Sunday Night Football features a match up between the best team in the league, the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) and the hottest rookie, Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans (2-2), at NRG Stadium.
Like always, the SNF game will be broadcast on NBC at 8:30 p.m. EST. I’ll be live blogging this one at Get More Sports, so dial up your internet machine and spend the evening with yours truly. I make it fun.
The Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans (-1)
O/U: 45.0
The History
The Chiefs and Texans have played only nine games since 2003. The Chiefs hold a 5-4 advantage in the rivalry.
The two teams have met in the playoffs one time, January 9, 2016, with Kansas City beating Houston 30-0.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-0)
The Chiefs are coming off a significant victory over the Washington Redskins last Monday night. Alex Smith continued his tear through the league, completing 27 of 37 passing for 293 yards and a touchdown. Smith has completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,067 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. It would be very difficult to have a better first month than that.
But you know who has? Rookie running back Kareem Hunt. Hunt rushed 21 times for 101 yards and caught four passes for 20 yards last week. You can pile that onto his season stats of 68 carries, 502 yards, four touchdowns, 13 receptions, 157 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The kid is pretty good. Hunt will be facing his sternest test yet in the Texans defense, who bring one of the best run stopping units to the field.
Tight end Travis Kelce remains Smith’s favorite passing target and caught seven for 111 and a score last week. After a blistering opening couple of games, Tyreek Hill has cooled off, but Albert Wilson has stepped up his game as a reliable target, especially on third down.
Kansas City has a solid defense itself. They didn’t record a sack on Kirk Cousins last week and just two tackles for a loss, but held the Redskins to just four third down conversions in 11 tries.
Dee Ford is out again with a back injury and starting guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will miss with a knee injury.
HOUSTON TEXANS (2-2)
Watson has taken the league by storm since he was handed the starting job at the end of the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Watson is 2-1 as a starter and consistently displaying all the tools that helped Clemson win the national title game last year and play for it twice. Watson, on the season, has completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 811 yards, seven touchdowns and four picks. He’s added 148 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
With Watson taking so much defensive attention, Lamar Miller was able to get untracked in the run game last week, carrying the ball 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. In all, the Texans reeled off 173 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Watson’s favorite target is fellow Clemson alum DeAndre Hopkins. Last week Hopkins caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Watson isn’t afraid to toss the talented wideout a 50-50 ball and let him go up and get it, which he usually does.
Houston’s defense isn’t as dominant as it was last season, but with a team that can actually put points on the board it doesn’t have to be. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney remain two of the best pass rushers in the league, regardless of their stats this season and should make it difficult for Smith to get into any kind of rhythm.
Cornerback Kevin Johnson remains out with a knee injury, but I expect all the other Texans starters to play.
The Pick
The Chiefs are a legitimate Super Bowl contender already, but they’re not going undefeated. This is a game outside the AFC West and on the road. They’re due to lose one and the Texans are playing some inspired football right now. I think it’ll be close, but Houston pulls it out with some freaky Watson play. Texans 26, Chiefs 24
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 9-7
Against the spread: 10-6
Season
Straight up: 37-26
Against the spread: 32-31
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
