Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans: Live updates & commentary from ‘SNF’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs enter SNF at 6-6, facing must-win scenario to revive playoff hopes.
- Offensive line injuries force Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore into starting roles.
- Chiefs must reduce penalties and protect Mahomes against elite Texans pass rush.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Today’s game might be a must-win contest for the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff chances.
That’s the type of thing that happens when a team hovers around .500 like the Chiefs have for ... pretty much the whole season. And it gives this “Sunday Night Football” game against the Houston Texans major playoff stakes.
The Chiefs dug themselves a hole by starting 0-2. Kansas City didn’t climb above .500 until Oct. 19, in a Week 7 win over the Raiders, and the team has been out of the playoffs for almost the entire season.
As a result, Kansas City has already lost the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Jaguars and Bills, and the Chiefs are down a game in the division series vs. the Chargers and Broncos.
The margin for error is pretty much gone. We’ll see if Patrick Mahomes and company can rise to the occasion today. Here’s how to watch and listen to “SNF.”
KC Chiefs vs. HOU Texans: Stats, score updates and commentary
Follow updates and commentary from our KC Star team, including Chiefs beat reporters Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell live at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
You can also see stats, scores and play-by-play below:
Three storylines for Chiefs-Texans
1. The Chiefs’ beat-up offensive line will be tested
It’s almost certain the Chiefs will be down three starters — Trey Smith (doubtful), Josh Simmons (out) and Jawaan Taylor (doubtful) — when they take the field against one of the NFL’s best at putting pressure on the quarterback. That makes this matchup particularly concerning, especially for a KC team that has struggled when it hasn’t been able to keep Patrick Mahomes upright.
Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore are the names to watch at tackle, and Mike Caliendo should draw the start at guard. They’ll certainly be under the microscope against an elite pass rush, even if the Chiefs are still the favorite today.
2. The Chiefs need this game for the playoffs
The Chiefs would not officially be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, but do some quick math here: The Chiefs, 6-6, sit in 10th in the AFC, and Wild Card candidates currently in front of them include the Chargers, Bills and Texans. Those first two teams already own head-to-head wins over KC.
For now, the Chiefs are two full games back in the playoff race, and they’ll need some help to get there. But a win over Houston would be a strong first step, especially as KC would pick up an all-important tiebreaker.
Do the Chiefs have a response in them?
3. Limit the penalties
Remember a year ago, when it seemed like the football world believed the Chiefs got all the calls? Nobody can argue that in 2025, and in fact, the Chiefs have been hurt by penalties this year as much as — if not more than — any team in football.
Last week, the Chiefs got a tough whistle on the road at the Cowboys, but more often than not it’s been their own doing: alignment penalties, holding calls and a lack of explosive offense to make up for those miscues.
They’ll have to clean it up today.
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM.
