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The Kansas City Chiefs will look for their first playoff win in 22 years when they face the Houston Texans Saturday at NRG Stadium.
The Texans (9-7), completed a turnaround from a 2-5 start to the season to clinch AFC South last Sunday. Houston starting quarterback Brian Hoyer returned after missing two games with a concussion to lead the team to a 30-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
The Chiefs (11-5), were even better than the Texans down the stretch and enter the playoffs as the league's hottest team. After starting the year 1-5, Kansas City reeled off 10 straight wins to close out the regular season.
While Texans will try to improve to 3-0 in home playoff games, the Chiefs are in search of their first postseason win since Joe Montana led the team to a 28-20 win over the then-Houston Oilers in 1994.
Sunday's game marks a rematch of Week 1, when the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-20 in Houston.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Chiefs and the Texans.
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1. Don't ask Marcus Peters to hold up in single-coverage
Sure, the Chiefs field a rookie cover corner who's tied for the league lead with 8 INTs. But he's also tops in yards and touchdowns allowed -- a scary fact heading into a potential match-up with DeAndre Hopkins. The rookie out of Washington should have help with Hopkins whenever they tango. Cornerback/safety Ron Parker is an interesting candidate if and when Peters needs coverage help.
2. Be wary of Watt - and Whitney, too
Every NFL team knows about the exploits of one Justin James Watt (17.5 sacks). But overlooked is what his pass-rushing partner, Whitney Mercilius (12.0 sacks), has been able to do on the opposite end. Quick throws might be best for Alex Smith behind a line that wears down against the pass late in games. Or, running at Mercilius as away from the tackle-for-loss machine that is Watt (29 stops behind the line of scrimmage).
3. Move Jeremy Maclin around to free him up
Houston boasts the NFL's third-ranked pass defense for a reason. They've got Watt and that pass rush, but also a solid set of cover corners in Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph. That duo held Maclin in check (five catches, 53 yards) in Week 1; No. 19 must move around the formation to continue his torrid touchdown-scoring pace. Maclin (six touchdown in the last six games) will need to score in this one.
1. Load up against the run
The Chiefs like to run the ball and they're good at it. Kansas City ended the regular season with the NFL's sixth-best rushing offense averaging 127.8 yards per game on the ground. At the same time, the Chiefs have the 30th ranked passing offense, averaging just 203.4 yard per game. Romeo Crennell's defense should stack the box and trust Houston's secondary to contain Maclin and the Kansas City passing attack.
2. Extra help up front
Left tackle Duane Brown is out after suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in last week's win over Jacksonville. Veteran Chris Clark will start in his place. With Kansas City pass rusher Justin Houston set to return to the lineup this week, the Texans should employ tight ends like rookie Kendall Lamm as extra blockers help Clark out. Leaving Clark alone to protect Brian Hoyer's blind side against this Kansas City defense would be a mistake.
3. Take care of the football
One of the keys to Kansas City's lengthy winning streak has been winning the turnover battle. The Chiefs are plus-16 over the last 10 weeks. Hoyer needs to avoid forcing throws, while Alfred Blue and Houston's other running backs have to hold onto the ball. The Chiefs thrive on self-inflicted mistakes. The Texans can't make any.
