Houston Texans struggle in poor start to 2020 NFL season

The Houston Texans didn’t show up for the spotlight, losing in the 2020 season opener to the Chiefs.

The Houston Texans weren’t favored by anyone to go into Arrowhead Stadium and defeat the Kansas City Chiefs to start the 2020 NFL season … and for good reason, because the visitors in Kansas City lost by a 34-20 score.

Houston didn’t look like a well-oiled machine by any means. In fact, the looked rusty, out of place and didn’t play with any resemblance of a team that has won the past two AFC South championships.

Though the Texans led by a 7-0 score at the end of the first quarter following a David Johnson touchdown run — just like in the playoffs last season — the Chiefs didn’t bat an eye and went on to flex their muscle and dominate the Houston Texans, as the final score doesn’t tell the full story of how poorly the Texans played on Thursday night.

A couple questions before we go through some stats: was Randall Cobb even targeted, and where was J.J. Watt? And, just for fun, did the offensive line get worse over the offseason? Also, Jordan Akins needed more targets.

The Texans made the score look closer with late touchdowns, but this game was never as close as the score showed. It was a flashback from a couple seasons ago where Watson has to scramble more than needed, only to be pressured and forced to play on the run.

Watson finished 20-of-32 for 253 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Deshaun Watson also rushed for 27 yards on six carries with one touchdown run.

David Johnson led the Texans in rushing with 77 yards on 11 carries, and the leader in receiving yards was Will Fuller with eight receptions for 112 yards on 10 targets, though some of those yards came with the Chiefs having the game well in hand.

Houston Texans News: Chiefs were the better team in Week 1

Houston’s defense wasn’t much better as they didn’t have much of a pass rush to distract Patrick Mahomes, but not only that, the rush defense of the Texans wasn’t that great either with KC rushing for 166 yards as a team, and Chiefs rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushing 25 times for 138 yards and one touchdown.

Mahomes did his thing against the Houston Texans too with a 24-of-32 night for 211 yards and three touchdown passes. Travis Kelce was a game-changer too with six receptions (on six targets) for 50 yards and a touchdown. Sammy Watkins led the Chiefs with seven receptions (nine targets) for 82 yards and a touchdown.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1304221892216152065?s=20

In this rapid reaction, the Houston Texans just didn’t have “IT” on Thursday night, and the Chiefs were the much better team. The offensive play calling seemed the same even with a new play caller, and the defense as a whole struggled too.

Next week won’t be any easier when facing the Baltimore Ravens, but the Texans had better show up more prepared to play than they against the Chiefs, or it will be another poor showing against one of the best teams in the league for a second straight week.

Check back to the Toro Times all weekend for more fallout from the season-opening loss to the Chiefs.