The Houston Texans are currently riding a four-game winning streak and remain in playoff contention, while the Kansas City Chiefs are struggling after losing three of their last four games, putting their postseason chances at risk for the first time during Patrick Mahomes’ career. The Chiefs (6-6) will try to keep their playoff dreams alive by facing the Texans (7-5) on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Kansas City is unlikely to win the AFC West for the tenth consecutive year, as they trail division leaders Denver Broncos (10-2) by four games with only five remaining. More critically, this marks the first time since 2014—when Alex Smith was quarterback and Mahomes was in college—that the Chiefs might not host a playoff game. After a rough start with two losses, the Chiefs bounced back by winning five of six games, but recent close losses and a narrow win over the Indianapolis Colts have left them in third place behind Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4), two games short of a wild-card spot.
Houston, on the other hand, stands just one game behind in the wild-card and AFC South races. With backup center Davis Mills and recently returned C.J. Stroud, the Texans secured a 20-16 victory over Indianapolis, closing in on the Jacksonville Jaguars and Colts, both 8-4 and hunting their third straight titles. Their strong defense, leading the NFL in both total yards allowed and points given up, is pivotal to their success.
In other sports, Sunday’s NBA highlights include the Denver Nuggets (16-6) playing the Charlotte Hornets (7-16) at 6 p.m. ET, with Denver on a winning streak of two road games. The NHL features eight games, including the Washington Capitals (17-9-3) hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets (13-9-6) at 7 p.m. ET, with Washington seeking to bounce back after a penalty shootout loss that ended their six-game win streak.
College basketball also has notable action, featuring SMU (8-1) against Texas A&M (7-2) at 5 p.m. ET. SMU looks to rebound from a recent loss, while Texas A&M aims for a continued winning streak.
Regarding betting odds, the Chiefs are favored by 3.5 points over the Texans, the Nuggets are 10.5-point favorites over the Hornets, the Capitals are favored at -187 against the Blue Jackets, and SMU holds a 2.5-point edge over Texas A&M.
Here’s the broadcast info and expert picks for Sunday, December 7th:
NFL – Texans vs. Chiefs: 8:20 p.m. ET in Kansas City, Missouri, on NBC (Fubo free trial available). SportsLine models favor under 41.5 points, with an expert pick backing Texans +3.5, owing to their strong defense limiting opponents to under 20 points in multiple recent games.
NBA – Nuggets vs. Hornets: 6 p.m. ET in Charlotte, North Carolina, on NBA League Pass (Fubo free trial). Models predict a high-scoring game over 233.5 points. Experts highlight Nuggets’ sharp road performance and Charlotte’s Con Knuppel as key players.
NHL – Blue Jackets at Capitals: 7 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C., on ESPN+ (Fubo free trial). Capitals are heavily favored with a prediction of securing a third win over Columbus this season, supported by strong prior performances from key defenders.
College Basketball – SMU vs. Texas A&M: 5 p.m. ET in Arlington, Texas, on ESPN2 (Fubo free trial). Models give SMU a 58% chance to win after their first season loss, banking on their high scoring offense to regain momentum.
Fan Take: The Capitals’ consistency and strong defensive play highlight why they remain a formidable force heading deeper into the NHL season. For hockey fans, Washington’s rivalry games and strong playoff potential signal an exciting and competitive landscape that can elevate the sport’s appeal and intensity.
