The Texans (11-7) hit the road to face the Chiefs (15-2) in a Divisional Playoff this weekend. Houston is coming off a 32-12 thumping of the Chargers last Saturday at NRG Stadium, while Kansas City had the weekend off because they own the AFC's best record. Here are five things to watch when they kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
1) Carry over to K.C. – For the latter chunk of last week's victory, C.J. Stroud looked terrific. On the first five possessions against the Chargers, Stroud had a 34.7 passer rating, had thrown an interception and completed just 54.5 percent of his passes. On the drive in which he fumbled a 3rd-and-16 snap, scooped it up and completed a 34-yarder, and for the rest of that game, he thrived. Stroud had a 72.7 completion percentage, 216 passing yards, a touchdown strike and a passer rating of 118.9.
Houston needs to see more of that Stroud. To make that happen, he explained what they need to carry over to Kansas City.
"Just execution," Stroud said. "Just owning the little things and finally we have been able to get some practice with some guys because we didn't really have those guys in training camp or OTA's. Now we are able to get some guys in that we have been here for a couple weeks now and moving guys up from practice squad to get more time and reps down. That showed in the last game, and we try to take that over and just execution."
2) Nobody's run it on the Chiefs – The Texans had a running back gain more than 100 yards in a game nine times this season, including last week's Wild Card win over Los Angeles. They won seven of those contests. Joe Mixon did it eight times, and Dameon Pierce rumbled for 176 yards the week before in the win at Tennessee.
Kansas City didn't allow a single running back to crack the century mark against them this season. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for more than 100 in the season-opening loss to the Chiefs, but the rest of the way, nobody was able to gain 100 yards or more on the ground.
The Kansas City rush defense was eighth in the NFL in yards allowed this season, and overall, they were fourth-best in points per game allowed.
"They are a really well coached defense," Texans Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik said. "They don't make mistakes, they play extremely clean football. They got physical linebackers, they have scrapper DB's that can all make plays. At this point in the year, every defense that is left is really good and they exemplify that."
Because of an ankle injury, Mixon was listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week.
3) Adding in Al-Shaair – The Texans are facing a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He beat Houston with his smarts, arm and legs in the December matchup. But he didn't face a Texans defense that was led by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in that game. Including last week's playoff win, when the captain and 6-year pro started games this season, the Texans were 9-3. They have a better defense and a better team when he's on the field.
"Azeez has been a great vocal leader," Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He always shares a great message. He's great at articulating those messages to the players and the players are really attentive when Azeez is talking. When Azeez talks to the team, it'll always come from the heart."
Al-Shaair and his impact on the Texans isn't lost on the opposition, either. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid thinks highly of Al-Shaair, who's jersey number is 0.
"We didn't have a chance to play against '0' last time we played them a couple of weeks back," Reid said. "He's fast also as a linebacker and he's their main play-caller there."
With Al-Shaair back in the lineup the last two weeks, when he's been on the field, the Texans have allowed just one touchdown, combined, in those two wins.
4) Manage Mahomes – The Chiefs quarterback guided his club to 15 wins in 16 starts this season, and rested in the regular season finale loss to the Broncos. He made plays throughout, and hasn't thrown an interception in his last 237 passes. That's six straight starts, all of which resulted in Chiefs victories.
Because of Mahomes' elite ability to create on the move, Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke explained one of the most important things for Texans defenders on Saturday.
"Awareness of the clock when the plays are extended and then just how those receivers are going to try to work open in zones and scramble drills, mechanics, and those sorts of things," Burke said. "That's going to be a big part of that."
5) They're due – There's no logic in this one: the Texans are due. I know, I know: 'They're Due' Guy is the brother of 'On-pace' Guy. (When your wide receiver tallies 150 yards in a game, 'On-Pace' guy bleats out "He's on pace for 2,550 receiving yards this year!") 'They're Due' Guy and 'On-Pace' Guy wear dunce caps and sit in the corner at parties, enjoying each other's company.
But...the Texans have never won a divisional round game. They're due.
They've never beaten the Chiefs in the postseason. They're due.
The Chiefs haven't turned the ball over in seven games. They're due.
Kansas City hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since the first week of the season. They're due.
Houstonians haven't seen their pro football team advance to the AFC Championship game since Jimmy Carter was President. They're due.
So maybe 'They're Due' Guy will get a nice high-5 at the party on Saturday, and get to celebrate.
