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If you're frantically refreshing your feed to find out what's the score of the Houston Texans football game, here is the deal: as of today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, there actually isn't a score to report yet.
Wait. Don't close the tab.
There's a very specific reason for that. The Texans are currently in the middle of a massive playoff run, and while there are NFL games happening today, Houston isn't one of them. They just finished dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 this past Monday night. It was a statement win, honestly. Now, they are slated to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round tomorrow, Sunday, January 18.
Why isn't there a Texans score today?
The NFL schedule is a weird beast, especially in the postseason. Today is Saturday, and the league usually splits the Divisional Round across two days.
Today's slate features the Buffalo Bills heading to Denver and the 49ers taking on the Seahawks. If you were looking for C.J. Stroud and company, you've gotta wait about 24 hours. The Texans are scheduled to kick off against the Patriots at 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT) tomorrow at Gillette Stadium.
It’s gonna be cold. Like, potentially snowy cold.
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That Monday night blowout in Pittsburgh
To understand where the Texans are right now, you have to look at what they just did to Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. That 30-6 scoreline wasn't just a win; it was a demolition.
Houston came into that game with a ton of questions about whether their young roster could handle the playoff pressure on the road. They answered those questions by holding Pittsburgh to just 175 total yards. Sheldon Rankins basically ended the game himself with a 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Woody Marks, the rookie back who has been a revelation lately, put the icing on the cake with a 13-yard TD run late. If you missed it, you missed the best defensive performance in the history of the franchise. Seriously. DeMeco Ryans said so himself in the post-game presser.
Recent Houston Texans Results
- Jan 12, 2026 (Wild Card): Texans 30, Steelers 6
- Jan 4, 2026 (Week 18): Texans 38, Colts 30
- Dec 28, 2025: Texans 24, Titans 10
The team is currently on a ten-game winning streak. It's the kind of momentum that makes fans in H-Town start looking up hotel prices in Santa Clara for the Super Bowl.
What to expect in the next game
Going into Foxborough is never easy, even if the "dynasty" years are technically in the rearview mirror. This Mike Vrabel-led Patriots team is sitting at 15-3 and they’ve been holding opponents to ten points or fewer for three straight weeks.
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Basically, it’s the "Unstoppable Force" vs. the "Immovable Object."
Drake Maye has looked solid for New England, but he hasn't seen a pass rush quite like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. On the flip side, C.J. Stroud had a bit of a shaky start against Pittsburgh—two fumbles and a pick—but he's got that "it" factor where he just doesn't let mistakes snowball.
How to watch the Texans tomorrow
If you're planning your Sunday around the game, here's the info you actually need:
- Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT
- TV Channel: ABC and ESPN
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Expect a lot of talk about the weather. Meteorologists are already hinting at a possible "snow bowl" scenario. While Houston is a dome team, they showed in Pittsburgh that they can handle the elements just fine.
Honestly, the defense travels. That's been the story of this season. Whether it's 70 degrees in NRG Stadium or 20 degrees with a wind chill in Massachusetts, this unit hits people. Hard.
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If you’re betting on this one, the consensus line has New England as 3-point favorites. That feels about right given the home-field advantage and the weather, but nobody should be counting out Houston right now. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder that’s roughly the size of Texas.
Keep your eyes on the injury report tomorrow morning. There are some whispers about Christian Kirk's hamstring, but he finished the Pittsburgh game strong, so he's likely a go.
Check back here tomorrow afternoon once the game starts. We’ll be tracking the live updates as the Texans try to punch their first-ever ticket to an AFC Championship game.
Next Steps for Texans Fans
Make sure your TV provider includes ESPN or ABC, as the game won't be on standard CBS local coverage like many regular-season matchups. If you're heading to a watch party, the game should wrap up around 5:15 PM CT, just in time for the Rams vs. Bears kickoff in the NFC slot.