Now that the NFL's regular season has ended, for most football fans, the next big event on their radar is Super Bowl 59.

The NFL playoffs began with five Super Bowl title-less franchises in the field. Now, that number is down to three.

When Patrick Mahomes shook hands with C.J. Stroud at midfield at the conclusion of their Dec. 21 game, cameras caught Mahomes telling Stroud that they'd see them in the playoffs. Those words have become customary for players and coaches acknowledging respect for one another.

For the second time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, a conference welcomes back the same four teams from to the divisional round of the playoffs as the year before. The matchups are different than a year ago.

The Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 1 seed in the AFC, are gearing up to defend their Super Bowl title this Saturday against the Houston Texans in the divisional round.