Chiefs’ Fourth-Down Gamble Backfires, But Andy Reid Stands By the Call
In a game that felt like a turning point for the Kansas City Chiefs’ season, one decision loomed larger than the rest: a 4th-and-1 at their own 31-yard line, tie game, just over 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The stakes were high, the call was bold, and the result-well, it might define the Chiefs’ 2025 campaign.
Kansas City didn’t get the yard. Houston took over with a short field and cashed in with a go-ahead touchdown.
The Chiefs never recovered, falling 20-10 and dropping to 6-7 on the season. Afterward, head coach Andy Reid admitted he “messed that one up.”
But by Monday, he was standing by the decision, even if the outcome didn’t go Kansas City’s way.
“This is terrible to say in a situation like this because we didn’t win and we didn’t get that, but I would probably do that same thing again,” Reid told reporters. “But, I also know, when you don’t get ‘em, it can be a problem, especially when they’re in that field-goal-range area.
But, again, I thought the risk-reward was right for that time. It slapped me in the face, though.
It didn’t go that way.”
This wasn’t a reckless gamble. Reid’s confidence came from a season’s worth of short-yardage success.
The Chiefs have been reliable in those situations-whether pounding it on the ground or trusting Patrick Mahomes to make a play through the air. That history gave Reid the green light.
“We’ve been so good in that area - whether it was run or pass,” he said. “And so, I felt we were in a good position.
I thought we had a good play. Again, I thought it was the right thing to do then.”
Still, the decision left the defense in a tough spot. After holding the Texans to just 10 points through three quarters, they were suddenly asked to defend a short field. Houston didn’t waste the opportunity, marching in for the go-ahead score and seizing control of the game.
Playoff Hopes on Life Support, But Reid Keeps the Faith
With the loss, the Chiefs now find themselves in unfamiliar territory: on the outside looking in. At 6-7, they’re trailing three teams in the AFC wild-card race, and according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, their playoff chances sit at just 11.3 percent.
But Reid isn’t ready to count his team out-not with four games still on the schedule and a locker room full of veterans who’ve seen it all.
“I have learned over the years that anything’s possible,” Reid said. “So, I communicated that to the guys.
They were down in the dumps after [Sunday's] game. I mean, they put their heart and soul into that thing, and we came up short.
But, at the same time, there’s a way you’ve got to pick yourself up and get yourself going again. And hope is always a good motivator there.”
That message will be tested this Sunday when the Chiefs return home to face the 9-4 Los Angeles Chargers. Despite the record disparity, Kansas City opens as a 4.5-point favorite, a nod to the respect Mahomes and company still command around the league.
The margin for error is now razor-thin. Every possession, every decision, every fourth down-especially deep in your own territory-carries playoff implications. And while Reid’s call didn’t work out this time, it’s clear he’s still willing to bet on his offense when it matters most.
The Chiefs have made a habit of late-season magic in the Mahomes era. If they’re going to do it again, it starts now.