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The Houston Texans have an opportunity to do one thing in the present day that’s by no means been achieved in franchise historical past. If they will get previous the Chiefs in Kansas Metropolis they’ll attain the AFC championship recreation for the primary time ever. In reality, no Houston soccer group has been to the AFC title recreation in many years. The final time was when the Houston Oilers performed the Pittsburgh Steelers within the 1980 season.
Kickoff for in the present day’s recreation is 3:30 p.m. KHOU 11’s Luis Ortiz is in Kansas Metropolis with followers and gamers, and Jason Bristol will wrap up the sport dwell on KHOU 11+ on Roku, Fire TV and AppleTV. We’ll additionally maintain highlights and updates through the recreation on this web page.
The showdown comes 4 weeks after Houston fell to Kansas Metropolis within the common season. The Chiefs won that game 27-19 at Arrowhead. It was the sport that receiver Tank Dell suffered his season-ending knee damage. The 2 groups have confronted off within the playoffs solely as soon as, which was in 2019. Houston had a 24-0 lead in that recreation, only to fall, 51-31.
Kansas Metropolis is favored to win by 8.5 factors.
Getting previous the Chiefs is not any simple process, to say the least. They’re the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champions and have solely two losses on the season, together with the final recreation of the season after they rested their starters. The Chiefs additionally had a bye week final week, that means these starters have had three weeks for accidents to heal and look to enter the sport wholesome.
The Texans, in the meantime, are coming off a wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers that featured a shutdown protection that had 4 interceptions of Justin Herbert after the Chargers QB solely threw three picks whole final season. The Texans are coping with some key accidents, together with operating again Joe Mixon, who was listed as questionable with an ankle damage and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who’s questionable with a foul knee.
Receiver Robert Woods can also be questionable with hip damage, which is large contemplating how depleted the Texans’ receiving unit is. With Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs out for the season and the Texans waiving Diontae Johnson after simply two video games, quarterback CJ Stroud should rely closely on Nico Collins, John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson. The group did add receiver Jared Wayne to the energetic roster for the sport.
It’s on! Houston Mayor John Whitmire not solely accepted the wager positioned by Kansas Metropolis Mayor Quinton Lucas forward of the large Texans-Chiefs playoff recreation on Saturday. In a post on X, he raised him. It is a guess involving BBQ and Mexican meals! Details of the wager here.
The Texans received two large performs from particular groups in last week’s playoff win. D’Angelo Ross blocked a punt within the first quarter earlier than returning a blocked further level for 2 factors within the fourth. The blocked punt was the primary in a playoff recreation because the 2021 season and the PAT return was the primary in NFL playoff historical past.
“The particular groups unit got here up large for us making some influence performs,” Ryans stated. “Any time particular groups can have an effect on the sport the place it’s taking the ball away, blocking the kick, it modifications the sport drastically.”
Nico Collins has continued to star for the Texans regardless of the lack of fellow huge receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell to season-ending accidents. Collins led the group with 1,006 yards receiving within the common season regardless of lacking 5 video games with an damage, and he had a franchise playoff-record 122 yards receiving and a landing towards the Chargers final weekend.
“Very pleased with Nico for what he’s been capable of accomplish simply all yr, every little thing that he’s achieved,” Ryans stated. “Even when everybody is aware of the ball goes to him, he nonetheless makes the play. So, excited for him and simply his trajectory as a professional.”
The Chiefs struggled many of the season to guard Mahomes’ blind facet, finally shifting All-Professional left guard Joe Thuney exterior with Mike Caliendo in his place. The query now’s whether or not they are going to stick to that lineup or transfer Thuney again to his pure spot and begin D.J. Humphries, a one-time Pro Bowl left tackle who has performed simply two video games due to accidents this season.
Jaylen Watson might play for Kansas Metropolis for the primary time since breaking his ankle Oct. 20 towards San Francisco. The third-year cornerback had turn into a dependable starter within the defensive backfield earlier than getting damage.
“Not telling you he might play a complete recreation,” Reid stated, “however I feel he has an opportunity to play for positive.”
It was an thrilling bye weekend for Mahomes, whose spouse, Brittany, gave birth to their third child on Sunday. They named their new daughter Golden Raye, and he or she joins a household that features one other daughter, Sterling, and a son nicknamed Bronze.
“It was cool that soccer was on TV whereas I used to be within the hospital, so I used to be capable of watch slightly bit,” Mahomes stated. “Brittany was form sufficient to allow us to watch soccer as she was on the brink of give beginning.”
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