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Chiefs vs. Texans: Deshaun Watson’s MVP hopes and 8 other stories to follow

By Jordan Mannix

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans throws a pass during a game against the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans throws a pass during a game against the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 14: Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots misses a catch while under pressure by Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the first half against the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Texans have a strong defense

According to Football Outsiders, based off who the Texans have played and their opponents offensive production, the Houston Texans have the 13th most effective defense in the NFL. It’s still early in the season, making advanced statistics a little less relevant, but this definitely says something.

The Texans defense isn’t elite, but it will be on of the most effective the Chiefs have faced. Their strength is the run defense, of which has only allowed a meager 95 yards per game to opponents. When you consider they’ve played teams with Pro Bowl running backs in the New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Carolina Panthers, that’s saying a lot. The Chiefs will need to be creative in order to give backs McCoy and Williams lanes to run through.

What seems to be their primary weakness is the passing game. They’re allowing an average of 270 yards passing per game which through five games is 25th in the league. Considering they’ve played a mishmash of quarterbacks, some elite and some not so much, this would lend one to think the Chiefs are primed to attack them through the air.

That said, I expect the Bill O’Brien and the rest of the league for that matter to do everything they can to play tight man coverage against the Chiefs going forward. It’s the only strategy that seems to slow the Chiefs offense down. The Texans aren’t known for doing this, as Romeo Crennel traditionally likes to run a more zone oriented scheme, but the truth is in the results. Zone doesn’t work against the Chiefs and man coverage does.

If the Chiefs injured receivers in Hill and Watkins aren’t good to go on Sunday, and if Mahomes has to wait behind a turnstile offensive line on a bad ankle for DeMarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, and Mecole Hardman to get open against tight coverage this could be another tough game for the reigning MVP.

Handling Houston’s pass rush

A big reason this could be a tough game is the Texans defense’s ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Through week five the Texans are tied for 9th overall with 15 sacks and sixth overall with 35 quarterback hits. This front seven will bring the pressure on the Chiefs offensive line on Sunday.

That’s a bit troubling. What’s probably been lost in the depression over the loss to the Colts is that Patrick Mahomes has actually only been sacked seven times on the season. There’s only four quarterbacks who have been sacked less than he has. What’s a little less impressive is that he’s been hit 25 times, which puts him a little better than middle of the league.

Unfortunately, I think Mahomes mobility has masked some of the deficiencies of the offensive line. He re-aggravated his ankle injury from week one against the Colts and it proved to be a problem in the second half. If his mobility isn’t much improved by Sunday, hopefully Reid and company utilize some extra protection to keep him upright because the Texans will be bringing the pressure.

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