Texans vs. Chiefs: Houston needs to start Case Keenum in Week 7

Aug 25, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (7) attempts a pass during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

If Houston Texans starting quarterback Matt Schaub is unable to start under center this Sunday in Arrowhead Stadium against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, they should start third-string QB Case Keenum.

Why not?

Everyone knows what they are getting if current backup quarterback T.J. Yates takes the field, and to be honest I don’t like the prospects of the Texans if No. 13 is under center, on the road, for the Texans against the undefeated Chiefs.

I’m not saying Yates doesn’t deserve to be on the team, but the unknown of Keenum is too much to pass up on. It is especially too much to overlook in the current situation of the Texans, which is a four-game losing streak with a 2-4 overall record that could easily be 0-6.

But the real-life record is 2-4 and that’s what we are working with.

If Schaub isn’t playing this weekend, my guess is we’ll see a lot of Arian Foster running the football, along with Ben Tate. We’ll see some intermediate passes, nothing too “crazy” and that’s about it. Foster will run the ball more than he has all season, but without a passing game the Chiefs will zone in on Foster and that will be that.

Even if Schaub was playing in the game I don’t like the chances of the Texans. Giving Chiefs head coach Andy Reid a chance to game plan against Yates and Keenum is a lot for the Texans to overcome.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said Yates and Keenum split reps with the first team in practice Wednesday.

Really?

He knew Schaub was injured on Sunday, and he’s still not made up his mind completely as who the starting quarterback is?

Again, really?

It is week six and if by now if he doesn’t know who is better between Yates and Keenum, then Houston, in fact, does have a problem, and it’s more than the quarterback position.

The Chiefs are coming off a 10.5 sack performance against the Oakland Raiders last week, and though I don’t see than many sacks this week … with the mess the Texans are currently in, I don’t think it is too much to see the Chiefs finishing with five sacks. Sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened.

Back to the original topic of Yates or Keenum … I don’t see my opinion changing, if I were to choose a quarterback today to replace the injured Schaub, I’m going with Keenum.

What do the Texans have to lose? Their already limping into the game with a lot of baggage and they know what Yates is capable of doing. They have an unknown in Keenum, and the potential of that unknown, compared to what I know Yates can do is too much to pass up on.

I’m picking Keenum.