Five ups and downs from an uncomfortable Chiefs win in Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 18: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Troy Hairston #34 of the Houston Texans during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 18: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Troy Hairston #34 of the Houston Texans during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Down: The unreliability of Harrison Butker

As poorly as the Chiefs played all day (or as odd as the penalties were from Carl Cheffers’ crew), the truth is that they could have left NRG Stadium as winners by the end of regulation. Instead, the Chiefs were forced to go to overtime and even then almost lost the game if not for some late defensive heroics from Frank Clark and Willie Gay Jr.

Harrison Butker has had a frustrating season this year, mostly due to the injury to his plant foot (ankle) that happened in the first quarter of the first contest that kept him out of several subsequent games. From there, however, Butker has also looked not quite back to 100 percent at times when missing easier kicks and/or extra points.

On Sunday, Butker missed an early extra point in the first half that kept the Chiefs behind at halftime 14-13. Then from there, Butker also missed a chance to put the game away which meant the Chiefs had to go to overtime to grab a victory.

Overall it’s an odd look for Butker to come up dry in two spots in which his efforts could have cemented a win for the Chiefs. The misses are uncharacteristic but added together this season, it seems something is not quite right.