The Game
Coming off the AFC’s only bye, the Kansas City Chiefs begin their postseason with a Divisional round matchup against the Houston Texans on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on ESPN and ABC — locally on KMBC/9.
These two teams last played just under a month ago, when the Chiefs collected a 27-19 home win in Week 16. Except for five and a half minutes of the second quarter, Kansas City led the game from start to finish to reach 14-1. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy turned in one of his best games of the season, collecting 75 yards from scrimmage — including a 19-yard reception that set up his 8-yard touchdown catch.
While the Chiefs allowed just one sack of quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the Week 16 matchup, the Texans’ pass rush is capable of much more. In their 32-12 Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, they sacked quarterback Justin Herbert four times while pressuring him enough that he threw four interceptions.
“When you look at that defense in general,” noted Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on Wednesday, “their confidence level — how fast they’re playing and aggressive [they are]? You felt that in the Chargers game. That’s been going on for a while. They’re good football players [and] they lead the league in sacks for a reason. If we don’t respect that, that’s ‘shame on us.’ So we have to have different ways to do different things.”
The Kansas City defense will also have to account for a new wrinkle from Houston’s second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. In Week 16, he collected 23 yards on two carries. But against the Chargers, he ran six times for 42 yards.
“We all saw what he did last week with his feet,” said the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “I think when the importance of these games keep amping up, you can expect quarterbacks to say, ‘Hey, I might have to run it here.’ We’ve talked extensively about trying to bottle this quarterback up — because we saw last week what he can do when he decides to run it.”
Nuts and bolts
- Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Playing surface: Natural grass
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. Arrowhead Time, Saturday, January 18, 2025
- Weather forecast: Partly cloudy and 25° with winds N 10-20 mph
- Matchup history: 8-5 Chiefs (regular season)
- Odds: Chiefs -8.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook
- Officials: Referee Clay Martin (19), umpire James Carter (73), down judge Jerod Phillips (6), line judge Brian Perry (97), field judge Dave Hawkshaw (107), side judge Alonzo Ramsey (80), back judge Greg Wilson (119), replay official Brian Matoren and replay assistant Bryant Thompson
- Television broadcast: with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on ESPN, KMBC (ABC/9-Kansas City), KTRK (ABC/13-Houston) and ABC affiliates nationwide.
- Online Stream: Fubo.TV, ESPN+
- Chiefs radio broadcast: with Mitch Holthus, Danan Hughes and Josh Klingler on KFNZ (96.5 FM and 610 AM-Kansas City), WDAF (106.5 FM-Kansas City), Chiefs Mobile App and Chiefs Radio Network affiliates
- Chiefs Spanish radio broadcast: with Oscar Monterroso, Hannah Bassham and Adan Manzano on the Audacy app (“Chiefs en Español”), KSSA (105.9 FM-Garden City, Kansas) and KSSM (1470 AM-Liberal, Kansas), Chiefs Mobile App, Tico-Sports.com and NFL+
- Texans radio broadcast: with Marc Vandermeer, Andre Ware and John Harris on KILT (610 AM and 100.3 FM-Houston) and Texans Radio Network affiliates
- SiriusXM broadcast: Channel 225
- Enemy SB Nation site: Battle Red Blog
- X: Arrowhead Pride
- Facebook: Please like us!
What you need to know in the stadium
- Pageantry: Colors: Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Honor Guard. National Anthem: Lanell Lightfoot. Flyover: CH-47 Chinooks from the 158th Aviation Battalion. Drum Deck Honoree: Dustin Colquitt. Spirit Leader: U.S. Army Specialist Ethan Castro.
- Parking lots open: 11 a.m.
- Stadium gates open: 1:30 p.m.
- Parking passes: All parking passes must be purchased in advance at www.Chiefs.com; payments will not be accepted at the parking toll gates.
- Cashless Arrowhead: All concession stands and retail points of sale are completely cashless. In addition to traditional scan and chip reader options for credit/debit cards, all fixed points of sale offer mobile tap or scan payment options, including Chiefs Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. In-stadium hawkers and vendors are credit card only.
- Clear bags, permitted items: The NFL’s clear bag policy is in place for all events at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can visit www.Chiefs.com/stadium/clearbag for important information on the clear bag policy and a complete list of permitted and prohibited items. Guests will enter the stadium through CEIA OPENGATE security screening technology. As guests approach the stadium, they should keep items in their pockets and/or clear bags as they pass through the advanced screening devices while following the direction of security personnel. All fans should keep moving through the screening gates at a normal pace, as there is no need to wait for the person in front or to stop unless otherwise directed.
- COVID-19: Masks are no longer required in indoor spaces. But per Kansas City, Missouri Health Department recommendation, masks are encouraged. Fans should stay home if they are sick, showing COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you become ill and can’t attend the game, you can resell or transfer your tickets.
Wk
1 Thu
Sep 5 Ravens GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
27-20 Wk
2 Sun
Sep 15 Bengals GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
26-25 Wk
3 Sun
Sep 22 @Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta Won
22-17 Wk
4 Sun
Sep 29 @Chargers SoFi Stadium
Los Angeles Won
17-10 Wk
5 Mon
Oct 7 Saints GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
26-13 Wk
6 BYE – – – Wk
7 Sun
Oct 20 @49ers Levi’s Stadium
Santa Clara, CA Won
28-18 Wk
8 Sun
Oct 27 @Raiders Allegiant Stadium
Las Vegas Won
27-20 Wk
9 Mon
Nov 4 Buccaneers GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
30-24 (OT) Wk
10 Sun
Nov 10 Broncos GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
16-14 Wk
11 Sun
Nov 17 @Bills Highmark Stadium
Orchard Park, NY Lost
30-21 Wk
12 Sun
Nov 24 @Panthers Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, NC Won
30-27 Wk
13 Fri
Nov 29 Raiders GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
19-17 Wk
14 Sun
Dec 8 Chargers GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
19-17 Wk
15 Sun
Dec 15 @Browns Browns Stadium
Cleveland Won
21-7 Wk
16 Sat
Dec 21 Texans GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City Won
27-19 Wk
17 Wed
Dec 25 @Steelers Acrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh Won
29-10 Wk
18 Sun
Jan 5 @Broncos Empower Field
Denver Lost
38-0 Wk
19 BYE – – – Wk
20 Sat
Jan 18 Texans GEHA Field at Arrowhead
Kansas City ESPNABC
3:30 PM
