How bleak were Patrick Mahomes’ passing-game numbers vs. Texans? Try career worst
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Patrick Mahomes posted a career-worst 19.8 passer rating in a 20-10 loss.
- Texans defense, drops and a makeshift line forced three interceptions.
- Aggressive fourth-down calls and personnel choices undermined Chiefs' playoff chances.
There is no good time to have a career-worst game when it comers to passer rating.
But Patrick Mahomes’ level of disappointment was raised exponentially by the stakes — and outcome — of Sunday’s game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, a 20-10 win by the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football.”
With the Chiefs clinging to slim playoff hopes, Mahomes — in his 125th regular-season game as the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting QB — came up with final numbers of 14 completions in 33 attempts for 160 yards and no touchdowns. And that added up to a passer rating of 19.8.
His 42.4% completion rating was a career worst, too, and his three interceptions tied for his most ever.
Before Sunday night’s game, Mahomes’ worst passer-rating game of 44.4 occurred in a victory at the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, two of his three worst passer-rating games before Sunday’s debacle had come in wins.
He always seemed to find a path to victory, even when the passing game was off. Not Sunday. Affected by the Texans’ stout defenses, dropped passes, a makeshift offensive line and at least one questionable personnel decision, Mahomes couldn’t will the Chiefs to a victory they needed with their playoff hopes on the ropes.
Mahomes’ effort was punctuated by a stretch of 10 straight incomplete passes that included two interceptions. The stretch started with a drop by running back Kareem Hunt and included subsequent drops by receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce.
Rice’s drop came on a fourth down. On the previous possession, Mahomes forced a pass on a fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs’ 31 and didn’t have Hunt or a running back in the game to keep the Texans guessing.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid shouldered the blame for the fourth-down failures that ended consecutive drives.
“I put the guys offensively in a tough position with the fourth downs and tried to stay aggressive with it,” Reid said. “I take responsibility for that.”
The Chiefs’ streak of incompletions, especially the fourth-down failures, returned the game’s momentum to Houston after KC had scored 10 straight points to draw even.
“We had chances,” Mahomes said. “We’re not making those plays. We need to execute at a higher level in those big moments.”
Houston entered the game with the NFL’s top-rated defense in points and yards allowed. The Texans lived up to those rankings, sacking Mahomes twice. Both sacks came when the Texans brought pressure — on 18 pressured plays Sunday, Mahomes went 2 of 12 for 40 yards.
“That’s a good football team, but we had chances,” Mahomes said.
They just couldn’t cash them in.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM.