NFL divisional round action got off to a good start on a cold afternoon in Kansas City. But the heat was mostly on the Houston Texans’ sideline as tempers flared in the early moments of a high-stakes game against the Chiefs, back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions.
Television cameras showed Texans defensive back Kris Boyd nearly pushing Houston special teams coach Frank Ross to the ground moments after the opening kickoff of the playoff game.
The Texans kicked the ball to the Chiefs to start the game. Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio took the kick and quickly ran through some of the Texans’ would-be tacklers.
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Cornerback Kris Boyd #17 of the Houston Texans stands on the sidelines during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, at NRG Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Remigio soon took to the open field and ran towards the end zone. But Boyd finally caught up to him and released the ball.
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He then ran to the Texans bench and celebrated the fumble by taking off his helmet and sending it to the bench. However, there was one notable problem: the Chiefs had recovered the fumble.
Nikko Remigio of the Kansas City Chiefs, left, takes the kickoff past Ka’imi Fairbairn (15) of the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football AFC Divisional playoff game on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Boyd proceeded to push Ross to the bench.
The 28-year-old cornerback was ultimately penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing his helmet.
January 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, United States; Posters for a 2025 AFC Divisional Round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans are displayed at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Images by Denny Medley-Imagn)
The Texans advanced to Saturday’s divisional round game after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round last week.
Houston entered Saturday’s game against the Chiefs as a sizeable underdog, but entered the locker room at halftime trailing by just seven points. The third quarter ended with Kansas City leading 13-12.
The winner of the game at Arrowhead Stadium will await the outcome of Sunday’s other AFC divisional showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills.
