5 issues to look at because the Chiefs host the Texans within the Divisional spherical

It’s time. After an 18-week gown rehearsal the remainder of the league calls the “regular season,” the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (15-2) are opening postseason play in opposition to the Houston Texans (10-8) within the AFC Divisional spherical. Will probably be the primary of 4 playoff video games this weekend, kicking off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. amid GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs’ starters will get up on gameday 23 days faraway from the Christmas Day victory that sealed the postseason bye week. Conversely, the Texans have gathered confidence from a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers within the Wild Card spherical.

4 weeks in the past, the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-19 in Arrowhead. The defending Tremendous Bowl champions have a clear damage report and relaxation, whereas Houston has key gamers who’re questionable.

It units the stage for the Chiefs to be the agency favourite and the Texans to play spoiler, trying to avenge the 2 postseason losses suffered by Kansas Metropolis over the past decade.

Listed below are 5 issues to look at within the Divisional spherical opener:

1. The Chiefs’ beginning offensive line

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On Friday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Joe Thuney is predicted to start out at left sort out over veteran D.J. Humphries.

The choice sheds some gentle on what the Chiefs’ offense will worth within the postseason. Go safety is clearly paramount; the go assault was in nearly as good a rhythm because it has been all season with Thuney defending the blind facet. The run sport was drastically much less environment friendly within the three video games with out Thuney at left guard.

Weeks 1-14: 46.5% speeding success fee (NFL Rank: 1st)

Weeks 15-17: 37% speeding success fee (NFL Rank: twenty fifth)

Thuney at left sort out could increase the extent of go safety, however it may nonetheless expose left guard Mike Caliendo on go downs. Within the Wild Card win, the Texans produced three sacks; two of them occurred by defensive finish Denico Autry profitable previous a guard.

2. Incomes the fitting to hurry C.J. Stroud

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The Texans’ offense is centered round work-horse operating again Joe Mixon, setting the tone on the bottom, shortening the sticks and establishing play-action go alternatives. He rushed for 106 yards over 25 carries within the Wild Card win, laying the inspiration for the Texans’ second-most productive sport of the season by whole yards.

That voluminous sport had some penalties: Mixon is questionable to play with an ankle damage this week. Whether or not or not he’s out there, the Chiefs’ protection has to kill the engine of the run sport to arrange the go rush. Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud excels off run fakes, finishing 71% of his play-action passes this 12 months.

In Week 16, the Chiefs restricted Mixon to solely 57 speeding yards over 14 makes an attempt. The same effort will current alternatives for the Chiefs’ go rush to pin their ears and get after Stroud on lengthy second or third downs.

3. Attacking the Texans’ go safety

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The Chiefs’ go rush is contemporary and able to put their stamp on the playoff run. Defensive sort out Chris Jones is full go after a calf damage saved him out of Week 17.

Jones and the headliners will demand the eye of a Texans’ offense that allowed the third-most sacks amongst all groups within the common season. It’s the Chiefs’ rotational rushers that may make a distinction in one-on-one conditions. Defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Mike Danna can disrupt inside whereas the large names cave the pocket from the skin.

The Texans are projected to be getting again beginning proper guard Shaq Mason, who has not performed since Week 16 with a knee damage. He was not on the ultimate damage report. That might shore up an inside offensive line that shifted heart Juice Scruggs over to Mason’s spot. Scruggs was restricted in observe this week with an ankle damage.

Jones’ sights will probably be set on rookie proper sort out Blake Fisher. Jones likes to align over that edge on go downs, and Fisher has allowed 4 sacks and 6 different quarterback hits over six begins at proper sort out this season.

4. Targeted protection on Nico Collins

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When Stroud throws the ball, he’ll probably search for vast receiver Nico Collins. He’s a major menace however the one actual difference-maker left in Houston’s receiving corps.

The Chiefs firmly centered on taking away Collins within the earlier matchup, limiting him to solely 60 receiving yards over 10 targets. The emphasis was on stopping passes over the center to Collins, who earned 104 yards and a landing on in-breaking routes within the Wild Card spherical.

In Week 16, the Chiefs intercepted two passes thrown between the numbers to Collins. Search for that very same emphasis on Saturday, and if the Chiefs can deal with that with out tight finish Dalton Schultz making them pay. Kansas Metropolis ended the common season with essentially the most receiving yards allowed to tight ends (1,191).

5. Hitting on explosive play alternatives

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The Chiefs’ offense is predicted to modify to playoff mode, which ought to imply robust play designs and an efficient scheme to make sure drives finish in touchdowns relatively than subject objectives.

That clearly factors to ending extra red-zone alternatives; the Chiefs ranked twenty second in red-zone conversion fee this season. Nevertheless, the offense can skip a step by hitting on extra explosive performs, whether or not run or go.

During the last two postseasons, operating again Isiah Pacheco has gashed the protection 13 instances for a achieve of 10 or extra yards.

On the skin, search for Texans’ rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter matched up with both of the Chiefs’ velocity threats: Xavier Worthy or Hollywood Brown. Lassiter is an aggressive playmaker however could not have the play velocity to maintain up with both down the sector.