HOUSTON – No matter what happened Sunday in the playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos, the Texans were always on a collision course with their recent past.
Now, the AFC South champion and fourth-seeded Texans know what’s next for them in the AFC divisional round as a rematch is set with them squaring off against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Recommended Videos
As the lowest-ranked remaining seed in the AFC postseason after the seventh-seeded Broncos lost to Buffalo, the Texans face the top-seeded Chiefs again. Had the Broncos won the game, the Texans would have traveled to play the Baltimore Ravens weeks after being demolished by the AFC North champions, 31-2, on Christmas at NRG Stadium. Instead, the Texans will play the 15-2 Chiefs once again.
The last time the Texans faced the Chiefs, they were overmatched at times from a skill and strategy standpoint in a 27-19 defeat. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes engineered a comeback and Kansas City coach Andy Reid and his offense exploited a pair of interceptions from quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud played much better Saturday in a 32-12 blowout AFC wild-card round playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers for their second win this season over a team with a winning record. He passed for 282 yards and one touchdown and scrambled for 44 yards while running back Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a score and wide receiver Nico Collins caught seven passes for a franchise playoff record 122 yards with one touchdown.
And the defense was dominant with four interceptions and four sacks as All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert twice.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be able to be in these shoes,” Stroud said Saturday after engineering a comeback win. “I don’t take it for granted. I’m so grateful and amazed how the Lord has uplifted this team. It hasn’t always been easy this year, but this is just another thing that we can use to motivate us even more to get to the divisional round, whoever we play and play well there. Amazing though. I’m so happy and so blessed.”
A repeat AFC South division winner, the Texans were in the thick of the last Kansas City contest before things started to unravel after a horrific dislocated kneecap and multiple ligament tear suffered by wide receiver Tank Dell while catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter that brought them to within one point of the Chiefs. Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn uncharacteristically missed the extra point that would have tied the game.
And this outcome and how it unfolded provides another reminder that the Texans weren’t quite there yet when it comes to consistently beating elite teams.
Perhaps the Texans are a different team in the playoffs under coach DeMeco Ryans’ leadership. Especially after a confidence-boosting victory over the 11-win Chargers.
“It’s just a testament to the head coach we have,” Stroud said. “The faith that he puts in us to keep going. The city we represent. Everything is really coming together at the right time. I really feel like this is just the start and I’m really just amazed of the environment in there as well. I really believe that we’re just getting started, and hopefully we continue to get this momentum rolling.”
The last encounter showed the Texans what they need to do better to compete with Kansas City. Now, it’s time to see how much they’ve improved.
“I mean, the best thing is it’s just good that we see them now because, at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, we know what we got to do,” Mixon said after the first Kansas City game. “We know what it’s going to take. Obviously, you know, back-to-back Super Bowl champions. In order to be a champion, you got to beat the champion.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
