season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/nfl-stories/cardinals-texans-bold-predictions-week-15-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cardinals vs. Texans bold predictions for Week 15 clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Cardinals-vs.-Texans-bold-predictions-for-Week-15-clash.jpg"></figure><h1>Cardinals vs. Texans bold predictions for Week 15 clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T07:46:39-08:00">December 11th, 7:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T07:46:39-08:00">December 11th, 7:46am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints, with expertise in MLB, NHL and golf. Chris graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Cardinals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans are riding a five-game winning streak into a home matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. Houston’s defense has been dominant, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-playoff-picture-houstons-odds-soar-after-taking-down-chiefs-in-week-14">recently stifling the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime</a>. Arizona’s offense has been on fire with Jacoby Brissett under center, but it has not led to wins. We have the bold predictions for the matchup between the Texans and Cardinals that could help decide a playoff spot.</p><p>The Texans have significant players on the sideline in practice leading into this matchup. Azeez Al-Shaair, Woody Marks, and Kamari Lassiter are among those who did not practice on Wednesday. Any of those players missing this game could change things. The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/cardinals-news-trey-benson-injured-reserve-ending-season"> Cardinals will be without Trey Benson for the rest of the season</a>, and have not had Marvin Harrison Jr in practice due to a heel injury.</p><p>Before the Cardinals and Texans square off in Houston, check out these bold predictions.</p><h2><b>Jacoby Brissett finally struggles with less than 250 yards</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jacoby-Brissett-with-AZ-Cardinals.jpg"><figcaption><br>Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><p>Brissett took over for Kyler Murray as the Cardinals’ quarterback in Week 6. He has not thrown for under 258 yards in any of those eight games, despite Arizona losing most of them. That low mark of 258 came against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the best defenses in the league. Now, Brissett is facing the best defense in the league, which is playing for a division title. The Texans will hold Brissett under 250 passing yards for the first time this season.</p><p>Brissett has used wide receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride a lot on his yardage tear this season. Even without Harrison, the passing attack in Arizona has been strong. The Texans have an elite defense in part because of Derrick Stingley Jr, who is one of the top cornerbacks in the league. Despite the track record, Arizona will not be able to pass the ball on Sunday.</p><p>It will be hard for the Cardinals to run the ball as well. Bam Knight will be the featured back after Benson was left on injured reserve on Wednesday. That move ended Benson’s season and put the spotlight firmly on Knight. With James Conner and Benson coming back next year, it could be a tryout for Knight on Sunday.</p><h2><b>Nico Collins and Will Anderson Jr both shine</b></h2><p>A lot of the attention around the Texans has been on their defense, and for good reason. With Paris Johnson Jr missing this game on the Cardinals’ offensive line, Will Anderson Jr should be flying off the edge. Houston’s pass rush is a big reason why they are fighting for an AFC South spot. Anderson will pick up at least 1.5 sacks on Sunday.</p><p>Collins had an excellent first half for the Texans on Sunday, but quieted down in the second half. All of Houston’s offense struggled after halftime, as a matter of fact. But Kansas City’s defense is much better than Arizona’s, so the Michigan product should score this week. Expect at least 75 yards and a touchdown for Collins this week.</p><p>The Texans are snapping everything together at just the right time. Their best players are playing their best as the weather gets colder. And even in a dome in a game between two warm-weather cities, that will continue on Sunday.</p><h2><b>The Texans will blow out the Cardinals in Week 15</b></h2><p>The Texans will smash the Cardinals on Sunday, winning by at least 14 points. It will be their sixth consecutive win, clinching their ninth win and third consecutive season over .500. Houston has turned around their franchise with Stroud, DeMeco Ryans, and an elite defense. That will prove itself on Sunday.</p><p>According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Texans are 9.5-point <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/football/nfl/arizona-cardinals-@-houston-texans-35021129" rel="noopener">favorites and</a> -560 on the moneyline for the matchup. Collins is +100 to score a touchdown, which is not a great price considering he only has four touchdowns this season. Brissett’s passing yards over/under is 234.5. The only way for the Cardinals to pull off this upset is for him to blow that number out of the water.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cardinals vs. Texans bold predictions for Week 15 clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-houston-awkward-cal-mcnair-cj-stroud-moment-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans turn awkward Cal McNair-CJ Stroud moment into a win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CJ-Stroud-greeting-Cal-McNair.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans turn awkward Cal McNair-CJ Stroud moment into a win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T07:42:19-08:00">December 11th, 7:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T07:42:19-08:00">December 11th, 7:42am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite their convincing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-playoff-picture-houstons-odds-soar-after-taking-down-chiefs-in-week-14">win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14</a>, all Houston Texans fans wanted to discuss after the game was the viral handshake blunder between owner Cal McNair and C.J. Stroud. The team turned the lowlight into a positive later in the week with a comedic social media skit.</p><p>Fans took note when Stroud shook fans’ hands after the game, but dropped it and walked into the tunnel before acknowledging McNair, who stood at the end of the line with his hand up. Many clowned Stroud for dismissing his boss on social media, <a href="https://x.com/HoustonTexans/status/1998943157002866693" rel="noopener">prompting a response</a> from the Texans.</p><p>The video featured McNair keeping his right hand up while walking through the team facility and greeting staff members. He kept his hand raised until Stroud could finally give him his handshake, after which he pumped his fist before exiting.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSGzXciktNI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>McNair passed many who nearly “stole” Stroud’s handshake before being reminded that the owner’s hand was “for C.J.” Texans receiver Xavier Hutchinson had a cameo in the skit and nearly ruined the moment before being stopped by Christian Kirk.</p><p>The video was met with unanimous praise, both for McNair’s sense of humor and the social media team’s creativity.</p><p>McNair, 64, is in his second season as the principal owner and CEO of the Texans. The former Texas football walk-on has been involved with the team for its entire existence, with his late father, Bob McNair, founding the team in 1999.</p><p>Cal McNair has been the Texans’ CEO since 2019 and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-make-official-ownership-change">assumed principal ownership duties in 2024</a> after his mother, Janice, stepped down.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans turn awkward Cal McNair-CJ Stroud moment into a win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-woody-marks-nick-chubb-miss-practice-cardinals-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans RBs Woody Marks, Nick Chubb both miss practice before Cardinals game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Texans-news-DeMeco-Ryan-calls-out-culprit-in-brutal-loss-to-Ravens.jpg"></figure><h1>Texans RBs Woody Marks, Nick Chubb both miss practice before Cardinals game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T03:23:25-08:00">December 11th, 3:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T03:23:25-08:00">December 11th, 3:23am</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans opened their Week 15 practice on Wednesday with some worrying developments in their backfield, as rookie running back Woody Marks and veteran Nick Chubb <a href="https://x.com/jonmalexander/status/1998882984389476821" rel="noopener">did not take part in practice</a> ahead of Sunday’s road matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Marks didn’t hit the field due to a knee injury, while Chubb sat out with a sore rib.</p><p>Marks, Houston’s primary ball-carrier in recent weeks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-woody-marks-suffers-foot-injury-colts">hurt his foot early in the Week 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts</a>, but returned, finishing with 19 carries for 64 yards and one catch for five yards in the 20-16 win. He played through the foot injury last week <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-playoff-picture-houstons-odds-soar-after-taking-down-chiefs-in-week-14">during the 20–10 victory versus the Kansas City Chiefs</a>, but suffered an ankle injury during one series, missing only a single play that fellow back Dare Ogunbowale turned into a five-yard touchdown. Marks carried the ball 26 times for 68 yards and added two receptions for eight yards in Week 14.</p><p>Over 13 games this season, the 24-year-old has gained 554 rushing yards on 160 carries, scoring two rushing touchdowns and adding three receiving touchdowns, bringing his total yardage to 750 yards and five total scores.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chubb has been the Texans’ backup running back since Week 9. He has carried the ball 115 times for 472 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt, with three rushing touchdowns, while contributing 58 receiving yards on 12 catches. The 29-year-old exited last Sunday’s game in the first half due to a rib injury and did not return. Of the two backs, Chubb appears to be the more significant injury concern.</p><p>Houston’s Wednesday practice report included several other absentees among starters. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (ankle), defensive end Denico Autry (knee), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (foot), right tackle Trent Brown (hand), and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (elbow/shoulder) all did not participate. Limited participants included linebacker Jamal Hill (hamstring), linebacker E.J. Speed (knee), wide receiver Justin Watson (calf), and tight end Harrison Bryant (neck/shoulder), both of whom returned from injured reserve in a limited capacity.</p><p>Head coach DeMeco Ryans provided little information regarding the injuries. If Chubb isn’t ready to go on Sunday, Ogunbowale could see more action. Marks has been at the center of Houston’s offense lately and would likely take back the lead role against Arizona.</p><p>The Texans are managing bumps and bruises carefully while making a push to finish the season strong and stay playoff-ready.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans RBs Woody Marks, Nick Chubb both miss practice before Cardinals game

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/nfl-stories/nfl-week-14-winners-losers-texans-defense-chiefs-bed');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL Week 14 Winners and Losers: Texans defense officially puts the Chiefs to bed');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NFL-Week-14-Winners-and-Losers-Texans-defense-officially-puts-the-Chiefs-to-bed.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL Week 14 Winners and Losers: Texans defense officially puts the Chiefs to bed</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T19:28:34-08:00">December 9th, 7:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T19:28:34-08:00">December 9th, 7:28pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor, NFL and NCAA Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Buffalo Bills</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Can you believe it’s already Week 15? Neither can I. Each week in the NFL brings massive playoff implications and marquee matchups in a year where it seems like anybody can win any given game, and that was no different this week.</p><p>Most notably, the Texans put the Chiefs even further behind in the AFC playoff race on Sunday night with a 20-10 victory. The Chargers essentially sealed Kansas City’s fate with a win over the Eagles in overtime on Monday, meaning the NFL’s modern dynasty will very likely be watching the playoffs at home.</p><p>Elsewhere, the Rams and Seahawks continued to mow down opponents in the NFC, the Packers took back first place in the NFC North with a win over the Bears, the Colts lost the lead in the AFC South and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts/colts-news-daniel-jones-tore-achilles-in-loss-to-jaguars">quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury</a>.</p><p>Who made the list of winners and losers from one of the more eventful Sundays of the year?</p><h2><b>Winner: The Texans’ defense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houston-Texans-defensive-end-Will-Anderson-Jr.-51-and-Houston-Texans-safety-Jalen-Pitre-5-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>© Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Houston Texans are arguably the hottest team in football right now after beating the Chiefs 20-10 on Sunday night in Kansas City to get to 8-5 on the season. Now, it appears very likely that the Texans will be in the playoffs, and they may have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-playoff-picture-kansas-city-odds-gutter-brutal-loss-texans">ended the Chiefs’ hopes of joining them</a> there with this win.</p><p>Houston’s defense has been the catalyst for this recent run, establishing itself as one of the best units in the NFL on either side of the ball. On Sunday, even Patrick Mahomes fell victim to DeMeco Ryans and company. The star Chiefs quarterback posted the worst EPA per dropback of his career at minus-0.54, the worst completion percentage of his career at 42.9% and the <a href="https://x.com/BenjaminSolak/status/1997888159997460982" rel="noopener">worst passer rating of his career</a> at 19.8, per ESPN’s Ben Solak.</p><p>The Texans make plays at all three levels, combining arguably the best pass-rushing duo in the league with an elite secondary that gets to the football on a frequent basis. In recent weeks, the Texans have shut down Mahomes, Josh Allen, and an explosive Colts team as a part of a five-game winning streak that doesn’t look like it’s coming to an end anytime soon.</p><h2><b>Loser: The Chiefs, and everyone who has to play the Texans’ defense</b></h2><p>On the other side of Sunday night’s result is the likely end of the Chiefs dynasty, or at least this iteration of it. Kansas City’s efficiency has been solid all season, but it has always felt like something was just a bit off.</p><p>That was never more true than in this game, when the Chiefs seemed to always have something go wrong on the offensive side. Fill-in left tackle <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-lose-another-o-lineman-to-season-ending-injury">Wanya Morris left with a season-ending injury</a> on the first play of the game, and Kansas City struggled with Houston’s pass rush all night. When it wasn’t the offensive line letting the Chiefs down, it was the receivers with a handful of back-breaking drops. When it wasn’t that, it was a bizarre fourth-down decision from Andy Reid that immediately took away all of Kansas City’s momentum and allowed Houston to get back in the lead.</p><p>Now, the Chiefs have very likely played with their food a bit too much this year and have just a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nfl-playoff-picture/2025/" rel="noopener">12% chance to make the playoffs</a> according to The Athletic.</p><p>The Chiefs aren’t the first team to fall victim to the Texans defense, nor will they be the last. However, their failures throughout the season didn’t give them the margin for error that it needed to take on a very good team with a lot of momentum like this one, and that is what will cost them a chance at another AFC Championship.</p><h2><b>Winner: Everyone who watched Bears-Packers</b></h2><p>After years of having the Bears in the cellar of the NFC North, we finally got a late-season matchup between the two longtime rivals with real playoff implications on both sides. To put it simply, it was glorious.</p><p>Chicago and Green Bay repeatedly threw haymakers at each other all afternoon at a freezing-cold Lambeau Field, going back and forth in a second half that featured 30 minutes of high-quality football on both sides. On one side, Ben Johnson was scheming up a dominant run game and Caleb Williams was improvising in all the right moments. On the other, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/clutchpoints-week-15-nfl-mvp-power-rankings-josh-allen-jordan-love">Jordan Love firmly established himself in the MVP conversation</a> with a stellar performance of his own.</p><p>In the end, Green Bay got a 28-21 win and reclaimed first place in the NFC North after Williams was picked off in the end zone by Keisean Nixon in the final minute. But the real winner here was the fans, and we get to see it again in just two weeks’ time.</p><h2><b>Loser: The Colts, in all possible ways</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Daniel-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union</figcaption></figure><p>The Colts were one of the surprises of this NFL season for the first half of the year, jumping out to a 7-1 start led by an explosive offense, a lethal run game, and a defense that did more than enough to get the job done on a weekly basis.</p><p>The Colts came into Week 14 having lost three of their last four games, as the shine had worn off on their new-look offense with Daniel Jones. Jonathan Taylor cooled off after his historic start to the season, but Indianapolis still had a chance to take control of the AFC South once again on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.</p><p>However, things didn’t last long even on Sunday morning. With the Colts trailing in the first half, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts/daniel-jones-injury-spells-doom-colts-sauce-gardner-gamble">Jones went down with a torn right Achilles</a> and will be out for the rest of the season and potentially into the 2026 campaign.</p><p>Indianapolis essentially went all-in on Jones when it traded two first-round picks to the New York Jets for star cornerback Sauce Gardner. Now, the Colts don’t have many avenues to acquire another starting quarterback, and Jones is a free agent this offseason. All signs point to him being back as the starter on a new deal when he is healthy, but what that deal looks like is just one of the many questions that this devastating injury brings to the table.</p><h2><b>Winner: Josh Allen dashing through the snow</b></h2><p>It seems like that once every year, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills get to play in a driving snowstorm on their home field. The 2025 edition came on Sunday, and Allen certainly did not disappoint.</p><p>The reigning MVP re-entered the conversation for the biggest individual honor again this season with a four-touchdown performance to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39-34 in a comeback effort and keep Buffalo in the mix in the AFC East.</p><p>Allen had another signature moment with his legs in this one, <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1997766810679263685" rel="noopener">scrambling for a 40-yard touchdown</a> to start the comeback effort in the fourth quarter.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">JOSH ALLEN DOES IT HIMSELF FOR A 40-YARD RUSHING "THROUGH THE SNOW" TOUCHDOWN 💪<a href="https://t.co/kAJf58g9Yi">pic.twitter.com/kAJf58g9Yi</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1997766810679263685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Bills QB has had some down games this season, but he is starting to show that he is still the best of the best when it matters most.</p><h2><b>Loser: Justin Herbert’s well-being on the field</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Chargers.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Chargers beat the Eagles 22-19 in overtime on Monday night to get to 9-4 on the season and put themselves in a very good position in the AFC playoff race. However, it was impossible to come away from that game with any other takeaway than concern about Justin Herbert’s health.</p><p>Herbert, who was already playing with a broken hand that was surgically repaired just seven days before the game, took a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/los-angeles-chargers/chargers-news-stat-highlight-justin-herbert-mnf-eagles-pass-rush">career-high seven sacks against a very good Eagles defense</a> and was pressured on 68.3% of his dropbacks. No, that is not a typo.</p><p>It’s the <a href="https://x.com/NFL_Researcher/status/1998256943731994832" rel="noopener">third-highest pressure rate</a> faced by a quarterback in the Next Gen Stats era, according to Tony Holzman-Escareno.</p><p>The Chargers have one of the most beat-up offensive lines in the NFL, and things only got worse on Monday when Trey Pipkins went down with an injury. The schedule isn’t getting any easier for the pass protection either, as the Chargers will take on the Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans and Broncos to close the season.</p><p>Herbert has his team in position to make the playoffs again in 2o25. What state he is in by the time they get there is another question.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFL Week 14 Winners and Losers: Texans defense officially puts the Chiefs to bed

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-mina-kimes-houston-offense-gaining-momentum');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mina Kimes reveals how Texans’ offense is gaining momentum');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mina-Kimes-reveals-how-Houstons-offense-is-gaining-momentum.jpg"><figcaption>Amy Kontras-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mina Kimes reveals how Texans’ offense is gaining momentum</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T18:35:40-08:00">December 9th, 6:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T18:35:40-08:00">December 9th, 6:35pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans are suddenly in the thick of things amid their five-game winning streak, including an upset of the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-10, at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-playoff-picture-houstons-odds-soar-after-taking-down-chiefs-in-week-14">The Texans once again leaned on their stifling defense</a> to exact revenge on the Chiefs, who eliminated them in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. Houston limited Patrick Mahomes to 14-of-33 for 160 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions, including a critical one in the fourth quarter.</p><p>But while the Texans’ defense has been impressive, for ESPN’s Mina Kimes, the <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/1998518915878486034?s=20" rel="noopener">offense has made inroads</a> as well.</p><p>“Something I’ve loved is just how relentless they’ve been about attacking the middle of the field. CJ Stroud, in his last four starts, has more in-breakers as percentage of his throws than any starting quarterback at the moment,” said Kimes on “NFL Live.”</p><p>She also gave credit to Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-demeco-ryans-o-line-flowers-bills-upset">creating more opportunities for Stroud</a> to operate.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/minakimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@minakimes</a> gives her insight into the Texans offense after their big win over Chiefs 👀 <a href="https://t.co/eN9Z8QTZmg">pic.twitter.com/eN9Z8QTZmg</a></p><p>— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/1998518915878486034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“It’s the deep digs, when you think about Collins all the time, of course. But even like the slants, the quick stuff, they use their frames to box out smaller defensive backs. You saw that against Kansas City,” added Kimes.</p><p>“To me, that feels like an identity that they can build around because this is an offense that at the beginning of the year looked completely like it did last season. Now, it feels like they’re gaining some momentum.”</p><p>The 24-year-old Stroud <a href="https://www.espn.ph/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401772932" rel="noopener">also praised their defense</a> for their “great job” in “sticking in coverage” against the Chiefs.</p><p>The win over Kansas City was a major boost to the Texans’ postseason hopes, and they will look to get a better position when they battle the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mina Kimes reveals how Texans’ offense is gaining momentum

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/fantasy-sports/fantasy-football-d-st-rankings-week-15-2025');   ga('set', 'title', 'Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings: Week 15 2025');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Seattle-Seahawks-defensive-end-Leonard-Williams-99-and-Seattle-Seahawks-linebacker-Derick-Hall-58-celebrate-after-a-play.jpg"><figcaption>© Kevin Ng-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings: Week 15 2025</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T16:01:24-08:00">December 9th, 4:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T16:02:48-08:00">December 9th, 4:02pm</time><address><a>Dominik Zawartko</a>Dominik Zawartko is a Michigan State graduate with a degree in Political Science and English. Having previously worked in the nonprofit and legal sectors, he decided to pursue his true love of writing with ClutchPoints. Dominik's hobbies include painting, cooking food, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and always having a laugh. His main focus areas are UFC coverage and all things sneakers.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Week 15 of the NFL and Fantasy Football season is finally here as managers learn their fate for who missed the Fantasy Playoffs and who continues to play into December. Whether you’ve been streaming defenses week-to-week or sticking with one trusty unit, the D/ST position is crucial to any championship-caliber team. Ahead of Week 15, we rank the D/ST position as the race for the NFL Playoffs resumes.</p><p>Week 14 brought a significant amount of offense and points scored as many defenses struggled, but the Minnesota Vikings D/ST shined with a 31-0 shutout and 15.0 fantasy points logged. The Seattle Seahawks continue their run of dominance with a 20.0-point fantasy outing, logging 48.0 points over the last two weeks. The Miami Dolphins saw a dominant 34-10 win over the New York Jets, resulting in 17.0 fantasy points thanks to three interceptions secured.</p><p>With no byes in Week 15, all 32 NFL teams will be in action as we make our final Fantasy Football rankings for D/ST.</p><h2>Top Fantasy D/ST – Week 15</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houston-Texans-defensive-end-Will-Anderson-Jr.-51-and-Houston-Texans-safety-Jalen-Pitre-5-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>© Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The aforementioned <b>Seattle Seahawks</b> will retain the No. 1 position in the D/ST rankings with their dominant performance over the Atlanta Falcons and their 48.0 total fantasy points the last two weeks. The <b>Philadelphia Eagles</b> and <b>Houston Texans</b> both see favorable matchups this week, along the with the <b>Jacksonville Jaguars</b> facing a Jets teams that just allowed 17.0 points to the Dolphins.</p><p>The <b>Dallas Cowboys</b> will also see a favorable matchup this week in a Minnesota Vikings teams <a href="https://www.footballdb.com/fantasy-football/points-allowed.html?pos=DST">allowing the second-most</a> (12.8) fantasy points to opposing D/ST this season. The Tennessee Titans have also been a favorable matchup to opposing defenses, giving the <b>San Francisco 49ers</b> unit a bump following an added week of rest through the BYE.</p><p>The <b>Chicago Bears</b> defense will get a turn against<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/browns-news-cleveland-shedeur-sanders-qb-plan-will-catch-fans-attention"> rookie QB Shedeur Sanders</a>, hoping to capitalize as the defense with the most takeaways in the NFL. The <b>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</b> will also see a boost this week against the Atlanta Falcons, a tough divisional game with the Falcons performing poorly in their last outing.</p><h2>D/ST rising quickly</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Carolina-Panthers-safety-Nick-Scott-21-celebrates-a-defensive-touchdown-scored-by-Carolina-Panthers.jpg"><figcaption>© Scott Kinser-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <b>New Orleans Saints</b> are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (11.7) to opposing defenses, so the Carolina Panthers D/ST will see a significant bump heading into Week 15. They’re also on the cusp of securing the NFC South, so expect the Panthers to elevate their play as a team heading into a pivotal showdown.</p><p>The <b>Green Bay Packers</b> vs. <b>Denver Broncos</b> matchup will be very interesting as both teams boast two of the more exciting defenses in all of football. The Packers are one of the NFL’s best in stopping the run while the Broncos’ pass defense is as elite as they come. Both offenses, however, have also been playing well as of late, so both D/ST units can be seen as fringe starts heading into an important Week 15 for both teams leading their division.</p><p>Finally, the <b>Miami Dolphins D/ST</b> cracks the top-15 rankings following their highest-scoring week of the fantasy football season. While they’ve gotten off to slow start this season, the Dolphins have won four-straight games and have scored 10 or more fantasy points on three occasions. While the Steelers’ offense presents a tough matchup, don’t be surprised if they outperform themselves again in trying to mount a competitive run to finish the season.</p><h2>Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings – Week 15</h2><ol><li>Seattle Seahawks D/ST – (vs. IND)</li><li>Philadelphia Eagles D/ST – (vs. LV)</li><li>Houston Texans D/ST – (vs. ARI)</li><li>Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST – (vs. NYJ)</li><li>San Francisco 49ers D/ST – (vs. TEN)</li><li>Dallas Cowboys D/ST – (vs. MIN)</li><li>Chicago Bears D/ST – (vs. CLE)</li><li>Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST – (vs. ATL)</li><li>Carolina Panthers D/ST – (@NO)</li><li>Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST – (vs. MIA)</li><li>Cleveland Browns D/ST – (@CHI)</li><li>Denver Broncos D/ST – (vs. GB)</li><li>Green Bay Packers D/ST – (@DEN)</li><li>Kansas City Chiefs D/ST – (vs. LAC)</li><li>Miami Dolphins D/ST – (@PIT)</li></ol><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings: Week 15 2025

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-playoff-picture-houstons-odds-soar-after-taking-down-chiefs-in-week-14');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans playoff picture: Houston’s odds soar after taking down Chiefs in Week 14');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CJ-Stroud-on-Oct-26-2025-i.jpg"><figcaption>Sean Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans playoff picture: Houston’s odds soar after taking down Chiefs in Week 14</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-08T13:43:57-08:00">December 8th, 1:43pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-08T13:43:57-08:00">December 8th, 1:43pm</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans got a huge win on Sunday Night Football. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-most-blame-loss-texans-week-14-2025">Houston defeated Kansas City 20-10</a> in a game that has huge playoff implications in the AFC. The Texans are now 8-5 and riding a five-game winning streak, which now has them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Chiefs dropped to 6-7 and are on the outside looking in.</p><p>Houston’s ferocious defense has helped them climb back into the playoff conversation. The Texans had a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/houston-texans-defense-patrick-mahomes-career-worst-performance">masterclass performance against Patrick Mahomes</a>, forcing the superstar to finish 14-of-30 for only 160 passing yards and three interceptions. He finished the game with a career-low 42.4% completion percentage.</p><p>The Texans’ ability to scramble opposing quarterbacks has kept them alive this season. And it could be the superpower that helps them make a deep playoff run later this winter.</p><p>So how did Sunday’s win impact Houston’s playoff chances? And do they have a realistic chance to win the AFC South after their big primetime win?</p><p>Below we will explore Houston’s new playoff odds after defeating Kansas City on Sunday.</p><h2><b>Texans playoff odds after defeating Chiefs in Week 14</b></h2><p>Houston is now almost guaranteed to make the playoffs after their big win in Week 14.</p><p>The Texans now <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nfl-playoff-picture/2025/" rel="noopener">have a 93% chance to make the postseason</a> according to The Athletic’s playoff simulator.  Their most realistic path to the playoffs is as a wild card team. However, they do still have a 38% chance of winning the AFC South.</p><p>The Athletic also has a projected standings feature, which shows how they anticipate the playoff field will look at the end of the regular season.</p><p>According to those projected standings, the Texans should finish the regular season 11-6 and make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. In that scenario, they would head to Jacksonville to take on the No. 3 Jaguars (12-5).</p><p>That is only based on a projection, but it highlights how important winning the division could be for Houston.</p><p>Now the most important thing for the Texans is to continue winning games during the final four weeks of the regular season.</p><p>Texans fans can also start rooting for some help in other matchups that could help Houston’s playoff odds.</p><h2><b>Texans rooting guide ahead of Week 15</b></h2><p>There are already a few obvious games on the Week 15 slate that could boost Houston’s playoff chances.</p><p>Here are the three games that Texans fans should be watching in Week 15, with the preferred team bolded.</p><ul><li><b>Bengals</b> vs. Ravens</li><li><b>Chiefs</b> vs. Chargers</li><li><b>Patriots</b> vs. Bills</li></ul><p>Thankfully, all three teams happen to have home-field advantage in Week 15.</p><p>The Ravens do not present a big threat to the Texans, but they are still alive in the AFC playoff hunt. But the Bengals are hopelessly far from the playoffs, which makes them the preferred pick here.</p><p>But the other two matchups are much more important.</p><p>Los Angeles is currently one spot ahead of Houston as the No. 6 seed before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-vs-chargers-bold-predictions-week-14-monday-night-football-clash">Monday Night Football matchup with the Eagles</a>. If Kansas City could steal a win, it would directly help Houston catch up with LA.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Patriots look like the favorite to capture the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt the Texans one bit if they get another win.</p><p>That makes them the perfect team to hand the Bills another loss, which could potentially help the Texans get a slightly better seed.</p><p>Of course, Houston has to do their part and take care of Arizona in Week 15. But if that happens, and the Texans get some help, their playoff odds could be even better at this time next week.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans playoff picture: Houston’s odds soar after taking down Chiefs in Week 14

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-houston-gives-contract-extension-player-who-tore-acl-before-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans give contract extension to player who tore ACL before season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Brevin-Jordan-9-walks-to-the-bench-before-a-game-against-the-Indianapolis-Colts.jpg"><figcaption>© Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans give contract extension to player who tore ACL before season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-08T06:45:28-08:00">December 8th, 6:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-08T06:45:28-08:00">December 8th, 6:45am</time><address><a>Yago Antunes</a>Yago Antunes is a Brazilian journalist and writer with experience covering esports, the NFL, NBA, and soccer. He has contributed to online outlets and reported on major international tournaments, building a strong background in sports journalism and digital media while displaying his passion about storytelling and sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans continue to stack wins and confidence simultaneously. Their 20-10 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs featured another reminder of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-cj-stroud-strike-finds-nico-collins-massive-gain-chiefs">how dangerous this offense can be when C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins</a> are in sync.</p><p>Early in the second quarter, Stroud uncorked a deep shot that Collins turned into a huge gain inside the 10, the signature play of a night where Houston controlled the tempo, leaned on its defense, and pushed its record to 8-5 in the crowded AFC race.</p><p>Against that backdrop, the front office quietly made a move that says a lot about how they view their core. As Jeremy Fowler reported on X, the Texans and tight end Brevin Jordan <a href="https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1998032017993470152" rel="noopener">have agreed to a one-year extension</a>. Jordan, who was scheduled to reach free agency in 2026, is out for the entire season after tearing his ACL in August, but the team clearly sees him as part of the plan for 2026 and beyond.</p><p>It is a subtle but telling decision. Houston did not have to act now on a player who has not taken a snap this year, yet they chose to lock in another season while he rehabs.</p><p>For Jordan, it removes a layer of uncertainty as he recovers from a major injury. For the Texans, it preserves continuity in a tight end room that will be asked to grow alongside Stroud as this offense matures. An ACL tear in the preseason can make a player feel forgotten; this extension is the opposite message.</p><p>The move also aligns with the team’s broader strategy. While the defense <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/houston-texans-defense-patrick-mahomes-career-worst-performance">just forced Patrick Mahomes into the worst completion percentage</a> of his career and picked him off three times, Houston knows it is building something longer-term than one upset in Arrowhead.</p><p>Investing in a recovering Brevin Jordan is part of that: rewarding a guy they believe in, trusting the medical timeline, and making sure that when 2026 rolls around, Stroud has another familiar target in the middle of the field.</p><p>Coming off five straight wins, the Texans look like a legitimate playoff threat right now. Extending Jordan while he is sidelined is the kind of forward-thinking bet a franchise makes when it expects to be playing meaningful football for years to come.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans give contract extension to player who tore ACL before season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-most-blame-loss-texans-week-14-2025');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chiefs most to blame for primetime loss to the Texans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Chiefs-most-to-blame-for-primetime-loss-to-the-Texans.jpg"></figure><h1>Chiefs most to blame for primetime loss to the Texans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-08T04:59:38-08:00">December 8th, 4:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-08T04:59:38-08:00">December 8th, 4:59am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Arrowhead Stadium has long been the NFL’s most intimidating stage, especially in primetime. On Sunday night in Week 14, though, the Kansas City Chiefs delivered one of their most troubling performances of the Patrick Mahomes era. It exposed their offensive dysfunction, their inconsistency, and their suddenly fragile postseason hopes. In a 20-10 loss to the surging Houston Texans, Kansas City didn’t just get beaten. They got outplayed, out-disciplined, and out-executed in all three phases. They fell to 6-7 in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-9-year-afc-west-reign-is-officially-over-after-texans-loss">a season quickly slipping through their fingers</a>.</p><h2><b>Chiefs collapse in a frustrating Week 14 loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houstons-defense-scrambles-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Chiefs entered the night needing a statement win to keep pace in the AFC playoff race. Instead, they walked off the field with their first home loss of 2025 and a growing sense of panic. Mistakes and missed opportunities once again defined their downfall. Houston played with poise and physicality. Those are two traits entirely missing from Kansas City’s performance.</p><p>The Texans rode aa disciplined defensive effort and a mistake-free offensive approach behind quarterback CJ Stroud. Kansas City actually moved the ball early. However, the cracks showed quickly: penalties, drops, missed blocks, and the first of Mahomes’ three interceptions. By halftime, the rhythm was gone. By the fourth quarter, the crowd was stunned silent.</p><p>Mahomes finished with one of the worst statistical games of his career. He completed just 14 of 33 passes for 160 yards and three interceptions. With an injury-ravaged offensive line, the Chiefs couldn’t handle Houston’s top-ranked defense. Stroud was steady with 203 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Nico Collins torched the Chiefs secondary for 121 yards. Dare Ogunbowale’s bruising go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter capped a methodical Texans comeback after Kansas City’s baffling decision to go for it on fourth down at their own 31-yard line.</p><p>Kansas City’s offense never responded. Their last gasp died with Mahomes’ third interception. It was off a wild Travis Kelce bobble that felt symbolic of the whole night. Now, the Chiefs are in a stunning position for a team accustomed to chasing top seeds, not chasing survival.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Kansas City Chiefs most to blame for their <a href="https://www.espn.ph/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401772932" rel="noopener">primetime Week 14 loss to Texans</a>.</p><h2><b>K Harrison Butker</b></h2><p>It’s rare for a kicker to embody the mood of an entire team., However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-harrison-butker-doinks-field-goal-attempt-halftimetexans">Harrison Butker’s early doink off the right upright</a> captured the Chiefs’ energy. They were close, but not close enough.</p><p>That missed field goal didn’t just cost the Chiefs three points. It also shifted momentum in a game defined by narrow margins and limited opportunities. In a defensive struggle where possessions were precious, Kansas City needed every point it could get. Instead, Butker’s miss immediately tightened the field position battle Houston would later win.</p><p>Even his made kick later in the game was shaky, sneaking in uncomfortably. This isn’t to say the game rests on Butker’s shoulders alone. That said, it fits into a larger pattern: special-teams inconsistency has plagued Kansas City all season.</p><h2><b>QB Patrick Mahomes</b></h2><p>Mahomes’ greatness has often masked the Chiefs’ flaws. On Sunday night, those flaws engulfed him.</p><p>Fourteen completions. Thirty-three attempts. Three interceptions. No touchdowns. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/houston-texans-defense-patrick-mahomes-career-worst-performance">He had the worst passer rating and completion percentage of his career.</a></p><p>Mahomes was under constant duress behind a patchwork offensive line. Even when he had time, though, his decision-making and accuracy wavered. Houston’s defense confused him with disguised coverages. They forced him into throws he usually avoids. His receivers did him no favors, but Mahomes also missed open options. He held the ball too long on several snaps and forced passes into windows that weren’t viable.</p><p>His lone bright spot was his legs. He scrambled for 59 yards to salvage broken plays. Still, even Mahomes’ escape artist moments couldn’t overcome an offense that repeatedly sabotaged itself.</p><p>If Kansas City is going to climb back into playoff contention, Mahomes will have to deliver a vintage stretch run. Sunday night, though, was a stark reminder that even he cannot beat elite defenses while dragging a malfunctioning offense.</p><h2><b>Receiving corps</b></h2><p>If the Chiefs are searching for the biggest culprit, they don’t need to look far. The receiving group, which was already under scrutiny all season, saved its worst for primetime.</p><p>Six drops. Two of them drive-killers. One of them directly resulting in an interception. And all of them momentum-shredding.</p><p>Noah Gray struggled throughout the game with multiple drops in both halves. Kareem Hunt dropped a perfect pass that bounced off his facemask. It was a pivotal late-game mistake. Rice dropped a critical conversion. And then, of course, the moment no one will forget: Kelce bobbling a catch straight into the hands of a Texans defender for Mahomes’ third interception.</p><p>This wasn’t just a bad outing. It was a reliability crisis.</p><p>In the biggest moments, Kansas City’s receivers were untrustworthy, unprepared, and unfocused. In a tight game against an elite defense, those lapses became fatal.</p><h2><b>A loss that demands answers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Travis-Kelce-of-the-Kansas-City-Chiefs.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Chiefs are now 6-7. Their playoff hopes are fading. Their offense is spiraling. Sunday night was the clearest sign yet of a team struggling with identity, chemistry, and execution.</p><p>Mahomes is still Mahomes. The margin for error is shrinking, though. Kansas City is running out of time.</p><p>If they don’t clean up the drops, the protection issues, and the special-teams miscues, the league’s most dominant dynasty of the past decade may miss the postseason entirely. That’s a possibility that felt unthinkable just three months ago.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Chiefs most to blame for primetime loss to the Texans

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-cj-stroud-strike-finds-nico-collins-massive-gain-chiefs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans’ CJ Stroud strike finds Nico Collins for massive gain vs. Chiefs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CJ-Stroud-strike-finds-Nico-Collins-for-massive-gain-vs-Chiefs-v1.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans’ CJ Stroud strike finds Nico Collins for massive gain vs. Chiefs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T21:26:27-08:00">December 7th, 9:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T21:26:27-08:00">December 7th, 9:26pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>CJ Stroud and Nico Collins pulled off an excellent highlight in the Houston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-bold-predictions-week-14-sunday-night-football-clash-chiefs">Texans’ matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs</a> on Sunday night.</p><p>Going into the contest, Houston strung together four consecutive wins. They persevered with elite defense while Stroud recovered from his concussion injury. Collins remained in solid form as a star receiver, keeping the Texans as a sneaky threat.</p><p>Stroud and Collins continued to show why they are one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the league. One of their connections took place in the first minutes of the second quarter. Stroud <a href="https://x.com/i/status/1997851954563932537" rel="noopener">fired a deep pass</a> to Collins, who ran as fast as he could to get within 10 yards of the end zone.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">C.J. STROUD TO NICO COLLINS WHAT A PLAY!!! 🔥</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>)<br><a href="https://t.co/6kpNy7M9Db">pic.twitter.com/6kpNy7M9Db</a></p><p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1997851954563932537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How CJ Stroud, Texans played against Chiefs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CJ-Stroud-strike-finds-Nico-Collins-for-massive-gain-vs-Chiefs-v2.jpg"><figcaption>Amy Kontras-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>CJ Stroud and Nico Collins made great connections throughout the night, leading the Texans to the 20-10 win over the Chiefs.</p><p>Houston controlled the momentum for most of the game, leading 10-0 at halftime. Even though Kansas City fired back with 10 points in the third quarter, the Texans fired back with 10 more points to secure the crucial road win.</p><p>Stroud didn’t complete most of his passes but made enough plays to have the offense move. He was successful on 15 passes out of 31 attempts for 203 yards and a touchdown.</p><p>Woody Marks had a heavy presence in the rushing attack. He had 26 of the team’s 31 carries for 68 yards while catching two passes for eight yards and a touchdown. Dare Ogunbowale followed with a five-yard rushing touchdown. Collins starred in the receiving game with four receptions for 121 yards, while Jayden Higgins caught three passes for 34 yards.</p><p>Houston improved to an 8-5 record on the season, holding the second spot in the AFC West Division standings. They are above the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans while trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars. In terms of the AFC standings, they sit at seventh place. They are above the Colts and Baltimore Ravens while trailing the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills.</p><p>Rolling with five straight wins, the Texans will look forward to their next matchup. They will be at home when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans’ CJ Stroud strike finds Nico Collins for massive gain vs. Chiefs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/houston-texans-defense-patrick-mahomes-career-worst-performance');   ga('set', 'title', 'Houston Texans defense scrambles Patrick Mahomes into career-worst performance');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houstons-defense-scrambles-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Houston Texans defense scrambles Patrick Mahomes into career-worst performance</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T20:56:57-08:00">December 7th, 8:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T21:02:15-08:00">December 7th, 9:02pm</time><address><a>Allan Binoy</a>Allan Binoy is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NCAA Football, and NBA for ClutchPoints. With a deep passion for storytelling and analysis, he brings fans closer to the action by breaking down the biggest moments and storylines across the world of sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans just did something defenses almost never do. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-patrick-mahomes-knee-suddenly-concern-snf-vs-texans">made Patrick Mahomes look ordinary</a>, and then some. Against the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football, Patrick Mahomes turned in the worst completion night of his career, going 14-of-33 for 160 yards with three interceptions in a 20-10 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.</p><p>Dianna Russini noted it works out to a <a href="https://x.com/DMRussini/status/1997889459207929967?s=20" rel="noopener">career-low</a> 42.4% completion rate in a single game, with Houston snagging all three picks. This wasn’t a fluky box score.</p><p>The Houston Texans harassed Mahomes all night, collapsing a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-offensive-line-woes-get-worse-with-gruesome-wanya-morris-injury">banged-up Kansas City Chiefs offensive line</a> and squeezing the life out of every downfield concept. Mahomes finished with zero touchdown passes, two sacks, and those three back-breaking turnovers, while Kansas City managed just 10 points and 148 net passing yards, per the ESPN box score.</p><p>Houston’s offense did just enough. C.J. Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-31 passing, including a 9-yard score to Woody Marks that capped a 90-yard march and put the Texans up 10-0 in the second quarter. Dare Ogunbowale’s 5-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and a late Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal slammed the door.</p><p>The Chiefs briefly showed signs of life. Kareem Hunt punched in a 2-yard touchdown, and Harrison Butker tied the game at 10-10 with a 36-yard field goal early in the third. After that, it unraveled, stalled drives, fourth-down failures, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-rashee-rice-leaves-patrick-mahomes-fans-stunned-4th-down-drop">and two more Mahomes interceptions</a> as Houston’s secondary sat on routes and the pass rush closed in.</p><p>The Houston Texans improved to 8-5 and grabbed the AFC’s No. 7 seed, riding a defense that has now shut down multiple elite quarterbacks. The Kansas City Chiefs fell to 6-7, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-playoff-picture-updated-dvoa-the-athletic-espn-model-odds-after-week-13">their playoff odds dipping</a> into long-shot territory.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Houston Texans defense scrambles Patrick Mahomes into career-worst performance

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-rashee-rice-leaves-patrick-mahomes-fans-stunned-4th-down-drop');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chiefs’ Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce leave fans stunned with key drops vs Texans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rashee-Rice-Travis-Kelce-leave-fans-stunned-with-key-drops-vs-Texans-v1.jpg"><figcaption>Amy Kontras-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Chiefs’ Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce leave fans stunned with key drops vs Texans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T20:24:43-08:00">December 7th, 8:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T20:43:42-08:00">December 7th, 8:43pm</time><address><a>Allan Binoy</a>Allan Binoy is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NCAA Football, and NBA for ClutchPoints. With a deep passion for storytelling and analysis, he brings fans closer to the action by breaking down the biggest moments and storylines across the world of sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Rashee Rice picked a brutal time to have a lapse. With the Kansas City Chiefs trying to claw their way back <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-patrick-mahomes-knee-suddenly-concern-snf-vs-texans">against the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football</a>, Patrick Mahomes got exactly what he wanted on a pivotal fourth-and-4 from the Texans’ 41-yard line. The quarterback stepped up in a clean pocket, slid to his right, and fired a strike to Rashee Rice, who broke open underneath the sticks.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Texans take over after another 4th down stop!</p><p>HOUvsKC on NBC<br>Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> + Peacock <a href="https://t.co/lcwaDWkNC4">pic.twitter.com/lcwaDWkNC4</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1997881826443247746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>And then the ball just… hit the turf. The NFL’s clip of the play shows it clearly, one defender ripping at Rice’s hands after he dropped the catch, no awkward adjustment, just a catch he has to make in that spot. Instead, the drop turned the ball over on downs and handed the Houston Texans another momentum swing in a game where the Chiefs’ margin for error already felt tiny.</p><p>Fans were left in shock after witnessing the Chiefs offense fall apart. “Did the Chiefs equipment team grease ever offensive players gloves before this game what am I watching,” one fan <a href="https://x.com/DuckzSzn/status/1997884499724521566?s=20" rel="noopener">commented</a> in shock.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Andy Reid going for it on 4th for no reason <a href="https://t.co/j6RwGRAjne">pic.twitter.com/j6RwGRAjne</a></p><p>— Jakobius (@SamiusSt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamiusSt/status/1997882558101783009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="pt">Texans defense rn <a href="https://t.co/Yz2SCYNhZ1">pic.twitter.com/Yz2SCYNhZ1</a></p><p>— Jrey (@johr3y) <a href="https://twitter.com/johr3y/status/1997884548672070083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kelce and Rashee Rice tonight <a href="https://t.co/LJQ4kILKO4">pic.twitter.com/LJQ4kILKO4</a></p><p>— Leon (@AnkLe_BrEakEr56) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnkLe_BrEakEr56/status/1997884829237756382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Chiefs’s WRs with the season on the line at home: <a href="https://t.co/M8SDKJekV5">pic.twitter.com/M8SDKJekV5</a></p><p>— MG121 (@MG121_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MG121_/status/1997884426596782275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It only added to a strangely quiet night for Rashee Rice. After a couple of early catches, he faded from the box score and finished with a modest line as Patrick Mahomes spread the ball around and also dealt with pressure and miscues all over the field, including an interception to Kamari Lassiter on a deep shot.</p><p>Right after that, on the next play for the Chiefs offense, Mahomes threw a dart to Travis Kelce from inside his own end zone, and Kelce couldn’t make the catch. He juggled the ball, and it <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-azeez-al-shaair-opens-up-walter-payton-man-of-year-nomination">fell right into Azeez Al-Shaair’s hands</a> for the game-ending interception.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">OFF KELCE'S HANDS INTO AL-SHAAIR'S GRASP.</p><p>HOUvsKC on NBC<br>Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> + Peacock <a href="https://t.co/An7H5798nE">pic.twitter.com/An7H5798nE</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1997884327615697079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Another fan claimed it was time for Kelce to <a href="https://x.com/Chargers_Zone/status/1997884685796720703?s=20" rel="noopener">retire</a>, “Kelce has genuinely been one of the worst TE’s in the NFL this season, the only reason he’s getting any receptions is because he’s being force fed targets due to the player he USED to be, bro needs to hang it up already.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kelce: I think I'll sleep on the sofa tonight <a href="https://t.co/Apr0RDnJGP">pic.twitter.com/Apr0RDnJGP</a></p><p>— Christian Martínez 🇲🇽 (@christianmtzc90) <a href="https://twitter.com/christianmtzc90/status/1997885159358583024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Travis Kelce has butterfingers tonight! 💀🤣 <a href="https://t.co/4MklSgVOYi">pic.twitter.com/4MklSgVOYi</a></p><p>— Big Pete NY (@BigPeteNY44) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigPeteNY44/status/1997884444762427565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Refs to Mahomes and Kelce after this game <a href="https://t.co/BrFPeClvSL">pic.twitter.com/BrFPeClvSL</a></p><p>— Jaxson is King (@jaxsonisking) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaxsonisking/status/1997884727068336218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="qme"> <a href="https://t.co/aDPdpsltMr">pic.twitter.com/aDPdpsltMr</a></p><p>— michy🦬 (@sorryimmichy) <a href="https://twitter.com/sorryimmichy/status/1997884588694053236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Travis Kelce with the game on the line <a href="https://t.co/Hlv8daT0ur">pic.twitter.com/Hlv8daT0ur</a></p><p>— bob truck (@TruckBon) <a href="https://twitter.com/TruckBon/status/1997884864134078579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Chiefs came into Week 14 fighting to stay alive in the AFC race, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-multiple-patrick-mahomes-protectors-could-miss-texans-game">already dealing with protection issues</a> and questions about whether they have enough firepower around Mahomes. When your top wideout gets the perfect look on fourth down and can’t finish the play, it feeds every concern.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	303	3	-

2025 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	303	3	-

Xavier
Hutchinson

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