Last week, ESPN’s Rex Ryan ruffled feathers for saying the Los Angeles Chargers were “on a bye” facing off against the Houston Texans.
That led to a four-turnover game for Justin Hebert and a 32-12 win for the Texans en route to another wild-card round win. Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon wasted little time celebrating the victory, lighting cigars and yelling that the team was “Smoking on that Rex Ryan bye week pack.”
Mixon said earlier this week that the Texans didn’t need motivational fuel at this point of the season, but any bulletin board material is welcome. That arrived on Tuesday in comments from FS1’s Nick Wright.
The former Hosuton-based radio show host might have switched up the wording compared to Ryan, but only by a fraction. During a segment on his show “First Things First,” Wright said his prediction has more to do with his belief in his hometown Kansas City Chiefs than it does as an insult to the Texans.
“It’s not a bye,” Wright said of Saturday’s matchup in Kansas City. “It is, however, the Chiefs’ final practice of the year.”
Somehow, it sounds worse when repeated out loud. Even though the Texans have a slight chance in the eyes of bettors, they proved their value with a double-digit win over the betting favorites twice in the AFC wild-card round behind C.J. Stroud.
Nick Wright weighs in on the Divisional • Texans at Chiefs on First Things First
“It’s not a bye. It is, however, the Chiefs’ final practice of the year. And we can show you Mahomes’ numbers in the round, it’s very simple..
Never lost, never turn the ball over, just… https://t.co/0SYz5mTwgz pic.twitter.com/vLwFnPOaNo
— sidelinesarah (@sidelinesarah) January 15, 2025
There is a caveat to Wright’s claim; divisional round. Houston is 0-5 all-time following the wild-card round and has never advanced to the conference championship.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes is 6-0 in the divisional round of the playoffs since taking over as QB1 in 2018. He’s only lost three times in the postseason all-time, including twice to Tom Brady and one in the Super Bowl.
But Wright, whose loyalty to Mahomes is well-documented, also brought up that the two-time MVP is near impossible to beat on Saturday. The numbers back it up, too. In six games, he’s totaled 16 touchdown passes against zero interceptions. Mahomes also has averaged over 300 yards per game.
“Here’s why it’s not though,” Wright said. “You don’t lose a game that you’re not playing and they’re not playing a game. They have one final practice before their season starts.”
After getting into an X beef with several Texans radio pundits, Wright had a chance to reassess his take. Instead, he doubled down.
“The season doesn’t start this Saturday, it starts next Sunday,” Wright said. “So no, I’m not giving Houston a chance, I’m not.”
The Texans kickoff Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium on ABC and ESPN.
If Kansas City loses, you know who to blame, Chiefs Kingdom.