The Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for the history-making three-peat starts today with their first game in the 2025 NFL playoffs.
As the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Chiefs got last week’s Wild Card round off and home field advantage. Their first game in 24 days comes one week after quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany welcomed baby Golden Raye into the family.
Today, their opponent is the Houston Texans, who couldn’t be stopped in their 32-12 Wild Card win over the L.A. Chargers. The two teams met fairly recently; in Week 16, the Chiefs pulled out a win despite Mahomes dealing with an ankle injury, while Houston’s Tank Dell suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Here’s everything you need to know about Houston vs. Kansas City, from start time and channel, to how to watch for free.
Chiefs-Texans date and time: When do the Texans play the Chiefs?
Kickoff at the Texans-Chiefs game is set for 4:30 p.m. ET today, January 18.
What channel is the Texans vs. Chiefs Divisional round game airing on?
The Texans vs. Chiefs game is airing on ABC and ESPN. If you have cable or an antenna, all you have to do is change the channel around 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
How to watch Texans vs. Chiefs for free:
If you don’t have cable, the best way to stream the Texans vs. Chiefs divisional round game for free is to use a live TV streaming service with a free trial.
We recommend DIRECTV Stream, which offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers. When the trial is over, you’ll pay $86.98/month and gain access to over 90 live channels including ABC and ESPN.
fuboTV also offers a free trial for new users. It runs for seven days, and then you’ll be able to save $5 on your first month ($74.99, $79.99/month after).
Other ways to stream Texans vs. Chiefs:
While Sling TV doesn’t offer a free trial, you’ll save money on a whole month of streaming rather than just five days free. Sling TV’s Orange plan, which includes ESPN, is currently half off for your first month. Instead of $45.99, you’ll pay $23. If you spring for the Orange and Blue plan ($33 for the first month), just one month will cover the entire run of the NFL playoffs through the Super Bowl.
ESPN+ costs $11.99/month or $119/year and with it, you can watch select live MLB, out-of-market NHL, some NFL and NCAA Football games, plus Formula 1, PGA Tour, tennis Grand Slam major tournaments, and more.
ESPN+ and Disney bundle:
If you want to save a few bucks every month by bundling some streaming services and watching MNF when available, consider the Disney Bundle. For just $16.99/month, you’ll get access to ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu with ads, and for an additional $10/month, you can remove ads from Disney+ and Hulu.
How to Watch Texans vs. Chiefs from Anywhere:
If you are outside of the US or unable to watch the NFL in your region, consider a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Whether you’re traveling or living abroad, using a VPN allows you to stream live TV and your favorite shows and movies using your usual streaming services, without any restrictions. A VPN lets you change the IP address on your device so that you can access your favorite apps and websites whether you’re in the UK, Canada, Mexico, or anywhere in the world.
brand spotlight
Known for its fast and reliable server connections, NordVPN is regarded as one of the best options in the market. It has an expansive collection of servers worldwide. More importantly, it comes equipped with several privacy and security features that protect your device against malware and keep your browsing safe and anonymous.
Unblock your streaming service and start watching now for only $3.39/month! Plus, get three extra months for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
NFL playoffs schedule:
Divisional round:
Saturday, January 18
- Houston at Kansas City, 4:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN)
- Washington at Detroit, 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, January 19
- Rams at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Baltimore at Buffalo, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Conference championship round:
Sunday, January 26
- NFC Championship, 3:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
- AFC Championship, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Super Bowl LIX
Sunday, February 9
- AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
