The Houston Texans head to Kansas City for a marquee AFC showdown on Sunday Night Football, with both teams vying for wild-card positioning in a crowded conference. Houston, riding a four-game winning streak behind C.J. Stroud’s return and a stifling defense (No. 2 in points allowed at 16.5/g), sits third in the AFC South and holds the No. 6 wild-card spot. The Chiefs, snapping a two-game skid with a gritty overtime win over Indianapolis but plagued by offensive line woes, cling to the No. 9 spot and third in the West—needing a home win to stay in the playoff hunt. This rematch of the 2024 Divisional Round (Chiefs won 27-19) pits Stroud’s precision against Patrick Mahomes’ magic, but Kansas City’s trench dominance and Arrowhead noise could force a low-scoring battle amid chilly conditions.
Venue and Game Details
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, MO 64129. The open-air fortress seats 76,416 and is renowned for its deafening crowds, ranking as the NFL’s loudest venue.
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark (field reporter); Peacock (streaming)
Westwood One: Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic
Local radio on SportsRadio 610 (HOU) and 810 WHB (KC).
Weather: Chilly and clear—partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 30s°F (high 34°F, low 23°F) at kickoff. Low 14% chance of light flurries; winds 8-10 mph from the north, potentially affecting kicks but favoring short passes.
Injury Report
Injuries hammer both O-lines, but Houston’s secondary depth takes a hit. Kansas City’s front suffers without key blockers. Latest from Tuesday, December 2 practice reports:
| Team | Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Est. Game Status |
| Texans | Jaylen Reed | SAF | Forearm | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Doubtful; broke metal plate in arm, surgery pending—secondary depth tested. |
| Jamal Hill | LB | Hamstring | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; missed Week 13, key tackler if active. | |
| Joe Mixon | RB | Foot | NFI (season-long) | Out; not expected to return in 2025, Chubb/Marks handle backfield. | |
| Tank Dell | WR | Knee (ACL tear) | IR | Out; dislocated knee Week 12, season-ender—Nico Collins primary target. | |
| Laken Tomlinson | OL | Healthy scratch | Waived | Out; veteran G released Tuesday, O-line shuffles. | |
| Chiefs | Noah Gray | TE | Concussion | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; protocol after Week 12 exit, red-zone depth hit. |
| Trey Smith | G | Ankle | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; high/low sprain vs. IND, O-line vulnerable without him. | |
| Christian Roland-Wallace | CB | Back | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; missed snaps lately, secondary thins. | |
| Jawaan Taylor | OT | Elbow | Limited | Questionable; protecting Mahomes’ blindside. | |
| Rashee Rice | WR | Hamstring | Limited | Probable; battled through last game, key for YAC. |
Texans lean on run game sans Mixon; Chiefs’ protection issues could lead to hurried throws from Mahomes.
Key Player Matchups
Both offenses rank top-10 in points (HOU No. 21 at 21.9/g, KC No. 9 at 25.4/g), but defenses shine—Texans No. 2 pts allowed, Chiefs No. 7. Expect a chess match in the pocket.
C.J. Stroud (HOU QB) vs. Chiefs Secondary
Stroud (66.1% comp., 1,978 yds, 11 TD in 9 starts) vs. KC’s No. 12 pass D (202.7 ypg allowed). Trent McDuffie shadows Collins; Stroud’s quick release (2.7 sec) projects 240+ yds if pressure light.
Patrick Mahomes (KC QB) vs. Texans Front Seven
Mahomes (64.6% comp., 3,238 yds, 22 TD) faces HOU’s elite rush (No. 10 sacks). Will Anderson Jr. (team-high pressures) targets; Mahomes’ mobility (6.3 ypc) could scramble for 40+ yds.
Nick Chubb (HOU RB) vs. Chiefs Run D
Chubb (stepping up sans Mixon: 61 yds last week) vs. KC’s No. 14 stop unit (105 ypg allowed). Chiefs allow 3.9 ypc; Chubb’s power for 80+ in volume role.
Kareem Hunt (KC RB) vs. Texans DL
Hunt (515 yds, 4.0 ypc) meets HOU’s No. 18 rush D (118 ypg allowed). Texans allow 4.1 ypc; Hunt’s vision projects 90+ yds if O-line holds.
Nico Collins (HOU WR) vs. Trent McDuffie (KC CB)
Collins (team-high targets) vs. McDuffie’s lockdown (top-5 coverage grade). If Dell out, volume spikes; Collins’ YAC threat for 90+ yds.
Team Records and Standings Context
Texans: 7-5 (3rd AFC South, .583 win%). No. 6 AFC wild-card. Offense: No. 19 passing (238.1/g), No. 23 rushing (107.7/g), 21st pts (21.9/g). Defense: No. 2 pts allowed (16.5/g).
Chiefs: 6-6 (3rd AFC West, .500 win%). No. 9 AFC wild-card. Offense: No. 5 passing (269.8/g), No. 15 rushing (118.3/g), 9th pts (25.4/g). Defense: No. 7 pts allowed (19.3/g).
Recent Team Forms
Texans surging defensively; Chiefs inconsistent but lethal at home (5-1).
Texans Last 5 Games (4-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 30 | @ IND | W 20-16 | Stroud: 276 yds, TD; D holds Richardson to 1 TD. |
| Nov. 21 | vs. BUF | W 23-19 | Mills: 153 yds; Marks: 74 yds, late D stand. |
| Nov. 16 | @ TEN | W 16-13 | Mills: 274 yds, TD; run game grinds 44 yds. |
| Nov. 9 | vs. JAX | W 36-29 | Mills: 292 yds, 2 TD; Collins: 136 yds. |
| Nov. 2 | vs. DEN | L 18-15 | Mills: 137 yds; O-line allows 3 sacks. |
Chiefs Last 5 Games (2-3):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 27 | @ DAL | L 28-31 | Mahomes: 261 yds, 4 TD; Hunt: 58 yds. |
| Nov. 23 | vs. IND | W 23-20 (OT) | Mahomes: 352 yds, TD; Hunt: 104 yds. |
| Nov. 16 | @ DEN | L 19-22 | Mahomes: 276 yds, TD; Hunt: 59 yds. |
| Nov. 2 | @ BUF | L 21-28 | Mahomes: 250 yds; Hunt: 49 yds. |
| Oct. 27 | vs. LAC | W 28-7 | Mahomes: 299 yds, 3 TD; Pacheco: 58 yds. |
Texans 4-1 SU last 5; Chiefs 0-3 when <100 rush yds.
Series History
Kansas City dominates, winning 11 of 16 (including playoffs). All-time: Chiefs lead 11-5. Last 5 meetings:
Jan. 18, 2025 (Playoff): Chiefs 27, Texans 19 (KC).
Dec. 21, 2024: Chiefs 27, Texans 19 (KC).
Dec. 18, 2022: Chiefs 30, Texans 24 (OT) (KC).
Sep. 10, 2020: Chiefs 34, Texans 20 (KC).
Oct. 13, 2019: Texans 31, Chiefs 24 (HOU).
H2H avg. 44.2 total pts; overs hit 4/5 since 2020.
Betting Trends
Spread: Texans 6-6 ATS (50%); Chiefs 6-6 ATS (50%). HOU 3-3 ATS on road; KC 5-1 ATS at home.
Total: Under in 7 of HOU’s 12 (58%); 6 of KC’s 12 (50%). SNF unders hit 55% this season.
Key Trends: Chiefs 16-0 SU home with rest edge; Texans 2-5 SU vs. top-10 scoring Ds. H2H: KC 4-1 SU last 5.
Projected Score: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 19
TEXANS NOTES:
• TEXANS ranks 1st in yards allowed per game (265.7) & points allowed per game (16.5). • QB C.J. STROUD completed 22 of 35 atts. (62.9 pct.) for 276 yards in Week 13. Aims for his 5th in row in primetime with 205+ pass yards. Completed 19 of 28 atts. (67.9 pct.) for 245 yards in 2024 AFC-D at KC. • RB WOODY MARKS (rookie) rushed for 64 yards last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • RB NICK CHUBB rushed for 34 yards & TD in Week 13. Had 101 scrimmage yards (83 rush, 18 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in his last game at KC (9/12/21 w/ Cle.). • WR NICO COLLINS had 5 catches, 105 scrimmage yards (98 rec., 7 rush) & 1stcareer rush TD last week. Has TD in 4 of his past 5 on road & 75+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 overall. Had 5 catches for 81 yards in 2024 AFC-D at KC. • WR JAYDEN HIGGINS had 5 catches for career-high 65 yards in Week 13. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 55+ rec. yards. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 7 catches for 55 yards last week. Aims for his 5th in row on road with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 45 yards & TD in last reg. season meeting. • DE WILL ANDERSON JR. had 4 tackles & TFL in Week 13. Is 1 of 2 (Brian Burns) with TFL in 11 games this season. Has sack in 6 of his past 7. Had 2 sacks in 2024 AFC-D at KC. • DE DANIELLE HUNTER has sack in 3 of his past 4. Has 2+ TFL in 2 of his past 3 & 4+ tackles in 3 of his past 4. • LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 5 tackles & TFL in Week 13. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5. Had 10 tackles & TFL in last reg. season meeting. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR led team with 8 tackles last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 6 tackles in 2024 AFC-D at KC. • S CALEN BULLOCK had 7 tackles & PD in Week 13. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles & PD.
CHIEFS NOTES:
• QB PATRICK MAHOMES completed 23 of 34 atts. (67.6 pct.) for 261 yards & 4 TDs with 129.7 rating in Week 13. Ranks 2nd in AFC in pass yards (3,238) & TD passes (22) in 2025. Has 250+ pass yards in 10 games this season, tied-most in NFL. Surpassed HOFer Dan Marino (46) for most games with 3+ TD passes in 1st 9 seasons. Aims for his 8th in row in primetime with 210+ pass yards & TD. Completed 28 of 41 atts. (68.3 pct.) for 260 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in last reg. season meeting. • RB KAREEM HUNT had 80 scrimmage yards (58 rush, 22 rec.) last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 55+ scrimmage yards. Has TD in 4 of his past 5. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Hou., incl. playoffs, with TD. • WR RASHEE RICE had 8 catches for 92 yards & career-high 2 TDs in Week 13. Aims for his 3rd in row with 8+ catches & 90+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 at home. • WR XAVIER WORTHY had 74 scrimmage yards (61 rec., 13 rush) last week. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 45+ scrimmage yards. Had 75 scrimmage yards (65 rec., 10 rush) & rec. TD in last reg. season meeting. • TE TRAVIS KELCE had 5 catches for 45 yards & TD last week. Needs 81 rec. yards to join HOFer Jerry Rice as only players with 800+ rec. yards in 12 consecutive seasons. Had 7 catches for 117 yards & TD in 2024 AFC-D vs. Hou. • DE CHRIS JONES had 4 tackles & TFL in Week 13. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3. Had 4 tackles & sack in 2024 AFC-D vs. Hou. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS had 5 tackles & 3 sacks in 2024 AFC-D vs. Hou. • LB NICK BOLTON led team with 11 tackles & had 2 PD last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 6+ tackles. Had 4 tackles, TFL & FF in last reg. season meeting. • CB TRENT MCDUFFIE had 7 tackles & FF in Week 13. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou., incl. playoffs, with 4+ tackles & PD. • CB JAYLEN WATSON had 6 tackles & INT last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
Game Odds
Houston Texans 41.5
Kansas City Chiefs – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 6, 2025
