Texans morning huddle: Game preview, Cushing feeling crazy

Sep 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer (7) calls a play during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer (7) calls a play during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The morning huddle brings all the Houston Texans news you need to one spot, today’s stories focus on the playoff game witAll Postsh the Kansas City Chiefs


Good morning Texans fans! Are you ready for some playoff football? Here is all the news you need to get ready for the biggest game of the season! Enjoy;

With his family’s support, Brian Cushing is back to elevating the Texans’ defense – by Tania Ganguli, ESPN

"If “crazy” isn’t the first word teammates use to describe Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, it comes up quickly.Crazy, intense, obsessive, focused and always up to something.More from Toro TimesHouston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is overHouston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie SmithHouston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie SmithThere is just one way the Texans can lose the No. 1 pickHe head-butted rookie Christian Covington to congratulate him on his first sack. He drinks cold coffee blended with half a stick of butter every morning in order to ingest good fats. He pranks people all around the facility, from taping up all of Alfred Blue’s belongings to leaving things on Jadeveon Clowney’s chair for Clowney to inadvertently sit on."

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans Preview – by Benjamin Hoffman NY Times

"The Texans went through four quarterbacks this season, were forced to adapt to life without Arian Foster, and even endured J.J. Watt’s having to play through a broken hand. Despite all of that, they managed to finish the season on a 7-2 run after being demolished in Week 7 by the Miami Dolphins. It was enough to earn them the A.F.C. South title, though their competition there was not exactly stiff. If not for the Chiefs, their opponent this week, the Texans would have been football’s best turnaround story."

Texans morning huddle: Game preview, Cushing feeling crazy – by Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star

"If a regular-season game can serve as a microcosm for the Chiefs and quarterback Alex Smith, it’s their season opener, which was against the same Houston Texans squad that the Chiefs face Saturday in the playoffs.Remember Week 1? The Chiefs pumped up the volume with Smith touchdown passes on their first two possessions and a third score before halftime as the Chiefs built a huge lead."

Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney questionable for playoff game – by Aaron Wilson, Houston Chronicle

"Clowney has been limping all week. He was listed as not practicing Friday during a walkthrough after returning to practice on a limited basis Thursday.Clowney had said previously that he expected to play this week, as had owner Bob McNair. Clowney hasn’t conducted interviews this week. He missed the Texans’ regular-season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars after getting injured against the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago."

Four matchups that will define Saturday’s AFC wild-card games – by Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports

"Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Chiefs CB Marcus PetersFew teams run their offense through a receiver the way the Texans do with Hopkins, who finished third in the NFL in targets (192), receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,521). With uneven quarterback play and star running back Arian Foster sidelined for the season, Houston has needed all of the production the third-year wideout has mustered."

Schedule