Last Updated on October 14, 2010 3:59 am by Anthony Rome
Chiefs vs. Texans Preview
HOUSTON, TX – The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans both got off to surprisingly strong starts, but last week showed they still have some issues to resolve.
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Chiefs look to bounce back from a lackluster offensive outing Sunday when they visit a Texans team trying to get its own offense back on track.
Oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com have made the Texans 4.5-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 50% of more than the 5,507 bets for this game have been placed on the Texans –4.5.
Kansas City (3-1) is trying to end a three-year streak of finishing with at least 12 losses, while Houston has never made the playoffs. The Chiefs went 10-38 over the previous three years, but were the last NFL team to suffer a loss this year, falling 19-9 to Indianapolis last Sunday.
Kansas City, which ranks third in the league with 148.8 rushing yards per game, was held to a season-low 113 yards on the ground last week, including 30 in the second half. Quarterback Matt Cassel put up mediocre numbers, finishing 16 of 29 for 156 yards and failing to lead the Chiefs into the end zone. On the positive side, he didn’t turn the ball over.
“Our quarterback played a smart football game, led the team in the fashion he will have to lead it,” coach Todd Haley said. “No. 1, we’re 3-1 in the first quarter of the season, which is exactly what we want … Can he be more efficient? Absolutely. But his arrow is without a doubt pointing up. This guy is making progress.”
While Cassel has been average this season, completing 54.7 percent of his passes for 650 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, he has a good opportunity to break out this weekend. The Texans are giving up a league-leading 329.6 passing yards per game.
Houston (3-2), part of an AFC South in which all four teams own the same record, was off to the franchise’s best start before losing 34-10 at home to the New York Giants last Sunday.
The Texans had been averaging 142.4 rushing yards per game, but managed 24 against the Giants. Arian Foster, who had reached 100 yards in three of the first four games, gained 25 yards on 11 carries.
Houston is also looking for more from quarterback Matt Schaub. He’s thrown for 1,233 yards and completed 62.2 percent of his passes, but he has seven touchdowns to five interceptions and has been sacked 14 times – second-most in the league.
Schaub and the offense should benefit from Andre Johnson’s improving condition. The wideout has been bothered by a high ankle sprain, but had five catches for 95 yards last Sunday. He expects to play again this weekend despite continuing to wear an ankle brace.
“It means a lot to have a full complement of our guys because they each bring something a little different, as far as what they do best,” Schaub said. “So we just have to get them back into it and get them going.”
Although Johnson expects to play, coach Gary Kubiak may have other injury concerns. Linebacker Brian Cushing, the 2009 defensive rookie of the year, made his season debut last week after missing four games for taking a performance-enhancing drug, but did not practice Wednesday due to a knee issue.
“Hopefully he’s back fresh by Sunday, but I think you’re going to see him only get better,” Kubiak said.
Houston is trying to avoid losing three straight at home in the same season for the first time since 2005.
“We’ve played some very good games and a couple poor ones in big spurts,” Kubiak said. “Very good in spurts and very bad in spurts. So we’re trying to find some consistency there as a football team.”
The Chiefs and Texans have split their four meetings with Houston winning the most recent, a 20-3 home victory in 2007.
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