THE Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans are set to face off on Saturday afternoon in one of the most compelling matchups on the Week 16 schedule.
As the leading team in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Chiefs should have an advantage over Houston at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City will have the chance to take one step closer to securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs, while the Texans will have their chance at a potentially career-defining victory. season against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Our friend Cole Thompson from Texas yarn was kind enough to brave foodborne illnesses this week to answer our burning questions about the Chiefs’ game against Houston before kickoff.
Take a look at our questions and Thompson’s answers:
Was there any sophomore crisis talk about CJ Stroud? How did he progress/regress after last season?
In a sense, yes, but remember he’s a year older and teams have 20+ games recorded on him. Many of his interceptions came for timing purposes with him and the receiver. Let’s say you look at the pick in the Cowboys game, which was on receiver. If you look at the two turnovers against the Titans, both were on Stroud.
It may not be a regression, but Stroud often leaves one hopeful that a play opens too late. Instead of throwing the ball out of bounds and resetting the ball, he will wait for Nico Collins to win against his double move while maneuvering behind the line of scrimmage. This often leads to a sacking, caused by Stroud. The offensive line has been putrid at times this season, but at least 15 percent of the sacks are caused by the second-year passer.
What are the defining characteristics of DeMeco Ryans’ defense and what defining identities has the unit developed?
Ryans follows the “SWARM” philosophy, which is the style the defense must play in if they want to see the field. It’s all about flying to the ball and not giving up a play. You could be a safety 25 yards down the field, but when a running back makes a catch behind the line, it’s time to steal to end the game.
It’s a no-give-up mentality, which is why the Texans are a top-five unit entering Week 16. They refuse to give up on a sack, hence why Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr . are the only teammates in the NFL with 10+ putouts. They relentlessly attack the ball in coverage. Calen Bullock and Derek Stingley Jr. each have five interceptions.
The Texans’ defense is the reason they are division winners. That’s probably why they’ll win a playoff game, barring another round of injuries.
What was the Texans’ best win and worst loss so far?
The best victory? I’m going to start with last week’s win against the Dolphins. This was a surging Miami team that won four of its last five games and Houston managed to force four turnovers. Stroud didn’t have a turnover and the offensive line provided him with protection to put together three scoring drives. The Denver Broncos have a similar mold to Miami, so this could be a playoff preview.
Worst loss? The Detriot game. Houston made NFL history as the second team to force five interceptions, hold a lead of more than 14 points at halftime and still lose, joining the 1970 Chicago Bears. of Stroud were directly at Carlton Davis, including one in the end zone on a pass to Tank Dell. Even without Nico Collins, Houston could have won and had a 12-win season. They have to win to guarantee that.
How far do you think Houston will make it in the playoffs?
The match will determine that. The Texans would be lucky to advance to the AFC Championship Game since their offense is very inconsistent, but they could win the wild-card round.
Who will Houston host? This will determine the outcome. If Baltimore or the Los Angeles Chargers came to town, the first half would likely be close before either team pulled away in the fourth quarter. If the Broncos were first, Houston would probably control the game and win by 10. If the Steelers showed up, I think Houston would win by 3.
In the next round, the only team I could see the Texans having a chance against at the moment is Kansas City, but we’ll have a legitimate answer to that question by 4 p.m. Saturday.
What is your final score prediction for the Texans’ Week 15 game against the Chiefs? Who wins and why?
Before Patrick Mahomes’ injury, I thought Houston would win this game. I still think knowing that he probably plays a limited role. The Texans need a signature win and after the way the defense closed out the fourth quarter against Miami, I think they do the same thing at Arrowhead.
It was a scoreless first half that turned into a 7-point victory over the final 30 minutes. Give me the Texans to secure a 10-win season thanks to a CJ Stroud touchdown pass to Joe Mixon.
Texans 24, Chiefs 17
This article was originally published on Chiefs Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: What to Expect from the Texans in Week 16
