The Kansas City Chiefs are scary. Their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is a big reason why. However, he’s not the only reason why the Houston Texans should be scared for their matchup on Sunday.
The Chiefs have built Mahomes a team worthy of going to the Super Bowl. In fact, so much so that there are three non-Mahomes reasons why the Texans should be scared.
The speed factor
Speed kills. Unfortunately for Houston, Kansas City has lots of it.
Not only may the Chiefs get Hill back on Sunday — one of the fastest men in football — to slice the Texans defense, they also have their fair share of speedy wide receivers behind him. Rookie Mecole Hardmon and Byron Pringle stand at the forefront of that notion, as they have a 4.33 second 40-yard-dash and a 4.46 to their names, respectively.
The Texans defense struggles with speedy wide receiver, just ask T.Y. Hilton. Even if Hill doesn’t play on Sunday, they will have their hands full containing the rest of their speedy wide-outs.
Travis Kelce
There may not be a tight end in football better than Travis Kelce. A two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, the Chiefs tight end is a matchup nightmare for the Texans. He’s big, fast, quick, smart, a clean route runner and consistent with his hands.
“You’re talking about one of the best tight ends, really, in the league in the last probably 10-15 years in Travis Kelce,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Monday. “Great player. He’s given us fits over the years.”
In the four games Kelce has faced the Texans, he has racked up 366 yards, two touchdowns and 17 first downs on a 79.4% catch rate. Houston believes safety Tashaun Gipson is his kryptonite. Only time will tell if that is true.
Running backs, running backs and more running backs
The Texans — as they’ve done for quite some time — are defending the ground game well. They are yet to allow a 100-yard rusher in 2019. However, that doesn’t mean the Chiefs running back by committee, consisting of Damien Williams, LeSean McCoy, Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson won’t pose threats. They will.
Houston struggles mightily with backs in the receiving realm. In fact, they have allowed the most receptions to backs in 2019 with 45, while also 336 yards and a touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Texans, the Chiefs love to incorporate their backs as receivers. Each of their four is slippery in open space and is used often in the screen game, where the Texans struggle. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will have to get creative to stop the backs as pass catchers.
