The Houston Texans Invitational kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Houston Texans will face the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. And once again, they will do it on a Saturday afternoon.
The release of the NFL’s wild-card schedule on Sunday confirmed a return of one of the league’s finest traditions: placing the Texans in the 4:30 p.m. ET slot on Saturday, often considered the least-desired matchup of the television slate.
The fourth-seeded Texans have made eight appearances in the wild-card round in their 23-year history. And they have played in that Saturday 4:30 slot every single time.
Start time for every Wild Card game in Texans history
2011: Saturday 3:30
2012: Saturday 3:30
2015: Saturday 3:30
2016: Saturday 3:30
2018: Saturday 3:30
2019: Saturday 3:30
2023: Saturday 3:30
2024: Saturday 3:30A tradition like no other
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 6, 2025
Houston enters this season’s playoffs with the same record as last year, 10-7, but with arguably less momentum after a down year for quarterback C.J. Stroud. The team has an even point differential and went 1-5 against playoff teams, including a 31-2 pasting at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas.
Despite hosting the game, the Texans are 2.5-point underdogs against the Chargers at BetMGM. They do, however, have, 5-2 record in the wild-card round overall.
