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The NFL debuted a new holiday-themed patch for Saturday’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, featuring a pair of candy canes and the classic NFL logo.
The two teams kick off at 1 p.m. ET, with the Chiefs looking to move one step closer to clinching the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs and earning homefield advantage throughout.
The 9-5 Texans, meanwhile, are looking to make up ground on the Buffalo Bills (11-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) in the AFC playoff picture. Houston has already clinched the AFC South but is currently the No. 4 seed heading into the AFC playoffs, which at present would mean a matchup against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
The Texans will get an up-close look at Baltimore shortly, as they’ll face the Ravens on Christmas. The Chiefs are also playing on Christmas against the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of three games in a 10-day span for the two-time defending champions.
It was the second time this season the Chiefs have played three games within 10 days of one another.
“Listen, man, this is one thing I’m doing this offseason, is going to the NFLPA,” star defensive tackle Chris Jones told reporters on Dec. 1. “Especially with us having, like, three games in a 10-day span, that we’re mandatory to have a bye, a late bye week, you know what I mean?”
Patrick Mahomes hasn’t been thrilled with the NFL’s scheduling either.
“It’s not a good feeling,” he told reporters on Dec. 11. “You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It’s not great for your body. But at the end of the day it’s your job, your profession, you have to come to work and do it.”
The good news for the Chiefs is that the Christmas Day matchup against the Steelers could essentially be a meaningless game if they beat the Texans on Saturday and the Bills lose to the New England Patriots on Sunday, which would guarantee them the top seed in the AFC.
Regardless, it’s a lot of football in a short time.
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