Texans Stun Chiefs 31-28 in Overtime Thriller, Maye’s Late Strike Seals It
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In a game that instantly vaulted into game-of-the-year territory, the Houston Texans outlasted the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 in overtime on Sunday night, winning on a dramatic late touchdown pass in the extra session.
The game swung wildly from start to finish, with neither team able to build separation in regulation. Big plays, momentum swings, and high-level quarterback play defined four quarters that ended deadlocked, setting the stage for a chaotic overtime.
Kansas City won the coin toss and methodically drove the length of the field, reaching the Houston 1-yard line with a chance to take a touchdown lead. But after lining up to go for it on fourth-and-goal, the Chiefs committed a costly false start, pushing themselves back and forcing a decision they didn’t want to make. They settled for a short field goal, taking a 28-25 lead and opening the door.
Houston slipped through it.
With urgency and calm, Drake Maye guided the Texans downfield against the clock. Then, with just 18 seconds left in overtime, Maye rifled a pass to Josh Downs in the end zone from 17 yards out — a walk-off touchdown that silenced Arrowhead and capped one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
Maye’s poise under pressure was unmistakable, particularly after Houston faced multiple third downs on the final drive. The Texans’ sideline erupted as Downs crossed the goal line, completing a victory that few teams ever pull off in Kansas City.
“This group never flinched,” interim coach Frank Ross said afterward. “They believed they were winning that game.”
The win further cements Houston as a legitimate AFC contender — and serves as another milestone in Maye’s rapid rise — while handing the Chiefs one of their most painful losses in recent memory.
McCaffrey Runs Wild as Chargers Rout Eagles 48-21, Take AFC West Lead
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey turned Sunday afternoon into his personal highlight reel — and in the process may have ended the 3GML MVP debate.
McCaffrey rushed for a staggering 282 yards and four touchdowns as the Los Angeles Chargers steamrolled the Philadelphia Eagles 48-21 at SoFi Stadium, reasserting themselves atop the AFC West in dominant fashion.
The win moves Los Angeles to 9-4, pulling them into a first-place tie with Kansas City but holding the division tiebreaker thanks to their earlier head-to-head victory. The two rivals will collide again next week in what now looms as one of the biggest games of the season.
From the opening drive, McCaffrey was unstoppable. He gashed Philadelphia’s defense with a mix of power, burst, and vision, repeatedly turning routine carries into back-breaking gains. By halftime, the Eagles were already chasing shadows. By the fourth quarter, the outcome was long decided.
Matthew Stafford managed the offense efficiently, but this day belonged entirely to No. 23. Each touchdown felt more emphatic than the last — and each carry drew louder MVP chants from the SoFi crowd.
Defensively, the Chargers backed up the offensive explosion by forcing Philadelphia into early mistakes and consistently winning the field position battle, allowing the offense to operate without pressure.
Head coach Bobby Slowik didn’t hesitate afterward.
“That’s as good a performance as you’ll see from a running back,” he said. “Christian sets the standard — preparation, effort, toughness. Games like that are earned.”
With McCaffrey putting together one of the most prolific seasons in league history and the Chargers peaking at the right time, next week’s showdown with the Chiefs now feels less like a rivalry game — and more like a collision course for the AFC West title.
Pacheco, Pass Rush Power Packers Past Bears 44-22 at Lambeau
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers left little doubt Sunday, overwhelming the Chicago Bears 44-22 at Lambeau Field behind a dominant ground game and a relentless pass rush.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played efficiently, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns while keeping Chicago’s defense off balance with quick reads and smart decisions. Once Green Bay built a lead, the offense leaned heavily on Isiah Pacheco, who controlled the tempo with 142 rushing yards and a touchdown, repeatedly punishing the Bears between the tackles.
The Packers’ defense made life miserable for quarterback Caleb Williams, sacking him seven times and forcing the Bears into long-yardage situations all afternoon. Defensive end Myles Garrett led the charge, recording his 17th sack of the season, further cementing his place atop the league’s sack leaderboard.
“We wanted to set the tone up front,” Garrett said. “Once we did that, everything else opened up.”
The win keeps Green Bay rolling as they continue their push for the NFC’s top seed, and Sunday’s performance showed once again how dangerous the Packers can be when the run game and defense are working in lockstep.
