Adam Teicher
DJ Bien-Aime
DJ Bien-Aime
ESPN
DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after masking the New York Jets. He is a former athlete who completed his school profession at Louisville. You’ll be able to catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his present, “Talkin’ Texans.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs did themselves a favor when it comes to securing the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed by beating the Houston Texans 27-19 on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs now have a 91% likelihood of being the No. 1 seed, in keeping with ESPN Analytics. The highest seed carries a first-round playoff bye and home-field benefit.
They should both win one in all their last two regular-season video games or have the Buffalo Payments lose any of their remaining three video games to clinch the highest spot. Kansas Metropolis would have had a 62% likelihood on the No. 1 seed had it misplaced to the Texans.
QB breakdown: Patrick Mahomes will be efficient together with his excessive ankle sprain. He did not have his finest sport however was adequate for the Chiefs to win. He scored the Chiefs’ first landing on a 15-yard scramble and in addition had a 12-yard scramble on the drive.
Most shocking efficiency: Broad receiver Hollywood Brown had a promising sport for a participant who hasn’t been in a sport since struggling a sternoclavicular harm in the course of the preseason. Brown did not play so much however caught 5 passes for 45 yards. One got here on fourth down, and one other got here on third down. Each performs delivered the Chiefs a recent set of downs.
Troubling pattern: The Chiefs, every week after producing 5 sacks towards the Cleveland Browns, had hassle getting strain on C.J. Stroud. He was sacked as soon as and was in any other case pressured solely often. The Browns sport was the outlier. The Chiefs have struggled to strain and sack the opposing quarterback many of the season. — Adam Teicher
Subsequent sport: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix)
The Texans misplaced three starters at key positions on Saturday in proper guard Shaq Mason, wideout Tank Dell, and security Jimmie Ward. Dell’s harm got here off a landing on Houston’s first possession of the second half when wideout Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s knee in the long run zone.
Dell’s harm was an emotional second as Texans gamers cried and struggled to get better afterward. The landing made the rating 17-16; kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the additional level. Following the harm, Houston scored three factors whereas permitting 10.
The Texans had an opportunity to attain a game-tying landing on their final drive, however the possession resulted in a punt. The Chiefs received the ball again and ended the sport with a number of first downs.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Main accidents. The Texans misplaced three starters in Ward, Mason and Dell to decrease leg accidents. These accidents do not seem like short-term accidents as Dell and Ward have been carted off, and Mason had our bodies fall on one in all his knees in a muddy pocket. The Texans are already with out key gamers in wideout Stefon Diggs and security Jalen Pitre, who’re out for the season. Including Ward, Dell and Mason to that checklist makes it tougher to beat because the postseason approaches.
QB breakdown: Stroud gave the Texans an opportunity to tug off the upset together with his efficiency. He wasn’t excellent as he threw two interceptions, however he had loads of moments when he lifted the offense and made performs together with his legs. He was 7-for-9 for 43 yards and a landing for a passer score of 123.6 when throwing on the run, in keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, and rushed for 23 yards. He completed the day with 244 yards and two touchdowns.
Promising pattern: The Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. cornerback duo, solely permitting 11 targets for 4 catches and 35 yards, in keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats. Lassiter did quit a landing, however he held up 1-on-1 with speedy Chiefs vast receiver Xavier Worthy on a number of performs. With Pitre and Ward out, the duo should hold this stage of play for the Texans’ playoff run to resist injures to the secondary. — DJ Bien-Aime
Subsequent sport: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix)
