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, it stays unknown if the Chiefs will preserve him on a snap be counted. 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 coverages. However, that didn’t forestall the Colts from gambling man 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 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 stays 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 go away 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

Chiefs began subsidized up interior their very own 10 thanks to another blocking off penalty on unique teams — stay too many mistakes on special groups. 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 via forcing the Texans to play quarter and guard Hill with a safety over the pinnacle.
First-quarter, eleven:42

Hill erases any 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 is absolutely giving 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. But officers dominated Hopkins’ ahead development had been stopped, and that call cannot be a task. Had the officials allowed the play to continue and rule, the Chiefs recovered a fumble, the replay reputable may want to have reviewed the call.
First-quarter, five: forty-six

Texans get on the board to reduce the Chiefs’ result in 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 performs out of doors 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 disguising blitzes early, looking to preserve 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 4 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 distinctive 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 the Chiefs preserve to conflict whilst going through 4-man fronts. When the Texans deliver an additional rusher, Mahomes has been compelled to get the ball out quickly. But he suggests no symptoms of the left ankle difficulty affecting his mobility.
The second zone, 10:56

Chiefs appear to be picking on vintage buddy Phillip Gaines. Two straight passes in this force have gone his route, each to the Mecole Hardman on exceptional facets of the sphere. Gaines additionally had coverage on the landing to Hill. The Chiefs understand Gaines nicely from his 4 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 into 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 proper back on their very own doorstep. Charles Omenihu knocked the ball out of the hand of Mahomes, and Benardrick McKinney recovers 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 extra than that, it is a hassle. The lack of protection led in component to each of Kansas City’s first-half turnovers. The Chiefs remain reluctant to provide help at the left aspect, 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 little too sluggishly down their former teammate. Hyde has 12 incorporates for sixty-three yards and a landing since the hole fumble.

Challenge Texans’ receivers
Watson relied on a short passing sport to get the Texans’ offense transferring within the 2nd area, and he is finished 15-of-24 passing for 139 yards and a touchdown. If the Texans maintain to paintings to their receivers and tight ends inside the short passing sport even as dashing for greater than 5 yards in keeping with clip, that spells hassle for the Chiefs.
Third-quarter, 6:30

Hill now with five catches for 80 yards and rankings, at the same time as Mahomes 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 displaying an ability to slow down the opposing offense, this searching greater and more likely the ultimate time to possess the ball 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 Chiefs on top 24-23. That’s the second normal-season interception of his profession.
The fourth sector, 14:08

A couple of 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 Chiefs 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 to return 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

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