DeAndre Hopkins dropped a truth bomb ahead of the Chiefs’ Divisional Round clash with the Texans

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins he spent the first seven seasons of his career with Houston Texaswhere he earned four All-Pro nods while leading the team in receiving in six of those seven years. He left as the franchise’s second leading receiver Hall of Famer Andre Johnsonbut just as was the case with Johnson, those fantastic regular seasons never led to significant postseason success.

But in Kansas City, postseason success has become the status quo. Since Patrick Mahomes took over as the team’s starting quarterback ahead of the 2018 season, the Chiefs are 15-3 in the playoffs with four Super Bowl appearances and three wins in the biggest game in sports. They are won two consecutive Super Bowls and they’ve played in the AFC Championship game all six of these seasons, and they will looking to extend their streak with a win over a former Hopkins team on Saturday afternoon.

“They’re coming off a championship — two championships — so it feels a lot different than anywhere I’ve been,” Hopkins said, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “Everything that everybody does here, not only in this facility but outside of it, is detailed and that’s how you win championships.” That means a lot. It takes your game to a different level. It takes your focus, your drive, knowing you’re playing for something.”

Hopkins never played beyond the Divisional Round NFL playoffsand while the 32-year-old isn’t the player he once was — in ten games with KC, Hopkins hauled in just 41 receptions for 437 yards and four touchdowns — the Chiefs’ chances for a three-peat would certainly improve if D-Hop could provide a vintage performance or two in the next few weeks. Perhaps a chance to play ‘meaningful football’ can spark this renaissance for one of the most prolific wide receivers of the last decade.

“I haven’t played meaningful football in a couple of years,” Hopkins said. “I’ve done a lot, all the accolades I can get personally, so I think just playing meaningful football in January is what’s left on the list.”

Coincidentally, Hopkins’ final game in a Texans uniform — and the final game of the second weekend of the postseason — came against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. in that game Houston jumped out to a 24-0 lead at Arrowhead Stadiumonly to see Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs go on a 51-7 run to close out the game. Hopkins had 9 receptions for 118 yards in that loss.