The Houston Texans have officially put themselves in the playoff conversation-and not by luck or scoreboard watching. After a gritty, must-win victory over the Colts, they’re now firmly in the AFC Wild Card hunt.
But their path to January football runs through one of the NFL’s most intimidating venues: Arrowhead Stadium. That’s where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A win would bump their playoff chances to a strong 83%, per the NFL’s own projections.
But let’s be real-beating Patrick Mahomes in prime time at Arrowhead? That’s no small task, no matter what the Chiefs' record says.
Yes, Kansas City has looked out of sync at times this season. The offense hasn’t been the same high-octane machine we’ve come to expect, and the losses have piled up more than usual.
But this is still a team that’s been to three straight Super Bowls and hoisted the Lombardi twice. Mahomes remains one of the most dangerous players in football, and the Texans know it.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans certainly does. In a recent sit-down on the team’s official YouTube channel, Ryans gave fans a glimpse into the mindset he wants his defense to have heading into this massive matchup. And the message was clear: don’t assume anything when it comes to Mahomes.
“Never assume with him,” Ryans said, when asked about how the Texans plan to tackle the elusive quarterback. “Never assume that he’s throwing the ball.
Never assume that he’s down. Just go finish your play.”
That’s not coach-speak-it’s a survival guide for defenders facing one of the most improvisational quarterbacks in NFL history. Mahomes has made a career out of turning broken plays into highlight reels.
He’ll scramble to the sideline, look like he’s about to take off, and then-boom-he flicks a 40-yard pass on the run to a receiver who never stopped moving. It’s backyard football at the highest level, and it’s exactly what the Texans have to be ready for.
Ryans emphasized that defenders need to stay disciplined and keep their bodies on Mahomes, especially when he leaves the pocket. The key?
Don’t get caught watching. Don’t assume the play is over until the whistle blows.
“He can throw the ball at any given time,” Ryans said. “So you’ve got to be clean with him going out of the pocket. Always understand that.”
That level of awareness extends to the secondary as well. Mahomes isn’t a run-first quarterback-he’s always scanning downfield, looking to make a play with his arm. That puts extra pressure on the Texans’ defensive backs to stay locked in on their assignments, even when Mahomes starts moving.
“He’s not really looking to scramble and run the ball,” Ryans explained. “His eyes are always downfield.
So the secondary has to be aware of that. Make sure you’re sticky on your coverage.”
Translation: no freelancing, no blown assignments, and no letting receivers slip behind the defense just because Mahomes is on the move. The Texans' DBs will need to play with discipline, anticipation, and a whole lot of stamina.
And finally, Ryans drove the point home with a line that sums up the entire game plan: “Just have to make sure you finish the play.”
That’s the mentality this young Texans squad needs to carry into Arrowhead. They’ve earned the right to control their playoff destiny, but there’s no margin for error-not against a battle-tested team like the Chiefs. Mahomes may not be having an MVP season, but he’s still capable of flipping a game on its head in a heartbeat.
The Texans have shown resilience, growth, and flashes of real potential under Ryans. Now comes the ultimate test. If they can stay disciplined, finish plays, and keep Mahomes from doing Mahomes things, they just might walk out of Kansas City with more than a win-they might walk out with the league’s attention.
Sunday night’s going to tell us a lot about where this Texans team really stands.