The Kansas City Chiefs, armed with the AFC’s top seed and a first-round bye, are fully recharged and ready for the next chapter in their quest for a historic third consecutive Super Bowl victory. As two-time defending champions, the Chiefs have embraced a fresh mindset heading into this season. “Every year is a new challenge,” said defensive tackle Chris Jones. “Every year is a new opportunity to go and achieve the ultimate goal, and that’s to win a championship.”
Kansas City’s journey toward making NFL history by winning three straight Super Bowls begins this Saturday with a highly anticipated matchup against the Houston Texans in the divisional playoffs.
The fifth-seeded Texans (10-7) stunned the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the wild-card round, dominating on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Will Anderson Jr. and Mario Edwards Jr. each notched 1½ sacks against Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who was intercepted four times. Defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. had two picks, while Eric Murray returned one for a 38-yard touchdown.
“We talk about having aggressive hands and going after the ball,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “When it’s in the air, it’s ours. It’s a mindset and a skill set, and those guys want to attack the ball when it’s thrown their way.”
In their Week 16 meeting, the Texans held a second-quarter lead over the Chiefs, but ultimately lost 27-19 after a missed extra point attempt derailed their comeback. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, despite playing through a sprained ankle, was instrumental with both a passing and rushing touchdown. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw two touchdown passes but was picked off twice.
Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who missed that contest due to a suspension, is eager for a rematch. “It’s going to be a great competition,” Al-Shaair said. “Mahomes’ resume speaks for itself. To compete against the best—that’s what we play for.”
Mahomes, who boasts an undefeated 6-0 record in divisional playoff games, rested in Week 18 after a spectacular performance in his previous game. Off the field, he and his wife welcomed their third child, daughter Golden, this week.
“This team shows resilience,” said Jones, who returned from a three-game absence due to a calf injury. “We can win in so many ways—offense, defense, special teams. We’ve faced adversity all season long.”
Mahomes, coming off a 15-2 regular season, is fully focused on the playoffs. In a clear message that he’s ready for the postseason, he changed his social media profile picture to showcase his Super Bowl rings. With 15 career postseason wins, Mahomes can tie Joe Montana for second place in all-time playoff victories. He is also within striking distance of moving up the playoff touchdown leaderboard, needing just five more touchdowns to surpass Montana and Rodgers.
The Texans, led by running back Joe Mixon, who is nursing an ankle injury, are aiming for their first-ever AFC Championship appearance after failing to advance past the divisional round in five previous attempts.
Kansas City has a history of dominance over Houston, including a thrilling 51-31 win in the 2019 divisional round, where they erased a 24-point deficit en route to a Super Bowl title. In the 2015 wild-card round, the Chiefs delivered a 30-0 shutout victory in Houston.
