Leading 21-0 and facing a fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City Chiefs’ 13-yard line, the Houston Texans were about to put the AFC West champions in a world of hurt on their home field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Lining up and seeming to go for it, the Texans called timeout. Perhaps they were going to get the correct personnel grouping they wanted for the fourth-and-1 attempt.
Instead, coach Bill O’Brien sent kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn on for a 31-yard field goal to extend Houston’s lead 24-0 with 10:54 in the second quarter.
After the Chiefs scored their first touchdown of the game, Houston faced a three-and-out after quarterback Deshaun Watson’s pass didn’t connect with receiver Will Fuller on a third-and-4 from the Texans’ own 31-yard line.
Here is where O’Brien decided to go for it, to make a bold statement, and it quite possibly turned the momentum of the game.
Kansas City safety Daniel Sorensen tackled safety Justin Reid, who took a direct snap from punt formation. The loss of two was a turnover on downs and the high octane Chiefs would have it at the Texans’ 33.
The Chiefs scored three plays later largely due to a 28-yard pass interference call against rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson. The second touchdown drive was part of eight consecutive scoring drives with the final one being the lone field goal from Kansas City on that Sunday.
O’Brien needed to do something recapture the momentum that the Texans were starting to lose after Kansas City scored their first touchdown. Going three-and-out on the ensuing possession wasn’t ideal. However, there would have been no issue with punting it away and playing field position game, which maybe would have resulted in a punt or a field goal more likely than the Chiefs having it at the Texans’ 33.
The right fourth down call was fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs’ 13-yard line. If they would have failed, Kansas City would have been backed up inside their own 15, which would have tied for their second-worst field position of the game.