Can the Houston Texans recover from playoff loss to Chiefs in 2020?

Are the Houston Texans capable of putting the playoff loss to Kansas City Chiefs behind them in 2020?

After reading a recent article on NFL.com about the Houston Texans, there was a question asked within that article about how hard it will be for the Texans to get over the playoff collapse that was in the Divisional Round.

We all remember how the Texans had the 20-plus-point lead against the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, only to see that lead erased and the Texans get trounced in the playoff game, ending the season that saw 10 regular-season wins and one playoff victory.

Since then, so much has happened with the Texans, including superstars being traded away, a new defensive coordinator, a new play caller, Bill O’Brien being named the official general manager and draft picks have been added to the roster as well.

Yes, with the addition of players such as David Johnson, Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks. Ross Blacklock and others, the Texans news coming out from camp this year will be made by different players compared to the team last season. This is still a must-ask type of question. and that is can this franchise get over that devastating loss to Kansas City in the playoffs?

The Texans and the fan base will know soon enough because the first game of the season for the Houston Texans is against the Chiefs team. Though the Texans defeated Kansas City in the regular season a year ago, when the game really mattered and all the chips were in the middle of the table, the Texans folded, and the Chiefs were up to the challenge.

Houston Texans News: Houston has Deshaun Watson as the starting QB

One positive for the Texans is they still have Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback, as he was recently placed fourth on a preseason quarterback list by Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk, a former NFL quarterback himself.

Last season in Week 6 when the Texans traveled to Arrowhead Stadium, Watson led the Texans to a 31-24 win. In that game, he was 30-of-42 for 280 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Watson excelled running the football with 10 rushes for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the win, as he averaged 4.2 yards per carry in that win.

Fast-forward to the playoff loss, and the Texans lost 51-31 with Watson going 31-of-52 for 388 yards passing with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also had 37 rushing yards on six carries with one touchdown run.

When the Texans lost to the Chiefs in January, it was tough to take because the Texans had the Chiefs on their heels and had the 24-0 lead early in the second quarter — including leading 21-0 at the end of the first frame — but it wasn’t meant to be.

For as much as the Texans took advantage of mistakes made by Kansas City, the Chiefs did the same with the Texans, and more so by outscoring the Texans with 51 straight points. Of course, a loss like that will affect any team in any sport, but for the Texans, there is a lot to overcome within that loss. There was the fact the defense fell apart once Kansas City got on track, the offense couldn’t score points, and all in all, the decision making from the sidelines didn’t help, either.

If there ever was a team that imploded in front of a national audience, it was the Texans in that divisional round game, but the good thing about the 2020 regular season it is that everything is new and there is a fresh slate. The Texans are lucky to have Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt as two of the more notable leaders of the team, so that will be of great help.

Plus, the Texans can forget the past quickly as the season opener is held where that terrible loss happened, so the Houston Texans have a great chance to get over that hump and move forward with the new season.

The odds are against the Texans entering this 2020 season with them being the underdog in the season opener against the Chiefs, plus they are being projected to finish third in the AFC South. Houston has done well in the past proving doubters wrong, but the initial question of overcoming the Chiefs will be a very tough challenge to start the 2020 season.

Can the Texans do that? Yes, but it won’t be easy, but the positive in all of this is two names leading the way on the field, Watson and Watt. With them being the leaders, this team can overcome any odds.