Behind Smith, K.C. still unbeaten
HOUSTON >> Alex Smith threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns to help the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated with a 4234 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday night.
Deshaun Watson’s 48-yard touchdown pass got the Texans within six early in the fourth quarter before Smith extended the lead for Kansas City (5-0) to 32-20 on a 10-yard pass to De’Anthony Thomas with about 9 minutes left. Tyreek Hill padded the lead when he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.
Watson threw for 261 yards and five touchdowns, but the Texans (2-3) failed to recreate the magic they found last week when they scored a franchise-record 57 points in a victory over Tennessee.
Houston’s J.J. Watt, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, was injured in the first quarter and the team announced that he sustained a tibial plateau fracture, but didn’t provide any details on how long he’ll be out. He returned this season after missing the last 13 games last year after his second back surgery.
The Texans cut their deficit when Watson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Fuller in the third quarter. But the 2-point conversion failed, leaving them down 23-13.
Kansas City’s Charcandrick West caught two touchdown passes and Travis Kelce had eight receptions for 98 yards in the first half, but didn’t return after halftime and the team said he was being evaluated for a concussion.
Kansas City rookie Kareem Hunt had 29 carries for 107 yards to give him four 100-yard rushing games this season.
The Chiefs were up by six when Smith found West on an 8-yard TD pass to make it 13-0 in the second quarter. Houston rookie D’Onta Foreman fumbled two plays later to give Kansas City the ball right back and the Chiefs tacked on a field goal.
The Texans cut it to 16-7 when Watson found DeAndre Hopkins in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard TD pass with about two minutes left in the first half.
Hopkins had four receptions for 52 yards with three touchdowns after catching two late scoring passes when the game was out of reach.