• Loading stock data...
Monday, September 15, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

NFL Playoff Tradition: Texans Draw Saturday-Afternoon Game Again

The Texans are in the NFL playoffs for the fourth time in seven seasons, but that has not changed the team’s national stature much, as it will once again have the first, and arguably worst, broadcast slot.

The Tennessean

There are no certainties when it comes to the NFL playoffs—except perhaps the Texans playing a Saturday late afternoon wild-card game. 

Houston’s placement in the NFL’s first—and arguably least attractive—playoff broadcast slot is now about as close to a sure thing as the league’s postseason can offer.

The AFC South division champions this season claimed the eighth postseason berth in their 23-year history, and for the eighth time will play a wild-card game at 4:30 p.m. ET on a Saturday. The Texans will face the Chargers on CBS, kicking off the NFL’s three-day wild-card weekend. 

The streak, remarkably, covers the Texans reaching the playoffs as both a division champion and as a wild-card team, and against opponents from all other U.S. geographic regions and AFC divisions.

There is perhaps a reduced momentum surrounding the 10–7 Texans this year, particularly after the breakthrough season in 2023 for quarterback C.J. Stroud that wasn’t entirely repeated in 2024, and the team is currently the betting underdog in the Chargers game. There’s also little debate that the team doesn’t have the expansive fan base, mainstream cachet, or proven ratings power as several other playoff teams such as the Steelers, Bills, and Packers. 

Houston has won five of its prior seven wild-card games. The Texans, however, are 0–5 in the divisional round.  

“We’ve earned the right to play postseason football, which is always our goal, and now we’re excited for whatever opportunity comes next,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans.

Other Playoff Matchups

The NFL, meanwhile, rolled out late Sunday a similarly sequenced wild-card schedule as a year ago, slating all of the AFC games to be played before the NFC ones. 

The Texans-Chargers game will be followed Saturday night by a Steelers-Ravens game on Amazon Prime Video, its first NFL playoff game in company history, that could challenge the recent league streaming records set by Netflix. Sunday’s tripleheader will begin with a Broncos-Bills game at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the Packers and Eagles clash at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox, and concluding with the Commanders and Buccaneers in prime time on NBC. 

The weekend will finish Jan. 13 with the Vikings visiting the Rams, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, with simulcasts across multiple Disney properties including ABC.

The top-seeded Chiefs and Lions earned byes in this round.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Most NFL Home Teams Opt to Honor Charlie Kirk Before Games

Several NFL teams playing at home on Sunday recognized the late activist. Some did not.

College Football’s Costly Start for Virginia Tech, UCLA: Coaches Out

UCLA and Virginia Tech fire their coaches while Notre Dame slumps badly.

YouTube’s Revised NFL Game Rating Still Has Fox, ESPN Execs Upset 

Adjusted viewership metrics from the streamer reignited debate about the game.

Massachusetts Sues Kalshi To Block Sports Prediction Markets

A lawsuit claims the company’s offerings are indistinguishable from traditional sports bets.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.

College Football Enters Week 3 Up 21% in TV Ratings

Total college football viewership across all networks is up big.
September 5, 2025

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports camera station before the game between the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
September 11, 2025

Lachlan Murdoch on Fox’s Sports Strategy, FanDuel Plans

The executive calls a forthcoming streaming bundle with ESPN “essential” for fans.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.
September 4, 2025

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.