Texans vs. Chiefs

The Texans went through four quarterbacks this season, were forced to adapt to life without Arian Foster, and even endured J.J. Watt’s having to play through a broken hand. Despite all of that, they managed to finish the season on a 7-2 run after being demolished in Week 7 by the Miami Dolphins. It was enough to earn them the A.F.C. South title, though their competition there was not exactly stiff. If not for the Chiefs, their opponent this week, the Texans would have been football’s best turnaround story.

Both teams are still dealing with a long list of injured players, but the Chiefs are expected to get Justin Houston back after he sat out the remainder of the regular season because of a knee injury in Week 12. Kansas City’s defense relies on turnovers and quarterback pressure, so getting back one of the game’s most talented pass-rushers should provide the Chiefs with the boost they need to shut down Brian Hoyer and the Texans’ offense.

On offense, the Chiefs will not make anyone forget the 2007 New England Patriots, but there is efficiency in their approach. Alex Smith is a master of avoiding mistakes, and this season he figured out how to open things up a little more without sacrificing his accuracy or increasing his turnover rate. His scrambling ability adds an unexpected dimension to the team’s running game, which may no longer have Charles but is still effective with a combination of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware.

The Texans’ defense showed a great deal of improvement as the season progressed, and Alfred Blue and DeAndre Hopkins are talented enough to make the team’s offense interesting even if Hoyer is not a great option at quarterback. But the Chiefs seem better off on both sides of the ball, and their winning streak should continue.