Inevitable is a word that’s been thrown around about the Kansas City Chiefs throughout this season, as they try to march toward a historic third straight Super Bowl title. They opened 13-0, and their only two losses in the regular season were at Buffalo and at Denver in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed locked up and the starters on the bench.

They’ve won every way imaginable this season, and while good teams make their own luck, that has some thinking Kansas City might be vulnerable. While playing up — or sometimes apparently down — to its competition isn’t in question, the rust vs. rest argument may come into play. The Chiefs haven’t played a meaningful game in the standings since Christmas Day — a 24-day layoff for the Chiefs’ top players.

The Texans and Chiefs met in Week 16, on the Saturday before Christmas, a 27-19 K.C. win.

The Texans were last seen making short work of the Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12 in the wild-card round. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown, and C.J. Stroud threw for 282 yards and a score. He and head coach DeMeco Ryans became just the third quarterback-head coach combo — along with Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan (Jets), and Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh (Ravens) — to win playoff games in their first two NFL seasons together. A Texans upset would mean the first AFC championship game appearance in franchise history.

Partly cloudy skies and cold temperatures are expected for Saturday afternoon in Kansas City, with kickoff temps expected around 20 degrees and potentially dropping into the teens as the sun goes down.

How to watch Texans vs. Chiefs: AFC Divisional playoff

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Mo.
TV Channel: ABC, ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

Live44 updates

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST
Big defensive stop by Kansas City

The Chiefs come up with a defensive stop, forcing Houston into a 3-and-out. Joe Mixon gained 4 yards on first down, but C.J. Stroud threw incomplete passes on the next two plays.

Justin Reid appears to be hurt after making a play on Nico Collins to force an incompletion on third-and-6 from the Texans’ 11-yard line.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM EST
Chiefs go 3-and-out

The Texans’ defense gets a much-needed stop, forcing the Chiefs into a 3-and-out after gaining only one yard.

Matt Araiza kicks a 36-yard punt to pin Houston back at its 7-yard line with 8:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM EST
Texans fail to convert on fourth down

Nick Bolton forces C.J. Stroud to get rid of the ball early on a deep throw to Jared Wayne. But he can’t make the catch. Wayne was wide open, but the throw was behind him.

That was followed by an incomplete pass to Dameon Pierce on third-and-10. The Texans opt to go for it on fourth down, but Stroud is sacked by George Karlaftis.

Kansas City takes over on downs at its 44-yard-line.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM EST
Patrick Mahomes’ flop

Patrick Mahomes attempted to draw another unnecessary roughness penalty on the Chiefs’ last drive, putting a little extra mustard on a shove by Henry To’oTo’o as he ran out of bounds.

Considering how the officials have called hits on him, it’s probably difficult to fault Mahomes for trying to draw another flag. But he didn’t get it this time.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM EST
Touchdown: Chiefs 20, Texans 12

Travis Kelce grabbed an 18-yard reception to get Kansas City into the red zone.

Three plays later (after Mahomes attempted to draw a penalty by falling down on the sideline), Mahomes and Kelce connect again for an 11-yard gain and a touchdown.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM EST
Chiefs convert on fourth-and-1

Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Noah Gray on third-and-4 goes for 3 yards, just short of the first down. On fourth-and-1 from the Houston 37-yard line, the Chiefs opt to go for it and Kareem Hunt gains 3 yards.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM EST
Another Texans penalty on Patrick Mahomes hit

For the second time in this game, the Texans get called for a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty upon hitting Patrick Mahomes.

This time, Henry To’oTo’o is flagged for a hit on Mahomes as he’s sliding.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM EST
Taylor Swift chatting with Caitlin Clark

Surely, Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark were discussing Travis Kelce’s two catches on this drive for a combined 27 yards.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM EST
Touchdown: Chiefs 13, Texans 12

Joe Mixon finishes off a drive he played a big role in with a 13-yard touchdown run.

However, Ka’imi Fairbairn misses the extra point kick and the Texans still trail by one.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM EST
Xavier Hutchinson making catches

C.J. Stroud has completed passes of 14 and 13 yards to Xavier Hutchinson on this drive. The second of those receptions moves Houston to the Chiefs’ 28-yard line. But the ball was spotted short of the first down.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM EST
Texans feeding Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon gets a first down with an 8-yard gain on third-and-3 for the Texans and follows that up with a 7-yard rush.

On Houston’s previous two plays, Mixon rushed for one yard then caught a pass for a 6-yard gain.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM EST
Texans get ball to begin 2nd half

Houston won the opening coin toss and deferred, so the Texans’ offense will begin the second half with the ball

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM EST
Halftime: Chiefs 13, Texans 6

Halftime Stats

Texans

Total offense: 174 yards
C.J. Stroud: 6/10, 102 yards
Joe Mixon: 11 rushes, 46 yards
John Metchie III: 2 catches, 35 yards
Dalton Schultz: 1 catch, 34 yaar

Chiefs

Total offense: 123 yards
Patrick Mahomes: 7/13, 114 yards; 2 rushes, 14 yards
Travis Kelce: 2 catches, 72 yards
Xavier Worthy: 3 catches, 36 yards

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM EST
Field goal: Chiefs 13, Texans 6

C.J. Stroud scrambles 12 yards on third-and-13, but a holding penalty on Shaq Mason negates any possibility that Houston might go for it on fourth down.

Following a 9-yard rush by Dare Ogunbowale, the Texans have to settle for a field goal on fourth-and-14.

Ka’imi Fairbairn kicks a 48-yarder to make it a 13–6 game, but Houston has to be lamenting not getting a touchdown on that drive.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM EST
Chiefs sack C.J. Stroud

A sack by the Chiefs likely killed the Texans’ chance for a touchdown before halftime. Tershawn Wharton and Mike Danna combine to bring down C.J. Stroud for an 8-yard loss, pushing Houston back to the Kansas City 28-yard line.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM EST
C.J. Stroud to John Metchie III for 24 yards

Houston is driving toward a score before halftime. On second-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 49-yard line, C.J. Stroud connects with John Metchie III for a 24-yard gain.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM EST
TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 13, Texans 3

Two plays after the big catch and run by Travis Kelce, the Chiefs find the end zone for the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard score by Kareem Hunt.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM EST
Mahomes to Kelce for 49 yards

Patrick Mahomes quickly shook off his pass to Hollywood Brown being called incomplete. On the next play, he hits Travis Kelce for a 49-yard catch and run.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM EST
Did Chiefs jump offsides on Texans’ FG miss?

The Texans argue that Justin Reid jumped offsides on their field goal miss, but no call was made.

The Chiefs got right to work before anything can be reviewed with Patrick Mahomes throwing deep, but incomplete to Hollywood Brown.

Sat, January 18, 2025 at 5:29 PM EST
C.J. Stroud sacked by Charles Omenihu

Houston’s drive stalls at the Chiefs’ 37 after a sack by Charles Omenihu for a 5-yard loss. C.J. Stroud fumbled, but the ball was recovered by Shaq Mason.

The sack looks even more costly with Ka’imi Fairbairn missing a 55-yard field goal wide right.