The Houston Texans aim to break a history of playoff misery as they face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round. With a dismal 0-5 record in this round and no playoff road wins, the Texans hope to channel their recent 32-12 wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The match pits Houston’s rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud against the seasoned Patrick Mahomes, testing whether the Texans can maintain momentum or falter as they did in a previous matchup against the Chiefs, which they lost 27-19.

Houston must combat Kansas City's potent offensive threats by focusing on stopping the run, particularly against running backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco. Defensive adjustments played a crucial role in their last win against the Chargers, where they pressured quarterback Justin Herbert effectively. Stroud’s ability to run will also be key, especially with Joe Mixon’s recent ankle injury. The Texans are underdogs again, but their desire to be competitive is clear as they aim for a pivotal upset.