Official Texans vs. Chiefs Game Thread, 09/13/2015

[Arky]

The Texans kickoff their 2015 season Sunday at noon. The Texans will probably go with Brian Hoyer at QB and Jadeveon Clowney is expected to see some playing time. Besides the short term loss of RB Arian Foster, the Texans are in good health - we'll see how long that lasts....Last year, the Texans finished 2014 with a 9-7 record just missing the playoffs.

Kansas City has one of the better defenses in the league so the Texans will be challenged. 31-year old, 11th year veteran QB Alex Smith is expected to start. The Chiefs also finished 2014 with a 9-7 record.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, Sunday

Announcers = Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

The spread = Pickem to Texans by 1

The Texans vs. Chiefs will be viewed by just about everybody west of the Mississippi.

[WMH]

What's the O/U on this game? Gotta think it's in the low-mid 30's.

First one to 14 wins?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by WMH

What's the O/U on this game? Gotta think it's in the low-mid 30's.

First one to 14 wins?

Eheh. I'm seeing 41 for the total. I don't usually bet/play O/U but this would be a good one to go under on....

I honestly don't know who's going to win (or should win). This is probably the most even and equally bet game of the week.....

[HPF Bob]

It's comforting to me to see the Texans as a 1-point favorite. That's Vegas' way of saying "The Texans are going to win this. We're not sure how but that's where we're putting our money."

The Chiefs laid an egg at home in Week 1 last year against the Titans. Think Vegas has forgotten that?

Enjoy our 15 minutes of Clowney for this season.

[Arky]

The The ESPN experts favor the Texans over the Chiefs 8 to 6.

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Walter brings up a couple of good points... namely the Chiefs have a game on Thursday Night Football with the Broncos right after the Texan game and (as Bob mentioned) the Titan loss on opening day last year. Curiously, he's going with the "over".

KANSAS CITY OFFENSE: It seems like some Chiefs fans are starting to catch on that Alex Smith isn't very good. I watched every preseason game this summer, and in the two home games, the crowd moaned and groaned when Smith didn't do things very well - including when Kansas City was blowing out Tennessee. Most sensible people who root for the team understand that the Chiefs won't be going very far with Smith at the helm.

Smith can play well versus teams with poor or mediocre defenses. The Texans definitely don't fit into that category. They have one of the premier stop units in the NFL, thanks, of course, to J.J. Watt. Perhaps the best player in the NFL, Watt will dominate the trenches in every game, but he'll especially be potent in this matchup because the Chiefs can't protect Smith very well. Kansas City's pass-protection issues will definitely be on display, as Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and the rest of the Houston defensive front puts lots of pressure on Smith.

The Chiefs' only hope is to establish Jamaal Charles early and often. There are two issues with this, however. The first is that Andy Reid tends to have game-day management issues, often forgetting to give the ball to his best players. Second, the Texans signed Vince Wilfork to clog the interior, meaning anything positive Charles does will have to come as a pass-catcher in open space.

HOUSTON OFFENSE: The Texans, of course, have quarterbacking issues of their own, and those will be in full display against many teams this season. But perhaps not in this game.

The Chiefs will be without Sean Smith, who will be serving a suspension. Smith is the team's best defensive back, so not having him around will make things difficult against DeAndre Hopkins, who seems poised to have a breakout year. Kansas City will have to apply heavy pressure on Brian Hoyer as a result, and it may have success doing so. The Texans will be able to protect Hoyer well throughout the year, but when going against a pair of stud pass-rushers in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, all of that gets thrown out the window.

Fortunately for the Texans, they could have success running the ball. The Chiefs had major issues containing the rush last year, and that was with nose tackle Dontari Poe in the lineup. Poe is injured, however, so there should be rushing lanes available for Alfred Blue.

RECAP: I view these teams as being even, so why are the Texans -1 instead of -3, especially with Kansas City missing two of its best defensive players? That doesn't make much sense to me. The Texans seem like the right side, especially given that the Chiefs could be looking ahead to their Thursday night matchup against the Broncos. Plus, there is Andy Reid's poor track record in Week 1 to consider. Remember last year's blowout loss to the Titans? Houston is obviously much better than Tennessee and should win this game, though I'm not crazy about it.


The Psychology. Edge: Texans.
The Chiefs have the Broncos in four days, but they are underdogs here, so they could be focused.


The Vegas. Edge: None.
Equal action. • Percentage of money on Kansas City: 53% (19,000 bets)


The Trends. Edge: None.
• Opening Line: Texans -1.5.
• Opening Total: 43.
• Weather: Dome.


Week 1 NFL Pick: Texans 24, Chiefs 20
Texans -1 (0 Units)
Over 41 (0 Units)

[nunusguy]

With Manning and company coming into Arrowhead later in the week, are they saying that this has the potential to be trap game for the Chiefs ? That would be very unusual for the season opener for any team.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

With Manning and company coming into Arrowhead later in the week, are they saying that this has the potential to be trap game for the Chiefs ? That would be very unusual for the season opener for any team.

I think the word "trap" is a little strong. Trap I believe, usually refers to a favorite or a good team overlooking what is perceived to be a not-as-good opponent because they have a strong opponent coming up next. Last year when the Chiefs (shockingly) lost their opening day game to the Titans 26-10, they had Denver the next week. And ended up losing that one, too. Walter (above) makes the point that the Chiefs aren't really the favorite in this situation (vs. Texans). Still, they do have Denver on TNF next and that game is way more important to them than the Texans...

The Texans have a similar situation later in the year. They go to Atlanta and then come home for the Colts on TNF. Gonna be tough to win both of those....

[HPF Bob]

CBS Sports broke off their site to their regular site and a gambling site called SportsLine with a paywall. So their picks went behind the paywall. Interesting that they let you see two picks for free and one is Buffalo over Indy both straight up and against the spread.

[Arky]

A lot of late action on KC so that they are a 1 pt favorite in many books....

Gametime is moments away....

[Arky]

Texans win the toss and defer.

Chiefs down the kickoff in the endzone, touchback. Chiefs ball at their 20.

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Charles gets about 3 yards but flag is down. Offsides Texans makes it 1st and 5.

Charles for 4 or 5. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Screen pass works for 13. Ball at the Chief 42.

Pass to Maclin gets 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Smith scrambles right side for about 3 and the 1st down.

Charles for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up. Ball at the Texan 43.

Pass batted down by Crick, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Mercilus gets a piece of the pass and it deflects inc. Chief to punt...

Punt is downed by the Chiefs at the Texan 6 or 7 yard line. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Eheh. Hoyer's first pass is INT'ed. Chiefs ball at the Texan 13.

[Arky]

Charles for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Smith hits Kelce in the endzone for the 10 yard TD.

Chiefs 7, Texans 0

10:22 left in the 1st quarter.

[Big Texas]

And there you have it...what Hoyer is capable of when the bullets start flying...

[Big Texas]

I would pay money to hear that conversation with BOB right now

[Big Texas]

Hoyer has a lot to do to make up for that play...LOL

[Arky]

Blue for 3.

19 yard pass complete to Washington.

Blue for 12.

Pass to Griffin sails inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Hoyer's pass is dropped (Shorts?)..... 3rd and 10 coming up.

Hoyer's deep pass to Shorts is a little off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Lechler's punt is downed by the Texans about the Chief 17 yard line.

8:40 left in the 1st quarter.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

And there you have it...what Hoyer is capable of when the bullets start flying...

Unbelievable.

[Arky]

Watt trips up Charles in the backfield for a loss of 3.

Screen pass to Charles off the mark, inc. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Screen pass to Charles goes for 17 and the 1st down.

Smith keeps for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Short pass to Charles goes for 10.

Pass to Maclin gets 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Davis picks up 4 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 42.

Pass to Kelce wide open goes for the TD, 42 yards.

Chiefs 14, Texans 0

4:28 left in the 1st quarter.

Chiefs are going to hit the "over" by themselves....

[chuck]

From having nine guys on the field on the punt return to a pick on the first throw of the year to the inability to stop the one and only thing Alex Smith does, BOB and the Texans are getting their asses handed to them by Reid and the Chiefs.

It's very early still, but god this is putrid.

[Arky]

Pass to Mumphrey gets 6.

Blue gets 2. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Shorts goes for 15 and the 1st down.

Grimes for 21! Ball at the Chief 36.

Pass to Washington gets 19.

Pass to Shorts gets 15. 1st and goal at the 2.

Grimes caught in the backfield for loss of 2.

Pass to Hop goes for the TD!

Extra point no good.

Chiefs 14, Texans 6

46 seconds left in the 1st quarter.