Jan. 14—When Patrick Mahomes shook hands with C.J. Stroud at midfield at the conclusion of their Dec. 21 game, cameras caught Mahomes telling Stroud that they'd see them in the playoffs.Those words have become customary for players and coaches acknowledging respect for one another.They don't always come true. But Mahomes' words turned out to be prophetic.The Houston Texans will face the Chiefs on Saturday in Kansas City in the AFC divisional round for the second time in a month. It's expected to be a tough game for the Texans, as the Chiefs have the NFL's best record at 15-2.'KC has done a great job of dominating the league,' Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. 'It's a tough team to beat. It's going to take everything that we have.'But it might also be the best-case scenario considering the alternative for Houston.Before Sunday's games began, the Texans had a chance to face either the Chiefs, to whom they lost 27-19 on Dec. 21, or the Ravens, who destroyed them 31-2 on Christmas.When the No. 2 seed Bills handled business versus the No. 7 seed Broncos on Sunday, that sent the Texans to Kansas City.Though the Chiefs have the best record at 15-2, boast the best playoff quarterback in the NFL, had the benefit of a first-round bye, and are back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Texans match up favorably with Kansas City.Everyone likes to talk about Lamar Jackson's postseason woes.But the Ravens appear to the best the hottest team in the NFL right now.Not only is the two-time MVP playing the best football of his career and the front runner for his third MVP award, but Derrick Henry, the second-best running back in the NFL this year, can't be stopped either.That doesn't even mention the fact that the Ravens have the NFL's No. 1 run defense, and a pass defense that has improved significantly in recent weeks.The Texans avoided an oncoming freight train.If the Texans are to be Super Bowl contenders, then they'll eventually have to go through the Ravens. But putting them off for another week was the best scenario.For now, it's about the Chiefs, whose record suggests they are the best, but the results tell a different story.The Chiefs' average scoring margin this season is 3.5 points. Baltimore's average scoring margin is 9.5 points, which is fourth-best in the NFL.Eleven of the Chiefs' 15 wins came by eight points or fewer,
