It’s deja vu in Kansas City.
The Chiefs and Texans are set to get the divisional round started on Saturday, their second matchup in less than a month. For Kansas City, this begins their road to what they hope is a three-peat as Super Bowl champions. For Houston, they’ve surpassed expectations after injuries crippled the team and now will hope the magic continues.
DeMeco Ryans’ team got through the Chargers in the wild card round thanks to stellar defense. If they want to get through the Chiefs, C.J. Stroud and the offense will need to step up.
NEED HELP MAKING PICKS?Today’s NFL picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions
Kansas City has the benefit of rest, needing just two more wins for another appearance in the big game. They also have the benefit on the injury report and a quarterback named Patrick Mahomes. They’ve been there and done that, finding themselves in familiar territory this time of year.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Can Houston pull off the upset or will it be another AFC championship game in Kansas City? Here’s what to know about the matchup and how to watch it as a part of the league’s divisional round.
Watch Chiefs vs. Texans with Fubo FREE trial Where to watch Chiefs vs. Texans game today
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 18
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Game: Texans at Chiefs
The Texans and Chiefs kick off the divisional round at 4:30 p.m. ET in Kansas City at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
What channel is Chiefs vs. Texans?
- TV channel: ESPN/ABC (Watch FREE on Fubo)
ESPN’s final game of the NFL season will be in Kansas City for the Chiefs-Texans game. It will also be available on ABC and have all the familiar voices that football fans know. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will have the call from the booth with Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines.
Chiefs vs. Texans live stream free
- Live stream: ESPN+, NFL+, Fubo
Cord-cutting fans looking to watch the action unfold from Kansas City can catch the game with a subscription to ESPN+, NFL+ or Fubo, which comes with a free trial.
Stream NFL games with a Fubo subscription
Texans vs. Chargers predictions
After a long season, the games that really matter have arrived for the Chiefs. Coming in off a bye week, we’ll be treated to the classic “rest vs. rust” debate if Kansas City comes out slow. Andy Reid’s teams are notoriously dominant with the week off and expectations are that they will flex their championship muscle on Saturday.
However, these aren’t the same Chiefs, or so we think. Kansas City can flip the switch at any time and while conventional wisdom would suggest that would happen this week, reality might say otherwise. They are big favorites and playing a Texans team that they’ve owned over the years.
Houston is battered and bruised with an offense that doesn’t really scare anyone. They got by last week with a great defensive performance against the Chargers, but this is a step up in competition.
The Chiefs won’t admit it, but this is a classic lookahead spot with the Bills or Ravens looming next week if they take care of business.
Kansas City should win, but it’ll be closer than many suspect.
Chiefs vs. Texans odds
The Chiefs are favored to beat the Texans, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
- Spread: Chiefs (-8.5)
- Moneyline: Chiefs (-500); Texans (+375)
- Over/under: 42
Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Chiefs vs. Texans stats, history
The Chiefs and Texans have played 15 times in their history, including two postseason matchups. Kansas City is 10-5 against Houston all-time and 2-0 in the playoffs. They are 8-2 in the last 10 games after the Texans claimed victories in three of the first five.
These two teams last met in Week 16, meaning the divisional round matchup will be their second in less than a month. The Chiefs won, 27-19, as they continued their march towards clinching the AFC’s top seed.
The Texans and Chiefs most recent playoff matchup famously came in 2020. Deshaun Watson was still quarterbacking the team at the time. Houston famously blew a 21-0 first quarter lead and trailed 28-24 at the half in what became a 51-31 beatdown in the divisional round.
Chiefs vs. Texans play-by-play
You can follow the Chiefs vs. Texans play-by-play here.
NFL playoffs schedule
Here’s a look at the remaining NFL playoff schedule.
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 18
Sunday, Jan. 19
NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 26
- NFC championship game: 3 p.m.
- AFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl 59
- Date: Feb. 9, 2025
- Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- TV: FOX
NFL games today on TV
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Venue: Ford Field
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
All the players and the plays: Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter for NFL news.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.
