Chiefs vs. Texans Preview: Inside The Enemy Camp
The Kansas City Chiefs have the opportunity to go 7-0 on the 2013 season this Sunday, but standing in their way are Houston Texans.
Houston has lost four games in a row, but this is a Texans team that shouldn’t be taken lightly by the Chiefs or their fans. This is still a team that features defensive superstar J.J. Watt, and a first time starter at quarterback in Case Keenum. At the very least, Keenum is an unknown, which could make him dangerous for the Chiefs.
We know all about the Chiefs here at Arrowhead Addict, but in order to get more of the inside scoop on the Texans, I reached out to Toro Times editor Stephen Forsha and asked him a few questions about the Texans.
Stephen interviewed me as well, and you can read my answers by following this link to TT.
My interview with Toro Times:
1. Just what exactly is the mindset of the Texans’ fan base right now?
“Frustrated” is the first word that comes to mind. Fans are tired of the play calling by the Texans’ offense and all of the mistakes on the field. There were such high expectations for the team this season, but they haven’t lived up to any of them, at all.
If the Texans go into the bye week with five straight losses, I can see either one of two things … a total uprising by the fans or the opposite reaction of “oh no, now what?”
2. What’s the latest on Matt Schaub and why is he under so much scrutiny?
Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
With Schaub not playing this week and having another week of rest with the upcoming bye on the schedule, it will be a wait-and-see process with him. He’s under so much scrutiny because of his decision-making more than anything.
He’s not been the same player this year as he’s been in the past, and it shows. His NFL record of four pick-sixes in four straight games didn’t help matters, and the fact he’s won just one playoff game since joining the Texans has fans wanting to make changes.
They get their wish this week with Case Keenum making his first NFL start.
3. What are your expectations for Keenum this weekend?
I don’t have lofty expectations for Keenum this weekend as he’s facing a sack-machine defense in the Chiefs. Add that to being a road game for the Texans against an undefeated team, and all of that adds up to more carries for Arian Foster and Ben Tate.
I don’t see the Texans forcing much of anything with Keenum, except for him to be a game manager with the occasional pass and possible long ball to test his arm early on … then go from there.
4. What are your expectations for J.J. Watt?
Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
My expectations for Watt are the same every week … to make tackles and to get to the quarterback. He did none of that last week against the St. Louis Rams, and not all of that is on him. He can’t be a defense of 11 players all by himself … sure, he’s a great player, but every great player has a cast of good players on the field with him.
If Watt is taking all the double and triple teams, there is no excuse for the Texans to not make plays on the defensive side. The Texans’ defense’s numbers are good, but they are also a bit misleading.
5. Score prediction and reasoning?
I see this as another win for the Chiefs, by a score of 21-10.
The Texans have too much against them this week for me to even begin to think they have a chance to break their four-game skid. This game is all but the Chiefs’ game to lose, and the Texans will enter the bye week with five straight losses.
I say that because the mixture of a quarterback making his first start, the four-game skid and the constant mistakes just don’t add up for Houston.