
The Chiefs (15-2) are set to take on the Texans (10-7) in the AFC divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs. With it, the Chiefs begin another playoff run, with their sites set on winning a Super Bowl for a third consecutive year.
The Chiefs are well-rested, coming off a first-round bye after earning the No. 1 overall seed within their conference. The Texans, meanwhile, defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12, at home in the wild-card round.
STREAM: Watch Chiefs vs. Texans live with Fubo (free trial)
Unsurprisingly, Kansas City is an 8.5-point favorite against Houston at home. While the Chiefs have had some close calls in games this season, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense are expected to match up well against the Texans. The Chiefs beat the Texans, 27-19, on Dec. 21.
Houston running back Joe Mixon missed practice Thursday and is questionable to suit up Saturday. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 282 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Chargers, rushing for another 42 yards.
The Sporting News tracked the divisional playoff game between the Chiefs and Texans, including results and highlights from the game.
Chiefs vs. Texans live score
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Chiefs vs. Texans highlights from 2025 NFL playoff game
(All times Eastern.)
5:26p.m. β Well that possession changed quickly. Stroud gets sacked for a loss of five yards on third down, and Fairburn’s 55-yard field goal attempt is no good. It looked like the wind took it immediately.
5:23 p.m. β Well, looks like Stroud’s knee is holding up OK! He has a huge 28-yard scramble on third down to give the Texans a fresh set of downs.
CJ STROUD TAKES OFF FOR 28 YDS ON 3RD DOWN π¨
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/jHC4opJ69iβ Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2025
5:18 p.m. β On third down, Houston finally gets a sack on Patrick Mahomes from Will Anderson Jr. He’s had a great game so far.
Joe Thuney has had some very good reps as a fill-in left tackle, but dealing with a pissed-off Will Anderson is, hoooo buddy, a lot pic.twitter.com/A6pPpjIM0A
β Christian D’Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 18, 2025
5:15 p.m. β The Chiefs are starting to figure out the Texans defense on this drive. Patrick Mahomes has a big 15-yard scramble and he finds Xavier Worthy for another 12 yards. Unfortunately for Houston’s defense, Al-Shaair is now questionable to return with a knee injury.
5:06 p.m. β On third down, Chris Jones gets to C.J. Stroud and sacks him for a loss of 12 yards. The Texans will punt here.
5:02 p.m. β ESPN’s Laura Rutledge reports that the Texans used infrared heat therapy on C.J. Stroud’s knee during that Chiefs’ posession. We’ll see if that affects him at all in this game, something to keep an eye on for sure.
Chiefs 6, Texans 3
4:59 p.m. βFIELD GOAL: Harrison Butker makes a 36-yard field goal, but this was another impressive stand for this Houston defense despite the Chiefs getting deep into Texans territory.
4:54 p.m. β Oh man, it looks like the Texans force a stop on third down, but Will Anderson Jr. gets flagged for roughing the passer. The Chiefs’ drive stays alive.
Chiefs 3, Texans 3
4:47 p.m.βFIELD GOAL: Ka’imi Fairbairn makes the 30-yard field goal to even things out. It looked as though C.J. Stroud walked off the field a bit gimpy after a third-down scramble, but we’ll see if it’s anything serious.
4:43 p.m. β C.J. Stroud finds Dalton Schultz for a big 34 yard pass, and Houston has a nice drive going here. Houston is down to KC’s 30 already.
Chiefs 3, Texans 0
4:37 p.m.β FIELD GOAL: The Texans have a big stand on defense, holding KC to just a 32-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. That’s impressive holding Kansas City to just three points after the big kickoff return. Let’s see how the Texans come out on offense.
4:34 p.m. β Holy cow! Nico Remigio returns the opening kickoff 63 yards, fumbles the ball but the Chiefs recover. The Texans get an unsportsmanlike penalty after the play, as well, setting KC up on Houston’s 14 What a start!
Big return to open the game. Ball is loose but Chiefs recover.
πΊ: #HOUvsKC on ESPN/ABC
π±: Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fCzmyGYKcIβ NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2025
Texans’ cornerback Kris Boyd was caught shoving special teams coordinator Frank Ross coming off the field:
Texansβ Kris Boyd shockingly shoves his coach
VIDEO pic.twitter.com/LNfEbxEe12
β Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 18, 2025
4:32 p.m. β Azeez Al-Shaair is getting this Texans team fired up:
Azeez Al-Shaair has the Texans ready for kickoff: pic.twitter.com/jPPllVNjkF
β Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2025
4:30 p.m. β We’re coming up on kickoff here, and it sounds like a super-charged atmosphere in KC.
4:05 p.m. β Some good news for the Texans on the injury front, as running back Joe Mixon and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair are both active to play.
4:00 p.m. β Folks, the Rizzler is here at Arrowhead!
π¨ THE RIZZLER IS IN THE BUILDING π¨
(via @Chiefs) pic.twitter.com/WO03v3kryO
β ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2025
3:33 p.m. β Less than an hour until kickoff! Can’t wait to get this divisional round of the playoffs going. It looks pretty cold in Kansas City (it currently feels like nine degrees), so we’ll see if this has any effect on either team today.
2:18 p.m. β It sounds like there is a bit of wind that both teams will have to deal with during the game:
Crisp 21 degrees with 16 mph winds gusting to 25 here @GEHAField for Texans-Chiefs. Usual tricky winds today. East end zone (right) goalpost flags blowing opposite flags atop stadium. West end zone flags almost limp. pic.twitter.com/6V2QABu6D8
β Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) January 18, 2025
2:11 p.m. β We’re just a little over a couple hours from kickoff here, and both teams are arriving in Arrowhead. Here’s Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes making his way into the facility:
QB1’s looking Golden β¨ pic.twitter.com/Fs1YcYWXpZ
β Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 18, 2025
The Texans have arrived, as well:
7οΈβ£ rolling into the Divisional Round π pic.twitter.com/9h6RO2D9MD
β Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2025
Chiefs vs. Texans start time
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 18
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The NFL playoffs kick off with the Chiefs vs. Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18. Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will be at 4:30 p.m. ET.
What channel is Chiefs vs. Texans on today?
The Chiefs-Texans divisional game is the lone broadcast for ABC and ESPN’s networks. The broadcast crew will feature the usual Monday Night Football crew in Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on the sideline.
MORE NFL PLAYOFFS:
NFL playoff schedule 2025
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 18
Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel | Live stream |
Chiefs vs. Texans | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN | ESPN+, Fubo |
Lions vs. Commanders | 8:00 p.m. | Fox | Fubo |
Sunday, Jan. 19
Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel | Live stream |
Eagles vs. Rams | 3:00 p.m. | NBC | Peacock, Fubo |
Bills vs. Ravens | 6:30 p.m. | CBS | Paramount+, Fubo |
Conference championships
Sunday, Jan. 26
Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel | Live stream |
NFC championship game | 3:00 p.m. | Fox | Fubo |
AFC championship game | 6:30 p.m. | CBS | Paramount +, Fubo |
Super Bowl 59
Sunday, Feb. 9
Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel | Live stream |
TBD vs. TBD | 6:30 p.m. | Fox | Fubo |