Chiefs send Texans into game marred by gruesome injury; Ravens secure playoff spot

Chiefs send Texans into game marred by gruesome injury; Ravens secure playoff spot



CNN

The Kansas City Chiefs moved one step closer to securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed after defeating the Houston Texans 27-19 at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens secured a spot in the playoffs after a 34-17 home win over their AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the first game of the NFL doubleheader, the Chiefs hosted the Texans.

The game was marred by a scary moment in the third quarter when the Chiefs were up 17-10.

After an incredible catch on a 30-yard touchdown pass from CJ Stroud that brought the Texans within a point, Houston wide receiver Tank Dell was left dead on his left knee. Replays showed Dell’s leg appeared to bend in an awkward direction after it got caught in a tangle of bodies during teammate Jared Wayne’s catch.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell catches a touchdown pass against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in the second half.

The normally noisy Arrowhead Stadium fell silent as medical staff attended to Dell on the field. Numerous Texas players cried, with their close friend Stroud appearing particularly distraught.

Dell was brought onto the field on a cart with his injured leg in a vacuum splint.

The NBC broadcast later revealed that the second-year receiver was taken by ambulance to the University of Kansas Hospital, a level one trauma center.

After the game, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Dell suffered a “significant” knee injury and added that he would remain in Kansas City overnight for further evaluation.

“We’re a family, we’re in this together and Tank means so much to our entire football team, beyond just playing, just as a person and a man. “He means a lot to us,” Ryans said.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Networks, citing unnamed sources, Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap.

Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud reacts after an injury to wide receiver Tank Dell.
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell covers his face as he is carried off the field on a stretcher after suffering an injury.

Dell had one of his best games of the season on Saturday, with 6 catches for 98 yards to go and his touchdown.

After the injury, any momentum the Texans might have had was lost.

“It’s not easy, you know what I’m saying? But after that I tried to use it as motivation,” Stroud said. “It’s not easy to just let it go, especially because this is my best friend. It wasn’t easy to keep going and just keep playing, but I tried to do my best.”

Patrick Mahomes, who was questionable all week with an ankle injury, showed minimal signs of impairment from the severe ankle sprain he suffered in the fourth quarter of the team’s win over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.

Mahomes and the Chiefs offense wasted no time getting the game started, marching down the field for an 11-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown by Mahomes to make the Chiefs 7-0 Leadership after the successful extra point attempt.

After the Dell injury, Mahomes found wide receiver Xavier Worthy just outside the end zone for an 8-yard score that nearly sealed the 24-16 Chiefs win.

Both teams exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, but the Texans were unable to score again.

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 14-1 on the season and moved closer to a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Kansas City can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Sunday if the Buffalo Bills lose or draw against the New England Patriots. If the Bills win, the Chiefs can secure it with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, the Texans host the Baltimore Ravens, also on December 25th.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for 207 yards and three touchdowns while running back Derrick Henry rushed for 162 yards as Baltimore defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. 34-17.

Saturday night’s contest at M&T Bank Stadium was hotly contested throughout.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Baltimore on Saturday, December 21st.

After the Steelers tied the game 17-17 midway through the third quarter, the Ravens scored 17 unanswered points and pulled away.

The turning point in the game arguably came early in the fourth quarter when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Jackson at the Steelers’ 35-yard line.

Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was down 24:17 and had a chance to tie the game after the turnover. He threw a costly interception to Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who took it to the house for the 37-yard pick-six touchdown.

Humphrey’s interception proved to be a crucial point as the Ravens defeated the Steelers for just the second time in the last ten meetings between the two teams.

With the win, the Ravens secured a spot in the playoffs while preventing the Steelers from securing the division title.

Both AFC North rivals are now at the top of the table with a record of 10-5.

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