Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie previewed his upcoming showdown with Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. How did McDuffie fare in the first matchup?

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo reveals concern covering Houston #Texans wide receiver Nico Collins | @EdEastonJr

C.J. Stroud, who dealt with a knee injury throughout the game after taking a hit in the first quarter, went 14-of-22 with 245 yards. He was sacked eight times, though, as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called several blitzes in the second half. He still had some nice scrambles, getting 42 yards on six carries.

Travis Kelce’s milestone game Saturday helped the Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a three-peat continue for another week with a 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional round. Kelce led the Chiefs’ offense with seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Chiefs safety Bryan Cook was evaluated for a concussion but was allowed to return to their playoff game against Houston on Saturday, while and Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hurt his knee and was questionable to return.

Joe Mixon is active for the Houston Texans’ divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Pro Bowl running back had shown up on the injury report with an ankle problem and missed practice late in the week.

Texans wide receiver Nico Collins set franchise receiving yardage record against Chargers, but needs someone in receiving corps to complement him against Chiefs.

Houston’s 10-7 record was as much a function of playing in a toothless AFC South as anything else. The Texans offense took a step backward after 2023’s emergence. C.J. Stroud backslid, a robust receiving corps was waylaid by injuries and the team had exactly one regular season win over a fellow playoff team (in Week 5 over the Buffalo Bills).

By clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed early, KC had more than three weeks to rest starters. And as our columnist Sam McDowell has noted, coach Andy Reid typically makes the most of his extra prep time, going 29-3 in his career when he has a bye week and the opposing team doesn’t.

ESPN commentator Troy Aikman high on Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud's 24-yard dot to wide receiver Nico Collins, "That's the throw of the day for him."

When the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense takes the field against the Houston Texans in the Divisional round, a lot of focus will be on wide receiver Nico Collins. He is the primary target for quarterback C.