DeAndre Hopkins’ playoff performance, or lack thereof, has sparked questions among the NFL community. During the Kansas City Chiefs’ Divisional Round win against the Houston Texans, Hopkins, one of the league’s premier wide receivers, was held without a single catch.
This uncharacteristic outing has led to speculation about his health and role in the offense. Let’s find out if there’s any fire behind all the smoke.
Matt Nagy Sheds Light on DeAndre Hopkins’ Performance Against Houston
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy addressed the situation in a recent press conference. Dismissing theories of deliberate sidelining.
“No, that wasn’t intentional,” Nagy said. “Last week was a little bit of a strange game series-wise, play-wise, rhythm-wise, nothing’s intentional. DeAndre has been phenomenal this whole time. … We know what he can bring and what he does to us. None of that was intentional.”
#Chiefs: DeAndre Hopkins' light workload against Houston was not intentional pic.twitter.com/bsdKNd7iZO
— McKenzie Nelson (@McKenzieMNelson) January 24, 2025
Despite these reassurances, Hopkins’ 16 snaps in the game, which account for his lowest numbers since joining the Chiefs, have raised eyebrows.
When Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride asked him directly about his condition, Hopkins sidestepped with a polite but ambiguous response, stating, “I feel good.” The point to note is that Hopkins did not deny any potential issues but also refrained from attributing his reduced presence to injury. This has only fueled fan speculation, particularly given his snap count’s correlation with game-time strategy or undisclosed physical limitations.
Hopkins’ midseason transition from the Tennessee Titans to Kansas City reaffirmed his elite route-running and reliable hands. Yet, his limited role against the Texans seemed out of character. With no official reports of injury and nearly three weeks of rest before the game, some observers theorized that the game plan or specific matchup dynamics may have played a part.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs face a strong challenge from the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Championship. While Travis Kelce has carried the passing attack, a fully involved Hopkins could be critical for Kansas City’s Super Bowl aspirations. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ ability to utilize Hopkins effectively may determine their offensive versatility against a top-tier opponent.
Ultimately, Hopkins’ playoff performance raises questions but leaves room for optimism. If his health truly isn’t an issue, the Chiefs might be able to unleash one of the league’s most dangerous weapons when it matters most.
Chiefs vs. Bills Game Preview
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kanas City
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Streaming: CBS/Paramount+
In the Super Bowl era, the Bills and Chiefs are the fifth pair of teams to face each other in the playoffs four times within a five-season span. The Chiefs could become the first team to play in the Super Bowl while seeking a Super Bowl three-peat.
The Bills lead the league in turnover margin this season, including the playoffs, at +27. Buffalo has maintained an even or positive turnover margin in 21 consecutive games dating back to last season, tying the 1952-53 Rams for the longest streak since turnovers became an official stat in 1933.
On the other side, the Chiefs have gone eight straight games without a turnover, the longest streak since turnovers became an official stat in 1933.
Josh Allen is one of the league’s best quarterbacks against the blitz. Including the playoffs, he averages the second-highest EPA(Expected Points Added) per dropback (0.30) when blitzed, with 16 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions.
However, the Chiefs excel at blitzing effectively. Including the playoffs, Kansas City blitzes at the ninth-highest rate in the league (30%) and ranks 10th in pressure rate (44%) when sending extra rushers.
The Bills have been one of the league’s best defenses on early downs this season, ranking fifth in EPA per play (0.08) on first and second down. However, their performance drops significantly on third down, where they rank 31st in EPA per play (-0.26) and have allowed the fifth-highest third-down conversion rate (44%).
That’s an ominous sign against a Chiefs offense that thrives on third downs. Kansas City ranks fourth in third down conversion rate (47.9%) and fourth in EPA per play (0.22) on third down. Conversely, they only rank 15th in EPA per play on first and second down (-0.02).
In two playoff games against the Chiefs, Allen has posted QB+ scores of 86.6 (B) in 2021 and 74.8 (C) in 2023. Meanwhile, Mahomes has earned QB+ scores of 86.9 (B) in 2021 and 79.0 (C+) in 2023 in two postseason games against the Bills.
Many fans (and Houston Texans players) were frustrated with the officiating in Kansas City’s Divisional Round win. Since 2018, the Chiefs have received nine roughing-the-passer calls in the playoffs (including the Will Anderson Jr. call on Saturday), while the rest of the NFL combined has totaled 18 such calls, with no other team receiving more than two.
Kansas City has now made seven consecutive Conference Championship appearances — only the New England Patriots had more in a row (eight from 2011-18) in NFL history.
PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Bills a 50.7% chance of winning this game while the Chiefs have 49.3% odds, showing just how close this game should be.
