Here is who national experts predict will win Houston Texans at KC Chiefs game
The Chiefs know the math going into Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans.
A loss likely ends the Chiefs’ playoff hopes, but offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and the rest of the coaching staff also are aware that Houston has the top scoring defense and sacked Bills quarterback Josh Allen eight times in a game last month.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs, 6-6, have multiple injuries on the offensive line.
“It’s probably not going to be a real pretty game, and that’s OK,” Nagy said. “This team doesn’t allow many points. So when you go into it, the goal is to score as many as you can, but what’s real, and how are you going to do it? And I think the team messaging, the offensive messaging from us, is just do what you’re supposed to do, coach how we’re supposed to coach, and we have a lot of trust in our guys and I think a lot of confidence.
“But we have a lot of respect because they’re a good football team and very well-coached.”
Kickoff on Sunday is at 7:20 p.m., and the game will air on KSHB (Ch. 41) in Kansas City. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be in the broadcast booth.
Here is who 66 national experts think will win.
A 26-20 Chiefs victory is the call from the Sporting News’ Bill Bender. This is from his story: “This is an every-week occurrence with the Chiefs, who are two games behind in the AFC playoff picture. The Texans are hot at the right time — and C.J. Stroud had 276 passing yards in his first game back from a concussion. ... We’re going to trust Patrick Mahomes one more time.”
A 22-20 Chiefs victory is the forecast from Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press. This is from his story: “The Chiefs have run out of margin for error. Their streak of nine straight division titles is going to end and they have to go on an incredible run to make it to the AFC title game for the eighth straight season. The Chiefs have won five straight meetings.”
Picking the Chiefs are four of five writers at NFL.com: Ali Bhanpuri (20-17 final score), Brooke Cersosimo (23-20), Dan Parr (20-17) and Tom Blair (22-19). Taking the Texans is Gennaro Filice (20-17). Here is part of what Filice wrote: “K.C. currently has a 34 percent chance to make the playoffs, per Next Gen Stats, but a loss would drop those postseason odds to 11 percent. That’s slim-to-none territory. Can the Texans slay this beleaguered AFC beast? With a ferocious front to overwhelm Kansas City’s battered offensive line, I think they can — and will!”
Picking the Chiefs are six of seven CBS Sports writers: Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson, John Breech, Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg. Picking Houston is Tyler Sullivan. Prisco sees a 23-17 final. This is an excerpt from his story: “The Texans are also playing consecutive road games. But that defense is impressive. Even so, give me the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes to stay alive in a game they have to have.”
Going with the Chiefs are four of six Athletic writers: Austin Mock, Larry Holder, Joe Buscaglia and Nick Kosmider. Picking the Texans are Chad Graff and Zack Rosenblatt. Here is a snippet from J.J. Bailey’s story: “As any nature show will tell you, approaching a cornered animal is an extremely foolish thing to do, no matter how wounded they appear. Kansas City, now 6-6, knows any loss from here on out is likely fatal. Their only chance for survival is to lash out violently at everything around them, and the Texans are being shoved right into their path.”
The Chiefs are the pick for nine of the 11 ESPN experts: Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Moses Moody, Lindsey Thiry, Pamela Maldonado, and Seth Wickersham. Taking the Texans are Kalyn Kahler and Jason Reid.
It’s an even split among the six Sports Illustrated writers. Taking the Chiefs are Conor Orr, John Pluym and Matt Verderame. Going with Houston are Clare Brennan, Gilberto Manzano and Mitch Goldich.
Picking the Chiefs are six of the 10 Dallas Morning-News experts: Dana Larson, Damon Marx, Craig Miller, Kevin Sherrington, Abraham Nudelstejer and Newy Scruggs. Taking the Texans are Tim Cowlishaw, Joey Hayden, Joseph Hoyt and Calvin Watkins.
Also split are the six USA Today writers. Taking the Chiefs are Chris Bumbaca (22-19 final score), Tyler Dragon (25-20) and Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (24-23). Picking Houston are Jarrett Bell (24-23), Nick Brinkerhoff (27-23) and Nate Davis (23-20).
Picking Houston are five of seven Bleacher Report writers: Ian Hanford, Brad Gagnon, Kris Knox, Moe Moton and Brent Sobleski. Taking the Chiefs are Gary Davenport and Wes O’Donnell.
Sirius XM’s Rich Gannon and Bruce Murray didn’t agree on who would win.
The Texans are the choice for both Pro Football Talk writers: Mike Florio (17-14 final score) and Chris Simms (24-20).
A 23-20 Texans victory is the forecast from the Arizona Republic’s Jenna Ortiz.
A Chiefs win is the prediction from Yahoo Sports’ Cody Williams.
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 6:33 AM.
