Mahomes stars as Chiefs win to close in on top seed

Patrick Mahomes (right) has been named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player three times

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 27-19 at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to close in on the top seed in the AFC.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes overcame an ankle problem to start the game and rushed for one touchdown and threw another to Xavier Worthy as the Chiefs improved their record to 14-1.

They will seal the top seed and a bye to the second round of the play-offs if the Buffalo Bills lose on Sunday or if they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day - their third game in 11 days.

"Our offensive line did a great job accepting the challenge," said Mahomes.

In the third quarter, the game was stopped for several minutes when Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a serious left leg injury.

Quarterback CJ Stroud threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dell but the 25-year-old collided with team-mate Jared Wayne in the end zone, causing him to fall to the turf and immediately grab his leg.

Texans players were in tears as Dell was stretched off the field and taken to a nearby hospital.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans later said Dell's injury was "significant", with reports of a dislocated kneecap.

During the Chiefs' win over the Cleveland Browns last week, Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain and was taken off in the fourth quarter.

However, he took part in all workouts during the week and his fitness showed early against Houston when he scrambled 15 yards for a touchdown to give the Chiefs a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

"To go out there and find a way to win with everybody was a good moment for us," added Mahomes.

Later on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 to seal a play-off spot and join their opponents at the top of the AFC North.

Marlon Humphrey's first career pick-six and a late field goal from Justin Tucker clinched the Ravens' victory in the fourth quarter, ending their losing streak against the Steelers having lost eight of their last nine meetings.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes for the Ravens, while the Steelers' Russell Wilson threw two.

In doing so, Jackson set a new single-season franchise record for touchdown passes with his 37th of the campaign, breaking his own previous best from 2019.