Texans (3-2) at Chiefs (4-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri TV: CBS
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 8
Texans’ keys to victory: Protect QB Deshaun Watson. The Texans are allowing opposing defenses to get to Watson too often, something they hoped to address with the acquisition of LT Laremy Tunsil. Watson is on pace to threaten a dubious NFL record: the 76 sacks taken by David Carr of the expansion Texans in 2002. Tunsil hasn’t acclimated to the Texans’ offense as quickly as expected, and rookie RT Tytus Howard also is struggling in his adjustment to the NFL, making for bookend tackles who are under-performing.
Chiefs’ keys to victory: Get the defense off the field on third down. Teams have been attempting to control time of possession against the Chiefs in order to keep QB Patrick Mahomes off the field. It wasn’t successful until the Colts’ upset of the Chiefs in Week 5. The Texans are converting on third down at a higher rate than the Chiefs are allowing, so something will have to give.
Matchup to watch: Texans RB Carlos Hyde vs. Chiefs LB Damien Wilson. Hyde has been a pleasant surprise, chewing up yardage efficiently in place of injured Lamar Miller. There will be extra motivation from Hyde against the Chiefs: He was traded from Kansas City to Houston during the offseason. The Chiefs’ run defense has been among the worst in the NFL this season, and Wilson, the team’s top linebacker, will look to team up with LB Anthony Hitchens to stifle what potentially could be a big day for Hyde.
Who wins? The Texans are all in for 2019, but they don’t have the weapons to keep up with KC.
Chiefs, 45-35 Chiefs
Texans schedule
L .... at New Orleans .... 30-28 W ...... Jacksonville ...... 13-12 W...atLAChargers...27-20 L ........... Carolina ........... 16-10 W ........... Atlanta ........... 53-32 Oct. 13 .... at Kansas City .... 1 Oct. 20 .... at Indianapolis .... 1 Oct. 27 .......... Oakland .......... 1 Nov. 3 at Jax (Lon.) 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10 ............... BYE ............... Nov. 17 ...... at Baltimore ...... 1 Nov. 21 ...Indianapolis... 8:20 Dec. 1 ... New England ... 8:20 Dec. 8 ............ Denver ............ 1 Dec. 15 ..... at Tennessee ..... 1 Dec. 21/22 at Tampa Bay TBD Dec. 29 ....... Tennessee ....... 1
Chiefs schedule
W ... at Jacksonville ... 40-26 W ....... atOakland ....... 28-10 W ........ Baltimore ........ 33-28 W ........ at Detroit ........ 34-30 L ...... Indianapolis ...... 19-13 Oct. 13 ........ Houston ........ 1 Oct. 17 .... at Denver .... 8:20 Oct.27 ...GreenBay ...8:20 Nov. 3 ....... Minnesota ....... 1 Nov.10 ...atTennessee ...1 Nov. 18 at Chrgrs (Mex.) 8:15 Nov. 24 .............. BYE .............. Dec. 1 ......... Oakland ......... 1 Dec. 8 at New England 4:25 Dec. 15 ......... Denver ......... 1 Dec. 22 ... at Chicago ... 8:20 Dec. 29 .. L.A. Chargers ... 1