Bill O’Brien’s field-goal decision leads to avalanche of points for Chiefs

Bill O’Brien thought he was making a simple decision. The resulting carnage may have him thinking twice.

Up 21-0 against the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs due to a weird conflagration of events and looking at a fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City 13-yard line, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien elected to take the points as opposed to risking giving the ball back to Patrick Mahomes. So, kicker John Christian Ka’iminoeauloameka’ikeokekumupa’a Fairbairn (Ka’imi to his friends) booted a 31-yard field goal, and Houston had a 24-0 lead with 10:58 left in the first half.

But there was a slow, yawning chasm of concern over this decision — instead of forcing the Chiefs to take over at their own 13-yard line in a worst-case scenario, Houston kicked off to receiver Mecole Hardman, who promptly returned the ball 58 yards to the Houston 42-yard line. Mahomes then hit tight end Travis Kelce for 25 yards, and then hit running back Damien Williams for a 17-yard score.

The Texans went three-and-out after that, punted the ball back to Kansas City, and it took Mahomes just three plays (and a 28-yard pass interference call on Houston cornerback Lonnie Johnson) to score another touchdown, on this five-yard pass to Travis Kelce.

Texans receiver DeAndre Carter fumbled the subsequent kickoff, and that fumble was recovered by Chiefs rookie running back Darwin Thompson, and returned to the Houston six-yard line. Didn’t take long from there for Mahomes to hit Kelce again.

But, wait! There’s more! With 58 seconds left in the first half, Mahomes hit Kelce AGAIN for ANOTHER touchdown, taking the lead from a 24-0 hole.

And with that, Mahomes became the second quarterback in postseason history to throw four touchdown passes in any quarter, matching Doug Williams of the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII.

We’ll never know what would have happened had O’Brien gone for it, but the avalanche of points that resulted from that one decision would lead one to assume it may not have been the right decision. Let’s just say that those who have covered pro football in Houston for decades are unimpressed with O’Brien’s strategic acumen.

So… it’s Chiefs 28, Texans 24 at the half, Buckle up, folks.