Location
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo
Time
1pm ET
6pm UK time
Coverage
CBS
Game Pass
Chiefs Radio Network
Sky Sports
Team Records
Chiefs 4-1
Texans 3-2
Last 3 games
8th Oct 2017 Chiefs 42 @ Texans 34
18th Sept 2016 Chiefs 12 @ Texans 19
9th Jan 2016 Chiefs 30 @ Texans 0
The story so far
Injuries. There are only so many you can take, especially at key positions. Next man up is all well and good but when that next man stands on your quarterback’s ankle and hobbles him that’s not a positive contribution. Any team missing WR1, WR2, LT, LG and with a gimpy QB would struggle. Especially when the defence is doing a remarkably convincing impression of last season’s shambles. The story was that the D only needs to be average this season, that looks like lofty heights from here.
The Texans are a mystery wrapped in an enigma. On paper, they should be a real force in the AFC. They have a great QB, a pair of stud WR and some stars on D. And yet, they really do blow hot and cold. Catch them on their good days and they can stack a 50 burger on you like they did to a woeful Atlanta Falcons last week. On their bad days, they do well to get to double figures and get beat by the Panthers backup QB.
Which Texans team that turns up will go a long way to determining the outcome of this one.
Head to head
Chiefs lead 6-4
Team Leaders
|
Passing |
Att |
Cmp |
Yds |
TDs |
|
195 |
128 |
1831 |
11 |
|
|
Rushing |
Car |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
|
40 |
214 |
5.4 |
2 |
|
|
15 |
81 |
5.4 |
0 |
|
|
Receiving |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
|
28 |
439 |
15.7 |
1 |
|
|
23 |
365 |
15.9 |
3 |
|
|
17 |
281 |
16.5 |
3 |
|
|
12 |
246 |
20.5 |
2 |
One to watch
Byron Pringle
In the spirit of a positive next man up, the loss of Hill and Watkins has meant opportunities for others and Pringle stepped up last week with a 6 rec for 103 yard game. He’s quick, runs good routes and can catch. A winning combination. He also seems to have a good connection with Mahomes too. It looks like Watkins won’t play this week and I’d be surprised if they risked Hill so look for Pringle to feature heavily again.
Key Matchup
Cam Erving v JJ Watt
I write that and I wince as I do. If I were the Texans I’d be doing everything possible to get that match up. JJ Watt hasn’t done great against KC in recent outings, against Erving he could have a field day. Chiefs need to give him help, play 2 TE sets with both on that side, whatever it takes to keep Mahomes upright and moving freely.
Injuries
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
| PLAYER | POS. | INJURY | PART. WED. | PART. THURS. | PART. FRI. | GAME STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Fisher | T | Groin | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| Chris Jones | DT | Groin | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| Dorian O’Daniel | LB | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| Sammy Watkins | WR | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
| Andrew Wylie | G | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | Shoulder | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Anthony Hitchens | LB | Groin | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Cam Erving | T | Knee | FP | FP | FP | — |
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | — |
| LeSean McCoy | RB | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | — |
| Alex Okafor | DE | Hip | FP | FP | FP | — |
| Anthony Sherman | FB | Shoulder | FP | FP | FP | — |
HOUSTON TEXANS
| PLAYER | POS. | INJURY | PART. WED. | PART. THURS. | PART. FRI. | GAME STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Mancz | C/G | Concussion | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | Not Injury Related | LP | — | — | — |
| Taiwan Jones | RB | Hip | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Kenny Stills | WR | Hamstring | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| Tashaun Gipson Sr. | S | Wrist/Hip | FP | FP | LP | — |
| Carlos Hyde | RB | Shoulder/Thigh | FP | FP | FP | — |
| Peter Kalambayi | ILB | Hand | FP | FP | FP | — |
| A.J. Moore Jr. | S | Knee | FP | FP | FP | — |
| Johnathan Joseph | CB | Hamstring | — | — | LP | Questionable |
What they said
Carlos Hyde
“You know what, it’s getting real personal now,” Hyde said in a light-hearted tone, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Neither one of them (Andy Reid or Chiefs GM Brett Veach) called me. Somebody I’ve never spoke to called me. It was like, ‘We just traded you to the Texans.”
Hyde added he still doesn’t know who the mysterious person was — and for that reason, he will feel “a little something extra” when the Texans play the Chiefs on Sunday.
What we said
Andy Reid talking about new LG Stefen Wisniewski
“Well he’s capable of starting,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “It’s just a matter of getting in and learning it right now. But he’s played a long time in the league. He’s been a starter at guard, been a starter at center.”
Reid added the 6-foot-3, 305-pound guard would be ready if needed but the Chiefs are “just [giving] him a chance to learn right now.”
Odds
Handicap is Texans +4
Match points over 55
I’m taking both of these.
Prediction
I think the good Texans turn up this week and are just too much to handle. I don’t expect the D to stop Hopkins and Fuller, Watson can run and Hyde is motivated. On offence, we’ve just too many injuries. I’m fully expecting a shoot out but I think Houston has too much for us right now.
Chiefs 34 Texans 41
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