Got a question about the Texans?
Life in general?
Drew Dougherty's your guy.
He's been with the Texans since 2009 and is chock full of meaningful, as well as generally useless, information. Fire away by clicking HERE.
LeRoy Rodriguez: Dear Drew, Seeing as how we dominated and slowed the Chargers offense, what do you think will be the key to slowing down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs?
DD: Play the way they did on Saturday against the Chargers. Houston was able to pressure quarterback Justin Herbert, sacking him four times and hitting him a total of nine times. He threw the ball 32 times, and only completed 14 passes. Four of his throws were picked off.
It's a tall task to do that again, on the road, against a battle-tested quarterback like Mahomes. He'll be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after his career finishes, and he's been a maestro in the postseason. The Chiefs are 15-3 in postseason games when Mahomes has started, and he's won seven straight, with a pair of Super Bowl titles mixed in.
But the Texans are likely closer to full strength, defensively, than they were the last time the Chiefs saw them. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi missed that last one in Kansas City the Saturday before Christmas.
If the Houston defense continues to roll the way it has the last two games, the Texans have a chance.
***Congratulations, LeRoy: your question won you Texas Lottery Scratchoffs. Someone from the organization will soon contact you about this.***
Zayden DaGoat: Dear Drew, How will the Texans offensive line be able to stand up to the fierce Chiefs defensive line?
DD: Cool name. Against the Chiefs in December, quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked twice, and hit a total of 11 times. Over the past two games, the current offensive line has allowed a combined four sacks and eight quarterback hits. Juice Scruggs has been in at right guard in place of the injured Shaq Mason, and the current five up front have been solid in pass protection.
Just as importantly, they've also paved the way for a combined 375 rushing yards in those two games. Pro Bowler Joe Mixon went off for 106 yards in the win over Los Angeles, and Dameon Pierce erupted for 176 the week prior. Houston's going for 5.95 yards per carry the last two games, which affords Stroud and the offense so many luxuries.
Hunter Pumphrey: Dear Drew, Will there be a watch party on Saturday for the Texans and Chiefs here in Houston?
DD: You know it: at The Rustic Downtown. The details are here.
Tina Wilkerson: Dear Drew, What's the latest on Tank Dell?
DD: He's in good spirits, and was on crutches on the field before the game. He and fellow receiver Stefon Diggs showed up to support their teammates, and it meant a lot.
"Seeing Tank and Stef there, it's encouraging and uplifting for everybody on our team," Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said. "We know how much both those guys meant to our team, the leaders they were in their own way, and how much energy they provide to our entire team."
Stroud, meanwhile, explained that "it's always special to have your brothers in there", and appreciated their presence.
"I hope they were smiling a little bit as we were playing," Stroud said. "I think their careers are long, long from anything to being done. This is just another bump in the road, and they're two of the best receivers I played with for real. They remind me of the guys I played with at Ohio State. I'm honored to have friends and brothers like that."
Christopher Blackburn: Dear Drew, How was it being on the field for the win?
DD: Awesome. It's always electric on the sidelines, and that was only ratcheted up with a playoff game. Of the many memorable moments, seeing Stroud pick up the fumble and then find Xavier Hutchinson was wild, on the field. I really liked when Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" was played, and the crowd turned on their cell phone lights. It was also cool interviewing linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after the win.
