutes left. But the Chiefs forced a three-and-out, got a sack from Josh Williams on a cornerback blitz and ran out the clock from there.

“This was a great test against a really good playoff team,” Ryans said. “It was a playoff atmosphere here today. I thought our guys really fought. We just have to finish.”

Taylor time

Pop star Taylor Swift was in attendance at the Chiefs’ regular season finale. She’s been spending more time with her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in Kansas City since wrapping up her Eras tour on Dec. 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia, including a surprise visit to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Injuries

Houston: OG Shaq Mason (left knee) left on the fourth play. FS Jimmie Ward (foot) was injured late in the first half.

Kansas City: LB Jack Cochrane broke his ankle on special teams in the first quarter. RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) left in the third quarter and DT Chris Jones suffered a mild calf strain in the fourth quarter.

Next

The Chiefs travel to Pittsburgh and Houston hosts Baltimore on Christmas Day for an NFL doubleheader.

——

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl