Texans @ Chiefs

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20131020012&home=12&vis=34

 

(AP) -- The most opportunistic defense in the NFL and strong special teams have allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to overcome a mediocre offense for the second-best start in team history.

 

The Houston Texans haven't been quite as fortunate, with a glaring turnover problem weighing down its league-best defense and otherwise quality offense.

 

Kansas City (6-0) will look to capitalize on those issues Sunday when it hosts Houston, which will have third-stringer Case Keenum at quarterback over injured starter Matt Schaub as it looks to avoid its first five-game losing streak in nearly eight years.

 

Defense and special teams have accounted for 46.1 percent of the Chiefs' points, including five touchdowns. The 2003 Chiefs had seven TDs from the defense and special teams in their first six wins during a 9-0 start, the only one in team history better than this year's.

 

Husain Abdullah's 44-yard interception return for a score with 1:35 left helped seal a 24-7 home victory over Oakland on Sunday.

 

"It's something we talked about from Day 1, the scoring. There's equal opportunity in all three phases," coach Andy Reid said. "We wanted everybody to have their chance to score a touchdown."

 

Houston (2-4) isn't nearly as upbeat despite allowing 252.8 yards per game, easily the best mark in the NFL. The Texans' offense is averaging 395.7 yards, seventh most in the league, but they're scoring 17.7 points per game - the seventh-lowest mark.

 

A minus-12 turnover differential has been a big reason for that, as only the winless New York Giants at minus-16 are worse.

 

The Texans have committed 12 turnovers during their four-game slide. They haven't lost five in a row since a six-game skid Nov. 6-Dec. 11, 2005.

 

"Turnovers get you beat in this league and they're getting us beat on a consistent basis," said coach Gary Kubiak, who won division titles the last two years but may be on the hot seat with a 4-8 record since an 11-1 start last season.

 

After throwing nine interceptions in the previous five games, Schaub was finally turnover-free in a 38-13 home loss to St. Louis on Sunday. However, he suffered injuries to his right ankle and foot on a third-quarter sack and won't play this week.

 

Kubiak chose to start Keenum in what will be his NFL debut over backup T.J. Yates, who was 12 of 17 for 98 yards while getting picked off twice and sacked twice in relief of Schaub last week. Keenum, a record-setting quarterback at the University of Houston, spent last season on the practice squad and joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent.

 

He'll be facing a Kansas City team that leads the league with 31 sacks.

 

This matchup also features the two leading rushers in the AFC, with Houston's Arian Foster running for 341 yards in the past three games to push his season total to a conference-best 531.

 

Jamaal Charles, second in the league with 129.2 scrimmage yards per game behind Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy (145.2), has accounted for seven of Kansas City's 12 offensive TDs. He was leaned on heavily again versus the Raiders, recording 128 of the team's 216 total yards.

 

The Chiefs' 326.3 yards-per-game average ranks 25th in the NFL, and Alex Smith is 32nd with 6.16 yards per passing attempt.

 

"If we can get our offense to play as well as our defense is playing right now, it's going to be great," receiver Dexter McCluster said.

 

Former Pro Bowler Dwayne Bowe has disappointed thus far with 20 receptions for 229 yards and two TDs. However, he caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores in the teams' last meeting, a 35-31 Texans home win Oct. 17, 2010.

 

Andre Johnson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Schaub with 28 seconds remaining to cap a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback, which gave Houston a 3-2 series advantage. Johnson has averaged 105.6 receiving yards with four TDs in five career games against Kansas City.

 

Arrowhead Stadium, which set a Guinness World Record for loudest outdoor sports stadium in Sunday's game with the crowd reaching 137.5 decibels, could create a further hindrance for Keenum.

 

The Raiders were whistled for three false starts and three delay-of-game penalties, and the Texans have been penalized for more yardage than any other team with 459.

 

Houston announced Wednesday it will be without starting safety Danieal Manning for the rest of the year due to a right knee injury suffered Sunday. Third-year player Shiloh Keo will take his place.

 

 

[KempBolt 498]

16

27

 

Case Keenum in his first start versus the Chiefs defense in Arrowhead Stadium. Enough said.

[Cheese Head 11]

The Chiefs defense is too tough for whoever is starting at QB for the Texans.

 

Texans: 9

Chiefs: 24

[theMileHighGuy 656]

The Texans are a mess. The Chiefs defense will control the game and Smith and Charles will do enough to win.

 

21

14

[The Burfict Storm 39]

Could be an upset.

[Bay 2,003]

You better run the ball like 50 times, Texans. KC is giving up over 5 a carry on the ground.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Gary Kubiak is risking serious damage to a young QB's confidence. Keenum's got no chance at surviving Arrowhead.

[KempBolt 498]

Here's the window for an upset:

 

Houston is 6th in rushing yards per game with 136.8 per contest, and 4th in YPC with 4.7.

 

Kansas City is 23rd in rushing yards per game allowed with 116 per contest and 31st in YPC allowed with 5.1.

 

With a first time starter in a hostile environment against a great pass rush, the Texans are going to pound the football. If they start running roughshod, it will quiet the crowd and keep Hali/Houston from getting after Keenum too much. And their defense is still more than capable of keeping a so-so offense under control, so it's doubtful that the Chiefs build a huge lead that takes away the running game from Houston.

 

If the Texans run the ball a lot, and effectively, and don't make boneheaded errors, they have a real shot in this game.

You better run the ball like 50 times, Texans. KC is giving up over 5 a carry on the ground.

 

Don't know why I didn't read this first. What he said.

Edited October 20, 2013 by KempBolt

[FartWaffles 1,857]

Props to Keenum. He was thrust into an extremely tough situation and kept his composure and had a good game for his first start. The offensive line and the defense are the ones to blame for the loss. I hope Keenum starts for the rest of the season. If Kubes goes back to Schaub, I will have completely given up on this organization/coaching staff for this season.

 

Congrats to the Chiefs. Jamaal Charles was straight beast today. I was hoping the Texans would win this one for Bum...

Edited October 20, 2013 by FartWaffles

[KempBolt 498]

I won't say it would have changed the outcome, but this game would have been a lot more interesting to me if Foster could have played. It was like a bad dream that the Texans were down to Greg Jones at points in the contest. Have to blame Kubiak for only having 2 RB's dress despite Foster's recent injury struggles.

 

Also, someone explain this to me because it drives me nuts: The Texans get the ball with like 50-something seconds left and two timeouts at the end of the 2nd half. So Kubiak calls a run, which goes for like 7 yards. Then he lets the clock run until he has something like 25 seconds left, calls another run which goes for about 10 yards, and then he calls a timeout with like 15 seconds left and tries to make something happen. Why the shit did he choose to waste those 20 seconds?? I understand just letting the clock run-- you're on the road against a good defense and you don't want a negative play. And I understand using your TO's and going for it because points are at a premium and you've got to score if you can. What I don't understand is letting the clock run like you're going to just call it good and go into halftime, and THEN deciding that you're going to try and make something happen after you've pissed half your time away.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Basically it's waffling. It's trying to have contingencies in place in case something happens. If you don't bust a big run, let the clock run, if you do, try to make something happen. Basically instead of having a set plan for what to do with the possession, he took a wait and see approach. Which is not the smart play, but it is the cautious play, which is what too many coaches will do.