The Kansas City Chiefs are running out of opportunities to stay afloat in the playoff race. After losing to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, they're 6-6 and every game was already a must-win. Now, however, if the Chiefs lose, their playoff hopes will be on life support.
Up next is a date with the Houston Texans and it's the worst possible time to have to face the Texans. Houston has won four straight games after starting the year at 3-5 to set themselves up for a possible third straight AFC South title if they can run the table and the Jaguars and Colts falter (which wouldn't be unfathomable at all).
The Texans are a defensive-minded team, which is already a terrifying thought for Chiefs fans given the team's rollercoaster of an offense, but to make matters worse, C.J. Stroud is playing some of his best ball right now after a slow start. Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan had high praise for Stroud and the Texans and his words are something that should scare Chiefs fans ahead of this key Week 14 matchup.
"If [Stroud] plays that type of way, this team is as good as anyone, is playing as well as anyone right now. They're a scary football team if C.J. Stroud starts to find that stride, and I think he is," Ryan said on CBS' postgame show.
"If he plays that type of way, this team is as good as anyone." - @M_Ryan02 with MAJOR praise for CJ Stroud and the Texans pic.twitter.com/EkwMBlPWqE
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 30, 2025
Matt Ryan's comments won't make Chiefs fans feel better about Week 14 matchup
The Chiefs are getting the Texans at the absolute worst time and unfortunately, they need to win this game if they want to have any shot at getting into the postseason. It's not going to be easy though, as the Texans defense has been feasting against offenses and Stroud and his crew have done their part decently enough to win four straight games.
Houston has plenty on the line this weekend too. With a win in Kansas City, the Texans would move to 8-5 and they'd be squarely in the AFC South title hunt, something that seemed unimaginable when they started the year 0-3. The Texans will also be eager to avenge their playoff loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead earlier this year.
No matter how you spin it, this is not the matchup the Chiefs need right now and with their season on the line, the pressure has been dialed up to 100. Can they slow down the red-hot Texans or will the Chiefs' playoff hopes finally come to a crashing halt this weekend?