NFL Playoffs Briefing: Epic showdowns await in AFC, NFC divisional round

Editor's Note: Throughout the NFL playoffs, Chris Myers and his research team analyze upcoming matchups, while providing news, notes, and nuggets for inside access to the information an NFL broadcaster uses to prepare for calling a game.

A LOOK AT AFC MATCHUPS

(4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs — Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)

The Texans have now played 13 postseason games since 2011, only six teams have more (the Eagles will also be playing their 14th game in that span this weekend). Would it surprise you that among the teams with fewer postseason games played are the Steelers, Bills, Rams and upstate rival Cowboys?

After beating the Chargers, the Texans have six postseason wins since 2011 — only eight teams have more. The Bills, Bengals and Buccaneers also have six.

Under DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have 22 total wins (regular season and postseason) since the start of 2023 — only five teams, topped by the Chiefs with 30, have more.

No matter what happens in this postseason, the Chiefs have further positioned themselves as the "D" word of our time with a 15-win season. This is the 10th straight season that Kansas City has reached double figures in regular season wins. In each of the last six, they have at least reached the conference championship game. With a win against the Texans, they will be one away from the NFL record of eight consecutive conference championship game appearances set by the Patriots between 2011 and 2018 (the year Kansas City’s current run started).

In the last 10 years, the Chiefs have won 139 games (regular season and postseason). With a win Saturday, that would be 14 per year for a decade, easily eclipsing the next team in line, the Bills, who currently have 107.

The Chiefs have