Chiefs Seeking Rebound Hosting Houston Texans

Inactive List

Chiefs inactive list:

WR Sammy Watkins, LT Eric Fisher, DT Chris Jones, LB Anthony Hitchens, LG Andrew Wylie, LB Dorian O’Daniel, and OL Greg Senat

Texans inactive list:

QB Alex McGough, WR Kenny Stills, CB Johnathan Joseph, RB Taiwan Jones, ILB Tyrell Admans, C/G Greg Mancz, and TE Logan Paulsen

Tyreek Hill will return to the lineup this week. However, whether the Chiefs will preserve him on a snap remains unknown. His go-back makes it harder for groups to play the bodily man-to-man coverages the Chiefs have faced in the latest weeks. The Texans want quarter coverage. However, that didn’t forestall the Colts from gambling for the remaining week. The Texans can’t have enough money to play the equal single-high protection look the Colts used ultimate week with Hill on the sphere.

Hitchens is out with a groin injury. Approach Ben Niemann starts at the inner linebacker as the shielding play-caller. Rookie Khalen Saunders looks likely to start at the protective address for Chris Jones alongside Derrick Nnadi, with newcomer Terrell McClain as a backup. Another draft select, Nick Allegretti, is lively for the first time and will see some action.

Starting Lineups

The offensive line ran through warm U.S. Hill seems prepared to begin; however, it remains uncertain if the Chiefs have him on a snap matter. With Cam Erving at the left address and Martinas Rankin at the left, protect the injured Eric Fisher and Andrew Wylie. That would eliminate Stefen Wisniewski and Nick Allegretti coming off the bench if wanted.

Defensively, Khalen Saunders looks, in all likelihood, to get his first regular-season start at tackle. Ben Niemann will be in for Anthony Hitchens; however, the defensive starting lineup looks identical in any other case.
The first zone, 14:48

The Chiefs began subsidized up inside their own ten thanks to another blocking-off penalty on unique teams—there were too many mistakes on special groups. The Chiefs used a naked quarterback boot proper to set up a deep shot immediately to Tyreek Hill. Clearly, the Chiefs need to set the tone by forcing the Texans to play quarter and guard Hill with a safety over the pinnacle.
First-quarter, eleven:42

Hill erases doubt about his injured shoulder, leaping over defenders for a forty-six-yard landing skip. The Chiefs nearly torpedoed the pressure with four consequences for 34 yards. The Chiefs picked up all their yards via the air — Patrick Mahomes had 116 yards passing at the 91-yard touchdown force due to the consequences.

Hill’s return gives the Chiefs the lift they need in the vertical passing recreation to loosen up defenses.
The first area, eleven:31

Frank Clark comes up with the big play, punching the ball from the fingers of going for walks again, Carlos Hyde, and getting better at the Houston 18 at the Texans’ beginning offensive play. Huge play for the protection, which has struggled to forestall the run, generating a turnover.
The first zone, 10:19

The Chiefs caught a few breaks in advance but had one go towards them at the Texans’ 2d drive of the sport. DeAndre Hopkins appeared to fumble the ball at the cease of a short reception, which the Chiefs scooped up and again for a landing. However, officers who dominated Hopkins’ ahead development had been stopped, and that call could not be a task. Had the officials allowed the play to continue and rule, the Chiefs recovered a fumble, and the replay reputable may want to have reviewed the call.
First-quarter, five: forty-six

The Texans get on the board to reduce the Chiefs’ result to 10-three. However, the Kansas City defense is showing signs of existence. Frank Clark and Alex Okafor have effectively set the threshold, keeping Deshaun Watson from breaking include and making performances outside the pocket. On Watson’s one designed to run, Kendall Fuller saved the play outdoors and forced a brief 2-yard advantage.

Likewise, Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo mixes and disguises blitzes early, looking to keep Watson on his toes. Watson is 4-of-7 passing early for 27 yards, and the Chiefs have positioned their palms on a couple of balls, with Tyrann Mathieu and Jordan Lucas lacking interceptions. The Chiefs pressured a fumble at the Texans’ first convey of the game. However, the Texans have rushed for 22 yards on their ultimate four consists. The run protection stays an area of difficulty.
The first region, 1:28

Hill is proving in his return that his presence makes an important difference on this Chiefs offense. Kansas City has scored on its first three possessions in constructing a 17-3 lead. Hill has three catches for sixty-six yards and a landing. The Chiefs hold coping with an absurd range of consequences on offense; however, to date, they’ve triumphed over that deficiency with a ridiculously efficient offense, averaging 10—nine yards according to play. Mahomes is 8-of-14 for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the first sector.

Aside from the consequences, bypass safety does remain a difficulty on offense. The Chiefs still stubbornly refuse to bring in help from tight give-up chipping on either aspect, and they preserve to conflict while going through 4-man fronts. When the Texans deliver an additional rusher, Mahomes has been compelled to get the ball out quickly. However, he suggests no symptoms of difficulty in the left ankle affecting his mobility.
The second zone, 10:56

The Chiefs appear to be picking on vintage buddy Phillip Gaines. Two straight passes in this force have gone his route, each to Mecole Hardman on exceptional facets of the sphere. Gaines additionally had coverage on the landing to Hill. The Chiefs understand Gaines nicely from his four seasons with the Chiefs from 2014-2017.
Second-quarter, eight:42

Brewing controversy as Mahomes throws his first interception of the season. Mahomes seemed to accept as true that he had a loose play because Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. Tackled tight cease Travis Kelce. The officials initially called pass interference on Johnson, then reserved the call, saying the contact passed off even as the ball changed inside the air in the direction of an exceptional receiver and was now not skip interference. The interception stands, and the Texans take over at their 20 following a touchback.
Second-quarter, 0:sixteen

The Chiefs get a turnover to snuff out a Texans force, then deliver the ball properly on their doorstep. Charles Omenihu knocked the ball out of Mahomes’s hand, and Benardrick McKinney recovered at the 3-backyard line. Watson scrambles into the stop area, and the present landing puts the Texans up 23-17.
Halftime: Texans 23, Chiefs 17
Keys to the second half

Better safety for Mahomes
Thus far, Mahomes has been able to pass within the pocket, but the Chiefs continue to expose little ability to address a four-person rush, and anytime the Texans convey more than that, it is a hassle. The lack of protection contributed to each of Kansas City’s first-half turnovers. The Chiefs remain reluctant to provide help at the left side, with Erving and Rankin filling in for Fisher and Wylie.

Stop the run
It’s a broken record; however, apart from forcing a turnover on Hyde’s first run of the sport, the Chiefs have performed a little too sluggishly down their former teammate. Hyde has 12 incorporates for sixty-three yards and a landing since the fumble.

Challenge Texans’ receivers
Watson relied on a short passing game to get the Texans’ offense moving in the second area, and he finished 15-of-24 passing for 139 yards and a touchdown. If the Texans continue to work to their receivers and tight ends inside the short passing game, even as dashing for more than 5 yards in keeping with the clip, that spells trouble for the Chiefs.
Third-quarter, 6:30

Hill now has five catches for 80 yards and rankings; at the same time, Ma, homes is 18-of-30 passing for 277 yards and three rankings. Chiefs retake the lead 24-23 with a ten-play, 64-yard drive capped off with a 6-backyard touchdown skip from Mahomes to Hill on 1/3-and-3. Neither crew displays an ability to slow down the opposing offense, so this search is more likely to be the ultimate time to possess the ball, which may also win.
The third region, 09

Charvarius Ward came up with a big interception against DeAndre Hopkins, going up with one hand to carry it down and keep the Chiefs on top 24-23. That’s the second normal-season interception of his profession.
The fourth sector, 14:08

Several skip interference and protective protecting calls move towards the Chiefs early inside the region. A non-name of defensive bypass interference against Travis Kelce ends the Chief’s force, but Dustin Colquitt pins the Texans deep after a sixty-eight-backyard punt. The Texans then gain from a shielding protecting call towards Morris Claiborne that, from the press field, appeared less egregious than the PI no-call against Kelce.
The fourth zone, 7:14

CB Kendall Fuller is questionable about returning with a thumb injury. Sixth-spherical draft picks out Rashad Fenton has entered the game because the slot corner while the Chiefs go to substitution packages.
The fourth sector, 6:17

The Texans have a 12-play, 93-yard drive with a 1-backyard run using Watson. Watson then connects with DeAndre Hopkins on the two-point conversion to place Houston ahead 31-24.