Texans-Chiefs time, TV schedule, odds, streaming, announcers and more

The Game

The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans kick off the 2020 NFL season in a Thursday Night Football contest at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. The game will be broadcast by NBC-TV — locally on KSHB (41).

The Chiefs come into the game as defending Super Bowl champions, following their 31-20 defeat of the San Francisco 49ers in February. They finished the 2019 season with a record of 12-4 and their fourth consecutive AFC West title, entering the playoffs as the AFC’s second seed.

They opened the postseason against the Texans, who had entered the playoffs as a Wild Card team with 10-6 record. Houston got the upper hand early, running up a 24-0 lead to open the Divisional round game at Arrowhead. But by halftime, the Chiefs had taken a 28-24 lead, eventually cruising to a 51-31 victory and the AFC Championship against the Tennessee Titans.

Both teams are led by elite quarterbacks. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP just one season after being named NFL MVP following his first season as the Chiefs’ starter. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — selected just two spots after Mahomes in the 2017 NFL draft — became the team’s starting quarterback halfway through his rookie campaign. In 37 regular-season starts, he’s thrown for 9,716 yards, 71 touchdowns and only 29 interceptions.

Both teams are led by successful, offensive-minded head coaches. The Chiefs’ Andy Reid is now entering his 22nd season as an NFL head coach — his eighth with the Chiefs. He’s led the Chiefs to six playoff berths over seven seasons. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien — who also became the team’s general manager in January — is beginning his seventh season leading the Texans. Under his leadership, the team has made the playoffs four times in six seasons.

Last season’s Divisional round game was the second postseason contest between the two clubs. The Chiefs won both of them. Otherwise, the two clubs are 5-5 since the Texans entered the NFL as an expansion team in 2002.

Nuts and bolts

Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Playing surface: Natural grass

Game time: 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time, Thursday, September 10, 2020

Weather forecast: Cloudy with a 50% chance of rain showers. Winds NNE at 7-8 mph.

Parking lots open: 3:30 p.m. Arrowhead Time

Stadium gates open: 5:30 p.m. Arrowhead Time

Road construction note: The Missouri Department of Transportation is currently finishing a major construction project on sections of I-435 and I-70 near the Truman Sports Complex that will impact traffic for the home opener. Fans can get more information on the construction project at modot.org/I-435-and-I-70-interchange.

COVID-19 personal items policy: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please note that no bags — including previously-approved clear bags, small clutch bags and wallets that can’t fit in pockets — will be permitted inside the stadium. Guests should only bring items that can fit into their pockets. For guests with medical- or childcare-related items such as diapers, wipes, formula, bottles or breast pumps, those items must be brought in a clear plastic bag and guests should present their bag to staff during the screening process. Fans can visit chiefs.com/stadium/prohibitedpermitteditems for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items.

COVID-19 Tailgating: All parking must be purchased in advance; payments will not be accepted at the parking tollgates. All fans will have a designated parking entrance based on their seat location that will put them in close proximity to their designated entry zone. All parking for the 2020 season will be general (red) parking and is only open to ticket holders. Tailgating is permitted, but vehicles will be parked in an every-other-spot pattern to accommodate social distancing. Tailgating is limited to the individuals who have tickets in the same pod.

Other COVID-19 notes: Know your zone — which is found on your ticket — and have a plan to enter through the assigned parking and stadium gates. Circumnavigation of the stadium is not permitted in order to minimize contact with other guests. Wear your masks at all times — even when seated. Fans must wear masks into the stadium, but each fan will receive a mask supplied by the team in their cupholder. Maintain social distancing along your entire journey and wait for aisles to clear before exiting your seats. Please have patience — and know that everyone is in this together. Be a good teammate and help the Chiefs protect all of their fans.

Matchup history: 5-5 (regular season)

Odds: Chiefs -9

Officials: Referee Clete Blakeman (34), umpire Jeff Rice (44), down judge Jerry Bergman (91), line judge Tom Symonette (100), field judge Joe Larrew (73), side judge Jimmy Buchanan (86), back judge Perry Paganelli (46), replay official Matt Sumstine and replay assistant Kevin Brown.

Television broadcast: with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya on KSHB (NBC/41-Kansas City), Chiefs Mobile App, KPRC (NBC/2-Houston) and NBC affiliates nationwide

Online Stream: Fubo.TV

Chiefs radio broadcast: with Mitch Holthus, Danan Hughes and Josh Klingler on WDAF (106.5 FM-Kansas City) and Chiefs Radio Network affiliates

Chiefs Spanish radio broadcast: with Enrique Morales, Oscar Monterroso and Hannah Bassham on KCWJ (1030 AM-Kansas City)

Texans radio broadcast: with Marc Vandermeer and Andre Ware on KILT (100.3 FM and 610 AM-Houston) and Texans Radio Network affiliates

Enemy SB Nation site: Battle Red Blog

Twitter: Arrowhead Pride

Facebook: Please like us!