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The NFL Divisional Round kicks off with a rematch of Week 16 as the Houston Texans visit Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, January 18 – televised on ESPN/ABC, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM ET.
This game features two teams with contrasting paths to this point: the Texans, who struggled down the stretch of the regular season but found a spark in the Wild Card Round, and the rested Chiefs, perennial contenders with eyes on a third straight Super Bowl title.
Houston enters this game with a wave of confidence after dismantling the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the Wild Card Round. While the Texans stumbled early, a pivotal play from quarterback C.J. Stroud – who fumbled a 3rd-and-long snap, picked up the ball, scrambled right and found Xavier Hutchinson for a game-changing completion. Stroud finished with 282 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. His connection with WR Nico Collins (7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD) proved vital, especially in the absence of Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs.
The Texans defense was the real MVP, forcing LAC QB Justin Herbert into an uncharacteristic 4-interception performance. Despite an explosive day from the Chargers’ Ladd McConkey, Houston’s defense held firm under head coach DeMeco Ryans’ leadership.
This team righted the ship at the right time, but Stroud must stay mistake-free against Kansas City’s opportunistic defense to keep the Texans alive.
The Chiefs are playoff veterans, led by the ever-dominant Patrick Mahomes. Sporting a 15-2 record and coming off a first-round bye, the Chiefs are as experienced as they come. Yet, they’ve been less dominant in 2024, with only 5 wins by 7+ points.
Kansas City’s offense revolves around Mahomes and his go-to target, TE Travis Kelce, who will be needed against Houston’s stout defense. Rookie speedster WR Xavier Worthy and veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins round out an offense that thrives on versatility. However, the Chiefs’ success could hinge on their ability to establish the run.
RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt must deliver against a Texans front that stifled the Chargers’ ground game last week. Also, there is the potential for rust with two weeks of rest for the Chiefs’ starters. What if Mahomes doesn’t have it early? This game could get interesting.
The defense, anchored by DE Chris Jones and CB Isaiah McDuffie, will look to pressure Stroud into mistakes. Kansas City’s home-field advantage is unparalleled, and with plenty of rest, they should have a plan to counter Houston’s strengths.
These two teams last met less than a month ago in Kansas City, where the Chiefs secured a hard-fought 27-19 victory. The Texans battled, but 2 turnovers and an emotional injury to Tank Dell played a significant role in the outcome.
Expect another close contest in this rematch. The Houston defense could play lights out, but Stroud has to show poise under pressure, and the Texans offense needs to find its rhythm early. Mahomes’ playoff track record, coupled with Kelce’s reliability, makes Kansas City tough to bet against in January. Houston’s ability to keep this game tight will hinge on minimizing errors and winning the battle in the trenches.
Kelce thrives in playoff moments, and Mahomes will lean on his veteran TE to exploit the Texans defense underneath and over the middle. Look for Kelce to deliver another signature postseason performance in this one.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.