Official Texans @ Chiefs Game Thread, 10/20/2013

[Arky]

The 2-4 Texans travel up to Kansas City to take on the 6-0 Chiefs this Sunday afternoon. The Texans are coming off a 38-13 home loss to the St. Louis Rams. The Chiefs are coming off a 24-7 home win over Oakland. As of this writing, the Texans starting QB is still up in the air. The Chiefs defense has not allowed more than 17 points in a game so far.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, 3:25 CST

Announcers = Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

The line = Chiefs by 6 to 7

[nunusguy]

This is another opportunity for the Texans to get back in the playoff hunt by way of winning the AFC South, but after the recent blowout losses and especially the one Sunday in Reliant vs a mediocre Rams team, the Texans have clearly lost their way, their will to win, or whatever language one chooses to use to describe their current funk.
But I hardly think KC in Arrowhead represents the challenge that a Brady & Pats in NE do, but at this point I'm not sure who Houston can beat, maybe nobody ?
So I expect Payton to beat Indy Sunday and a Texans win in KC means the game vs Indy 2 weeks later in Reliant after the Texans bye puts them right back in the hunt if they can beat Luck/Colts @ home.
OK, wishful thinking on may part (atleast the part about the Texans winning in KC Sunday), but the path is there to make our season relevant again.

[WMH]

Schaub is out.

Case is the man.

This should be interesting. Kinda wish the kid could kick it off against the Jags or something.

Oh well, according to local radio, he's the 2nd coming.

We. Shall. See.

@taniaganguli Wade Phillips drops another bomb. But a smaller one. D.J. Swearinger will start in place of Danieal Manning. #Texans

[Arky]

Originally Posted by WMH

Schaub is out.

Case is the man.

Awesome. Wasn't really looking forward to this game. Now I am.

[HPF Bob]

If I were Keenum, I would guarantee a win. He's an UDFA QB making his first pro start with a team that is desperate for a confidence boost. He has nothing to lose. Even if he has to fake the swag, do it. He has to get his teammates to believe in him even if they already mouth the words. Humility right now is just going to get your run over. Act like beating the undefeated Chiefs in their own noisy crib is no big deal.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

If I were Keenum, I would guarantee a win. He's an UDFA QB making his first pro start with a team that is desperate for a confidence boost. He has nothing to lose. Even if he has to fake the swag, do it. He has to get his teammates to believe in him even if they already mouth the words. Humility right now is just going to get your run over. Act like beating the undefeated Chiefs in their own noisy crib is no big deal.

I bet playing well would give his teammates even more confidence.

[WMH]

@richeisen: The last visiting QB to make his 1st career start in 1st career NFL game at Arrowhead was...no one. #GoodLuckCase

[Nconroe]

Well, if Case can play reasonable along with the rest of the team, Texans can win this game. Should be fun to watch the game.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Arky

Awesome. Wasn't really looking forward to this game. Now I am.

That is my take also. I have been tied up during the last two games, and i DVRed them. I never watched either when the outcome became leaked to me.

I was going skip this one also, now I will watch it live. Want to the kid.

Not expecting us to win, I picked KC on the suicide thread, but I expect a shot of fun from Case. He has emotion and he shows it, Something this team needs on offense right now, IMO.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by painekiller

That is my take also. I have been tied up during the last two games, and i DVRed them. I never watched either when the outcome became leaked to me.

I was going skip this one also, now I will watch it live. Want to the kid.

Not expecting us to win, I picked KC on the suicide thread, but I expect a shot of fun from Case. He has emotion and he shows it, Something this team needs on offense right now, IMO.

Yeah, he's probably going to make some mistakes - just hope they aren't of the bonehead variety. We've seen too much of that the last 4 weeks (damn, that's a long time to go without a W). But I think we are all going to be entertained. I do believe we're going to see things from a Texan QB that we've never seen before....

I also liked Kubes comment when announcing Keenum as the starter: "I'm not putting him out there by himself" which kinda silenced those critical of the very tough situation Keenum is being put in. Nothing like being strongly tested right off the bat....

[nunusguy]

KC fans just broke the Seattles fans record for the loudest stadium in the country last week, and that record-breaking performance happened with a noon start but todays game in Arrowhead will be a late Sunday afternoon start, so the Arrowhead crowd gets 3 more hours of beer guzzling before Case Keenum takes the first snap of his life in a regular season NFL game, so it's gonna be loud and wild and crazy in Arrowhead today. Oh BTW, the Chiefs are unbeaten and feature one of the NFLs best defenses, so sorry but if you think Keenums got a chance in this game then you must be a U of H alum. On the other hand, what the hell, the Texans opportunity for a playoff berth this year is all but nonexistent at this point so what's the downside with playing him ? Not too much really.
And watching Kubiak's pressers this week, there's an unusual, an almost nonchalant attitude from the Texans' HC as if he's resigned to the games outcome and his own fate. It should be interesting, though most likely not too enjoyable for Texans' fans in the end.

[HPF Bob]

C'mon, Texans. Do it for Bum.

[Nconroe]

Some interesting stats

Texans are top ranked defense giving up 251 yds/game
Chiefs defense is ranked fifth giving up 303 yds/game.

Texans offense is seventh gaing 391 yds/game
Chiefs offense is 21st rank at 320 yds/game( about)

Texans are committing 7.7 penalties a game.
Chiegs have 7 penalties a game.

Texans are -12 on turnovers, what is really hurting them.
Chiefs are +12 on turnovers what really helping them win.

Pretty sure Chiefs have more sacks than Texans(need to double chk)
Chiefs ranked first in sacks with 30 for 194 yards.
Texans ranked 21 with 14 sacks for 79 yards.

Chiefs have scored almost half their 25 points per game on defense and special teams.

So looks like a key , big surprise, is winning turnover battle and O-line protecting our QB.

Two more hours, a few surprising scores already.

[Arky]

Bullock's kickoff is downed in the endzone. Chiefs ball at their 20.

---------------------------

Pass to Bowe broken up by JJo, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Charles for 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Flags presnap, false start Chiefs. Makes it 3rd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Bowe gets 7 so Chiefs have to punt.

Punt is downed by the Chiefs at the Texan 43. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Foster for no gain.

Foster for 11 and a 1st down.

Screen to AJ gets 10.

Oy, Graham wide open inside the 5 can't make the catch, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 10 and the 1st down.

Flags presnap. Offsides D Brown -5. Makes it 1st and 15 coming up.

Foster for no gain. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Keenum pressured, throws it away, inc. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Tate for loss of 1. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 48-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Chiefs 0

8:12 left in the 1st quarter.

[barrett]

I actually like the draw call there. If we stop turning the ball over and go ultra conservative we might be the Chiefs. Either way I want us to actually make a team beat our defense instead of letting the opposing offense off the hook like we have for a month straight.

[Arky]

Chiefs bring the ensuing kickoff back to about their 18. Chiefs ball.

----------------------------

Charles for maybe 1.

Smith's pass is too long for Bowe, inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Bowe goes for 21 and the 1st down at the Chiefs 40.

End around to McCluster goes for 2.

Screen to McCluster goes about 4 but roughing the QB on Crick adds 15. Ball at the Texans 38.

Charles dances for 14.

Pass to Sherman gets 9. Ball at the Texan 15.

Charles for 1 and the 1st down.

McCluster for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Fasano complete to the 1 yard line. 1st and goal for the Chiefs.

Charles punches it in for the TD.

Chiefs 7, Texans 3

2:43 left in the 1st quarter.

[BigBull]

The Texans continue to suck on defense in the red zone.

[Arky]

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 19. Texans ball.

-----------------------------

Tate for about 3.

Short pass to Posey goes for 42! Ball at the Chiefs 36.

Tate for about 4.

Tate for 3 more. 3rd and 3 coming up.

End of the 1st quarter.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by BigBull

The Texans continue to suck on defense in the red zone.

They kinda sucked the whole length of the field.....