Redemption Story: Playoff possibility #1, Texans vs. Chiefs
By Randy Gurzi
The Houston Texans lost their opening game in 2015 to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-21, but could get some payback if the teams meet in the playoffs
Looking ahead to the playoffs that are just about one week away isn’t something many fans would believe the Houston Texans would be doing after their September 13th opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the season to Chiefs rookie cornerback, Marcus Peters. The Chiefs were able to score off the turnover and a lost fumble later in that same first half helped them with another short field. After all the miscues, Kansas City led 27-6 going into the half at NRG Stadium in Houston.
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With one game remaining this season, the Chiefs (10-5) own the fifth seed in the AFC and the Texans (8-7) own the fourth seed. Houston will finish higher, despite a lesser record, simply because they are winning the AFC South, whereas KC is behind the Denver Broncos in their AFC West division.
If the standings remain unchanged following Week 17, these two teams will start the postseason the same way they started the regular season. On the field in Houston, Texas.
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The Texans aren’t the same team that was embarrassed back in early September, they are much better. The defense is firing on all cylinders, and Brian Hoyer has a much better grasp of the offense.
Facing the Chiefs won’t be an easy task at all, but this is a game the Texans could win and exercise some of their demons from their horrible 2-5 start to the season.
In the opening win, the Texans couldn’t cover Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce who had six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Since that game he has 65 receptions for 759 yards and three touchdowns in fourteen games. That per game average works out to 4.64 receptions for 54.21 yards and 0.21 touchdowns per game.
None of those stats are anything to be ashamed of, but it simply shows that his Week 1 explosion was the product of a bad day by the Houston defense.
That defense doesn’t have too many bad days anymore. In the last half of the season, Houston has held the Titans, Bengals, Saints and the Titans a second time to just six points. They also held the Colts to just ten points.
For the Texans, this game would be the ultimate revenge opportunity against captain check down Alex Smith and the Chiefs. The Chiefs have scored 34, 10, 34 and 17 n their last four wins, showing how inconsistent they have been on offense.
With star running back Jamaal Charles out for the season, the biggest threat on the Chiefs is receiver Jeremy Maclin, but the Texans will be able to slow him down. They held Maclin to 52 yards on five receptions in Week 1, before their defense began to click.
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Despite losing to open the season, the Texans should have a great chance to win should the seeding stay the same. For fans, don’t think the team will be intimidating and get ready to watch Houston get the last laugh.