On Sunday, the (6-6) Kansas City Chiefs will host the (7-5) Houston Texans for “Sunday Night Football.” Let’s see how the game plays out in the “Madden NFL 26” video game!
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First quarter
The Texans open the game with the ball and manage to pick up one first down, but their momentum quickly stalls. On third down, defensive tackle Chris Jones breaks through the line and sacks quarterback C.J. Stroud, forcing Houston to punt.
The Chiefs respond with an efficient nine-play, 83-yard drive. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes picks apart the defense, capping the possession with a slant to wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who slices through three Houston defenders on his way to the end zone.
End of first quarter: Chiefs 7, Texans 0
Second quarter
Stroud throws a deep shot downfield, looking for wide receiver Nico Collins 40 yards out, but Collins is blanketed by a double team and can’t haul it in. The Texans are forced to punt again.
Mahomes wastes no time on the ensuing drive, hitting wide receiver Rashee Rice for a quick 16-yard gain. On the very next play, he launches a deep 54-yard ball that drops perfectly into the hands of Worthy at the goal line for the wide receiver’s second touchdown of the game.
Kansas City’s defense continues to take control. The unit stuffs back-to-back rushing attempts by running back Woody Marks before Stroud again tries to find Collins deep — but the ball slips through the receiver’s hands. Punter Tommy Townsend comes on for his third punt.
The Kansas City offense finally stumbles, going three-and-out and punting for the first time in the game.
On third-and-manageable, the Texans dial up a screen pass to Marks — but cornerback Jaylen Watson stops him one yard shy of the first down. Townsend trots onto the field for his fourth punt of the game.
Knocking on the door of the end zone with under 30 seconds left in the half, the Chiefs have the ball at the Texans’ 1-yard line. But on first down, Mahomes is chased backward and dropped for a 12-yard loss by linebacker E.J. Speed.
Backed up to second down, Mahomes tries to fire a quick pass to wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown — but cornerback Kamari Lassiter jumps the route and picks it off, ending the scoring threat.
With only two seconds remaining in the half, Stroud launches a Hail Mary, but the Chiefs swat it away to close out the quarter.
End of second quarter: Chiefs 14, Texans 0
Third quarter
The Chiefs open the quarter with a commanding drive, moving the ball effortlessly down the field. Running back Isiah Pacheco caps it off with a 14-yard burst into the end zone, extending the Chiefs’ lead. At that point, the Texans still haven’t crossed the Kansas City 40-yard line all game.
Houston finally breaks past midfield when Stroud hits Collins for a 19-yard gain. A few plays later — now inside the 10 — Stroud finds tight end Dalton Schultz on an out route, working against linebacker Nick Bolton, for the Texans’ first touchdown of the night.
The Chiefs are unable to answer on the next possession and are forced to punt.
End of third quarter: Chiefs 21, Texans 7
Fourth quarter
Stroud’s efficiency in the second half continues to shine as he makes smart reads, hitting Schultz, wide receiver Jayden Higgins and Collins on consecutive completions to reach the Chiefs’ 29-yard line.
The Texans work their way to third-and-goal, but a swing pass to Marks is stopped immediately, setting up fourth-and-goal. The Texans keep the offense on the field. Stroud lines up in the shotgun, scans the coverage and, with the Chiefs blanketing his receivers, tucks the ball and scrambles. Diving headfirst across the goal line, he cuts the Chiefs’ lead to a single possession.
The Chiefs manage to move the chains once on the next drive, but a well-timed blitz forces an incomplete pass from Mahomes on third down, leading to another punt.
Facing fourth-and-5 from the Chiefs’ 31, Stroud checks it down to Marks, who slips ahead for the crucial first down. Later, on fourth-and-inches at the Kansas City 48, Stroud fires a quick pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk, who gets out of bounds with seven seconds left.
With time for one final play, Stroud launches another Hail Mary, but the Chiefs’ defense knocks it away once again, sealing the game.
Final score: Chiefs 21, Texans 14
Notable stats
- Patrick Mahomes: 20 for 27 passing, 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 carries, 24 yards
- C.J. Stroud: 26 for 34 passing, 204 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 carries, 16 yards, 1 touchdown
- Woody Marks: 12 carries, 35 yards, 4 receptions, 24 yards
- Isiah Pacheco: 10 carries, 51 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 15 yards
- Xavier Worthy: 11 receptions, 153 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Rashee Rice: 4 receptions, 46 yards,
- Hollywood Brown: 2 rec, 12 yards
- Travis Kelce: 1 rec, 7 yards
- Nico Collins: 7 receptions, 61 yards
- Dalton Schutlz: 6 receptions, 63 yards, 1 touchdown
- Jayden Higgins: 5 receptions, 36 yards
- Nick Bolton: 11 total (5 solo)
- Trent McDuffie: 9 total (5 solo)
- Jaylen Watson: 7 total (3 solo), 2 pass deflections
- Chris Jones: 4 total (2 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
In Week 15, the Chiefs will be back home at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, taking on the Los Angeles Chargers — and we’ll give you a preview from the EA Universe!
