The NFL playoffs divisional round kicks off this afternoon as the Houston Texans face the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs have one goal in mind: a three-peat. The Texans, meanwhile, would be thrilled with a deep playoff run. They’re just getting started with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Previous Chiefs-Texans Matchups

The odds are heavily in the Chiefs’ favor. But the Texans aren’t a pushover. The two teams played once earlier this season, with Kansas City beating Houston in Week 16 by a score of 27 to 19.

Not a wide margin, but, then again, most of the Chiefs’ 15 victories in the regular season were similarly close. Eleven of the Chiefs’ 15 wins were by just a single possession. And Mahomes was dealing with a sprained ankle that game. The Texans lost wide receiver Tank Dell in the third quarter to a season-ending knee surgery.

Stroud delivered an impressive 23-for-39 performance for 244 yards and two touchdowns in that game — but also threw two interceptions.

The most recent playoff bout between the Chiefs and Texans was in the 2019 Divisional Round. The Chiefs overcame a 24-0 deficit to win 28-24 to move onward to their Super Bowl LIV victory.

Predictions

Undefeated at home this season, the Chiefs have a clear home-field advantage and are objectively the superior team. The Texans had a dismal close to the season, but were impressive in the second half of last week’s wild card game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Texans will need to bring that energy into today for the entire 60 minutes, scoring first, maintaining pressure on Mahomes throughout, and exploiting the Chiefs’ offensive line weaknesses. As most Chiefs games this year have shown, it’s the final minutes where the game is decided.

The Texans will have a fighting chance if their defense rises to the challenge and Stroud remains poised and avoids costly interceptions. But this is probably going to be a Chiefs win.

Injury Report

Houston Texans

RB J.J. Taylor

G Nick Broeker

C/G Kendrick Green

DE Jerry Hughes

DT Kurt Hinish

LB Devin White

Kansas City Chiefs

T Ethan Driskell

OL C.J. Hanson

OL Wanya Morris

DE Malik Herring

DE Joshua Uche

CB Keith Taylor

S Deon Bush

Will Taylor Swift Be At the Game?

Yes, pop star Taylor Swift will be at the Chiefs-Texans game.

She’s already at Arrowhead Stadium, having arrived several hours before kickoff along with her family to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are 17-3 in games attended by Swift. She may be a good luck charm — or the Chiefs are just simply that good.

How to Watch Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Texans-Chiefs game will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN.

If you’re looking for a free way to watch, there’s always the old school method: an antenna. Millions of American still use them. And millions of others have never heard of the technology. If you don’t have one already, Amazon has many indoor and outdoor options to choose from.

Streaming options for the game are plenty, but require an existing cable or satellite TV subscription or a signing up for a streaming platform that offers ABC or ESPN. We’ve got links to those below, including how to stream the game for free.

Date and Time: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 4:30 PM Eastern

Weather: 24°, Cloudy ☁️, Windy 💨 (NNW at 16 mph with gusts up to 27 mph)

TV: ABC and ESPN

Streaming: ABC website, ESPN app and website, ESPN+, DirecTV Stream (free trial), Fubo (free trial), Hulu, Sling, NFL+, NFL Game Pass International (Outside U.S.), YouTube TV (free trial)

Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Outdoor)