It’s been a half of long possessions between the Texans and Chiefs. But Kansas City has scored 10 points off of two C.J. Stroud interceptions and has a 17-10 lead at halftime.
Stroud threw his first interception on Houston’s first drive that the home team eventually turned into a touchdown. Despite the ankle sprain suffered last Sunday against the Browns, Patrick Mahomes ran in a 15-yard touchdown to give Kansas City an early 7-0 lead.
But the Texans came back to score 10 straight, first with Ka’imi Fairbairn hitting a 33-yard field goal. Then Stroud found tight end Dalton Schultz for a 10-yard touchdown pass to go up 10-7. That possession lasted 13 plays and 82 yards.
But the Chiefs came back with a long touchdown drive of their own, with Kareem Hunt finishing off a 13-play, 82-yard possession with a 3-yard touchdown. That was his sixth rushing TD of the season.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie recorded his second interception in the last two weeks to cut off a Houston two-minute drive on third-and-20 in Kansas City territory. With a 36-yard pass to Samaje Perine, the Chiefs were in scoring position. But the drive stalled from there, as Harrison Butker connected on a 44-yard field goal to make the score 17-10.
Mahomes finished the first half 13-of-20 for 127 yards. He also leads the Chiefs with 27 rushing yards on two carries.
Hollywood Brown, making his Kansas city debut, had three catches for 38 yards in the first half — including a fourth-down catch that moved the chains on the first drive.
Stroud is 16-of-25 for 149 yards with a touchdown and two picks. Tank Dell leads with five catches for 68 yards. Joe Mixon has rushed for 37 yards on seven carries.
Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy went off late in the half and is now questionable to return with an ankle injury. Similarly, Dell was being examined on Houston’s sideline late in the second quarter.
Houston safety Jimmie Ward was cared off the field in the second quarter and is questionable to return with a foot injury.
Kansas City will receive the second-half kickoff.
