You're sitting there, wings getting cold, staring at the remote like it’s a Rubik's cube. We've all been there. The Houston Texans have had a hell of a run this 2025-2026 season, and honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to C.J. Stroud’s connection with Nico Collins, you’re missing some of the best football in the AFC. But finding the game shouldn’t be a full-time job.
If you need the short answer right now: The Houston Texans are on ESPN and ABC for their AFC Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots.
The game kicks off this Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT). Since it’s a playoff game, it’s not just hidden on some regional cable network; it’s a national broadcast. But depending on where you live or how you cut the cord, "which channel" can get a bit more complicated than just hitting a button.
Finding the Texans in the 2026 Playoffs
The NFL's TV deals are basically a giant jigsaw puzzle. For the regular season, you usually just look at CBS or FOX. But once the playoffs hit, the networks start fighting for those high-stakes slots.
For this weekend’s showdown at Gillette Stadium, ESPN is the primary broadcaster. However, because it's a major playoff game, it’s being simulcast on ABC. That’s great news for anyone with a digital antenna. If you can pick up your local ABC affiliate (like KTRK-TV Channel 13 in Houston), you can watch the game for free over the air.
You’ve also got ESPN Deportes if you’re looking for the Spanish-language broadcast.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are expected to be on the call. Love them or hate them, they’ve become the soundtrack to these big Texans moments lately. The duo has been praising DeMeco Ryans' defensive schemes all year, especially after that dominant 30-6 wildcard win over the Steelers last week.
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Streaming the Game Without Cable
If you’ve ditched the cable box, you aren't out of luck. In fact, you might have more options than the traditional folks.
- ESPN+: This is the most direct way if you’re already in the Disney/ESPN ecosystem. The game will stream live here.
- Hulu + Live TV & YouTube TV: Both carry ABC and ESPN. If you have these, just search "Texans" in the search bar about ten minutes before kickoff.
- FuboTV: They’ve been leaning hard into sports lately. They carry the game and usually offer a free trial if you’re in a pinch.
- NFL+: This is the league’s own app. It’s great for mobile, but keep in mind that "local and primetime" rules apply. Since this is a national playoff game, it should be available to stream on your phone or tablet via the app.
One thing people often forget is the Texans Official App. If you are physically located in the Houston market, you can sometimes stream the local broadcast directly through the app or the Texans' website on a mobile Safari browser. It’s a nice little "in-market" perk that most people ignore.
What Channel Is The Texans On for the Rest of the Season?
Look, if the Texans beat the Patriots this Sunday, the channel changes again. That's the nature of the beast.
Typically, AFC games live on CBS. If Houston advances to the AFC Championship, you’ll likely be looking for your local CBS station (KHOU 11 in Houston) or Paramount+. CBS has the primary rights for the AFC side of the bracket, but the NFL loves to flex the big games to whichever network has the "A-tier" window that week.
During the regular season, we saw a lot of variety. Remember that Thursday night game against the Bills back in November? That was an Amazon Prime Video exclusive. Then there was that Week 17 Saturday game against the Chargers that was tucked away on NFL Network.
It’s getting harder to just "turn on the TV" and find the team. You basically need a spreadsheet and four different passwords.
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Why the Channel Matters for "Out of Market" Fans
If you’re a Texans fan living in, say, Seattle or New York, the regular season is a nightmare. You usually have to shell out for NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV just to see the non-national games.
But the playoffs are the "Great Equalizer." Because these games are national, the "what channel is the Texans on" question becomes way easier. You don't need Sunday Ticket for the playoffs. You just need access to the major networks: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN.
Scoping Out the Competition: Texans at Patriots
This isn't just about the channel; it's about the matchup. The Patriots are sitting at 14-3 and have been a juggernaut. Meanwhile, our Texans are 12-5 but coming in hot with a ton of momentum.
The "experts" on ESPN (the channel you'll be watching!) are already debating if the Texans' secondary can handle the New England air attack. Jalen Pitre and Kamari Lassiter have been absolute ball hawks lately. Lassiter, specifically, mentioned on "Good Morning Football" earlier this week that the team is focusing on "connected football." Basically, they aren't scared of the Foxborough cold.
The weather forecast for Sunday is looking chilly—classic January football weather. If the snow starts falling, those ABC/ESPN cameras are going to give us some legendary visuals.
Radio Options if You’re on the Move
Can't get to a TV?
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- Local Houston: SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM) and 100.3 The Bull. Marc Vandermeer is the "Voice of the Texans," and honestly, his energy is sometimes better than the TV guys.
- National: Westwood One Sports will carry the game on radio stations across the country.
- Satellite: SiriusXM will have the New England feed on channel 225 and the Houston feed on channel 226.
Getting Ready for Kickoff
Before the game starts, you’ll probably see the pre-game shows. On ABC/ESPN, they’ll have the "Monday Night Countdown" crew—even though it’s Sunday—breaking down the C.J. Stroud vs. New England defense battle.
It’s kind of wild to think about where this team was a few years ago. Now, we're asking "what channel is the Texans on" for a Divisional Playoff game. The hype is real.
Pro-tip: Check your signal at least 30 minutes early. There is nothing worse than realizing your streaming app needs a 2GB update right as the coin toss is happening.
Next Steps for the Big Game:
- Verify your ABC/ESPN access now to avoid last-minute subscription scrambles.
- Download the NFL+ or Texans app as a backup in case your Wi-Fi decides to quit during the fourth quarter.
- Sync your audio—if you prefer the local radio call, use a radio app but be prepared to pause your TV for a few seconds to line up the delay.
The Texans have a real shot at the AFC Championship. Make sure you're on the right channel to see it happen.