Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are set to make their playoffs debut

Texans vs Chiefs odds
  Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) fumbles a pass as Houston Texans cornerback Myles Bryant (27) defends during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The reigning back-to-back champions begin their playoff campaign against the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon (4:30 PM ET) on ESPN and ABC.

Houston cruised through their NFL Wild Card round with a commanding 32-12 victory over the Chargers, thanks to a defense that capitalized on Justin Herbert’s struggles.

With four interceptions, the Texans relieved the pressure on C.J. Stroud, who has now become the most successful quarterback in franchise history during the playoffs.

However, this time they face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The two-time defending champions are beginning their quest for an incredible and unprecedented three-peat after enjoying a bye in Week 18 of the regular season.

The frigid temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium will be a challenge for Houston, a team accustomed to the warmer atmosphere of their indoor home stadium.

 Houston Texans vs Kansas City Chiefs early preview

This may not be the flashiest version of the Chiefs we’ve seen in recent years, but the results speak for themselves: a 15-2 record to cap off another stellar regular season.

Kansas City has leaned heavily on a solid defense, despite a midseason slump in their pass coverage. However, with Steve Spagnuolo at the helm, the defense remains one of the team’s key strengths heading into the playoffs.

On the other side, Houston’s defense has been instrumental in their surprising playoff run. The pass-rushing duo of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter poses a serious threat on the edges and will likely be the key to a potential Texans upset.

Offensively, C.J. Stroud continues to impress, although his sophomore season hasn’t matched the brilliance of his rookie campaign. The Texans’ passing and rushing attacks have been far from dominant this season, hampered by numerous injuries that have taken a toll on their consistency.