The first game of the NFL Divisional Round takes place on Saturday with the Chiefs welcoming the Texans to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The matchup is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ABC/ESPN.
Continue below for my Texans vs. Chiefs player props for the Divisional Round.
Texans vs. Chiefs Player Props
Joe Mixon Under 57.5 Rushing Yards (-110)
The Texans come into this as a big underdog and the line movement would suggest that the public is also expecting this to be a tough game for the road team.
If the Chiefs take a commanding lead, it’s going to be a hard day for Joe Mixon, who might be utilized more for his pass protection skills than his rushing ability between the tackles.
Mixon enters this game after rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers in the Wild Card Round. That game saw the Texans looking to eat the clock — something that’s unlikely to be an option available to them on Saturday.
The four games to end the regular season each saw Mixon go under 57.5 rushing yards. That includes a defeat to the Chiefs.
C.J. Stroud Over 21.5 Passing Completions(+105)
As mentioned above, there is a good chance the Chiefs will be holding a strong lead. That means the game script will favor the Texans passing often and reliant on C.J. Stroud.
It’s been a frustrating year for Stroud, who endured a sophomore slump though he can still be trusted to be accurate when passing.
He's had 22 or more passing completions in four of his past eight games. However, in Week 18 he barely played as the Texans had won the division, so it’s more like four in seven.
That includes that 27-19 defeat to the Chiefs, in which he completed 23-of-39 passing attempts. Stroud may have had a poor season, but the talent is there — we saw last year how clutch he can be in high-pressure situations.
It might not be enough to win this game, but he should be able to get to at least 22 passing completions.
Travis Kelce Anytime Touchdown (+150)
This is business time for the Chiefs as the playoffs are when they really come alive. Despite a fantastic record, finishing 15-2, there’s a feeling that this Chiefs team has yet to hit their stride.
In part, that’s been to down to a receiving corps that hasn't really helped Patrick Mahomes at times. That includes Travis Kelce, who has just three touchdowns on the season.
However, that’s the past and the Chiefs, and more importantly, Mahomes, will lean on old faithful once again in the playoffs. The Texans have given up eight touchdowns to tight ends this season, more than just four other teams, meaning that Arrowhead could be fertile scoring ground for the veteran.
One huge signal for us as bettors was his Week 17 performance in which he caught eight of 11 targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. That was just the second time he had double-digit targets in the second half of the season and it very much felt like the Chiefs getting the 35-year old ready for the real action.
Marquise Brown Over 42.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
One really intriguing dimension to this matchup is Hollywood Brown. He missed the first 15 weeks of the season, returning against this same opposition in Week 16, catching five of eight passes for 45 yards. He’s had 45 and 46 receiving yards in his two games this season and an impressive 15 targets.
After two weeks of rest and further time to work on getting back game sharpness, he’s going to be primed for this matchup. He’s very much the unknown quantity in this offense, but in a limited sample size he looks like somebody who could add another dimension to the Chiefs.
Brown's covered 42.5 receiving yards in both games with Mahomes, including against this Texans defense.
