Kansas City Chiefs

3 Key Aspects of the Texans’ Offense Chiefs’ Defense

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The Chiefs’ defense should have their eye on these factors from the Texans’ Wild Card win.

The match is set: the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round. The Texans earned the right by beating the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the Wild Card round.

In that win, the Texans’ offense accumulated 429 total yards, the second-highest total for Houston in any game this season. The Texans got that done despite committing a season-high three turnovers.

It was one of the best all-around performances by Houston this season, which includes the 27-19 loss to the Chiefs in Week 16. Analyst Caleb James will preview the Texans’ defense.

Here are three takeaways about the Texans’ offense ahead of the Divisional round matchup:

1. The pass game centers around Nico Collins

The Texans’ pass offense has dealt with major injuries this season, the latest being wide receiver Tank Dell suffering a severe knee injury in Week 16. At this point, the team’s only threat in the receiving corps is wide receiver Nico Collins. He earned 122 receiving yards against the Chargers; no other Texan accumulated more than 34 receiving yards.

The Texans’ best plays on offense were completions to Collins breaking in on his route, whether it was deep down the field or a slant in the red zone that scored. He has the size to be a reliable target over the middle and the acceleration to quickly turn upfield and gain yards after catch.

This puts emphasis on the Chiefs’ back end, specifically safeties and linebackers covering between the numbers. The perimeter could hold strong with cornerback Trent McDuffie and possibly cornerback Jaylen Watson — if he is healthy.

In the first matchup between these teams, the Chiefs allowed a 30-yard completion to Collins on one third down. Outside of that play, Collins only produced 30 more yards over nine other targets; one of those passes headed his way was intercepted by safety Jaden Hicks over the middle.

2. Texans’ pass protection is vulnerable

The Chargers were able to disrupt the Texans’ pass game with an effective pass rush. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud went down three times, and he was pressured 15 times, the third-most pressures faced by any quarterback in the Wild Card round. The Chargers managed this while only blitzing on 25% of snaps.

The left side of the Texans’ line looked vulnerable against the Chargers, specifically left guard Tytus Howard, a former right tackle. On one play, he failed to pick up the stunting defensive end and allowed an easy sack.

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil also ended the regular season as the NFL leader in penalties among offensive tackles (19).

3. C.J. Stroud is using his legs more

Stroud is known for making nearly any throw from the pocket. That said, he is mobile enough to make plays with his feet, and he did that more often in the Wild Card round.

Stroud accumulated 42 rushing yards versus Los Angeles, which was the third-highest mark of his career over two seasons. He moved the chains in the two-minute drill with a 27-yard scramble just before halftime, then took off for nine yards on third and 10 late in the game. On the next play, a quarterback sneak set him up to earn a first down.

The Chiefs’ defense has been exposed to the mobility of quarterbacks before. This regular season, the Chiefs allowed the seventh-most rushing yards to quarterbacks among NFL defenses. Stroud’s willingness to extend drives with his legs will be a factor for the Chiefs should be prepared to defend.

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