SPORTS

Can Mahomes Outrun the Texans' Sack Masters?

Kansas City, MO, USASat Dec 21 2024
Get ready for a clash of titans on Saturday! The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans will battle it out as both teams gear up for two games in a week. The Chiefs, sitting pretty at 13-1, are gunning for the number one spot in the AFC, while the Texans at 9-5 are hoping to snag the third seed. This game marks the first time quarterback legends Patrick Mahomes and C. J. Stroud face off. Mahomes, despite a sore ankle, is expected to play. He'll need to be at his best against Houston's ferocious defense, which boasts the league's second-highest sack count. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. lead the Texans' sack attack, with Hunter racking up 12 from the right side and Anderson Jr. adding 10. 5 from all over the front. Inside, Tim Settle is no slouch with five sacks. Settle's confident about getting to Mahomes, saying, "I hope he's mobile enough cause we comin in Arrowhead. " To keep the offense humming, KC needs a solid game plan. They'll have to watch out for sacks and turnovers, which Houston excels at with a league-best +13 turnover differential. On the other side of the ball, Houston's Joe Mixon faces a tough Chiefs defense, known for stuffing run plays. The Texans rank low in third-down conversions, so pushing them into long situations could mean big sacks for the Chiefs. Watch for Houston's Nico Collins, back from injury, who's been a game-changer. Cornerback Trent McDuffie will have his hands full trying to shut him down. Meanwhile, the Chiefs may welcome back wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who could add some serious firepower to their vertical game. Finally, scoring in the red zone is key. The Texans allow touchdowns on 65% of red-zone drives, so KC needs to capitalize.

questions

    Will the Chiefs' defense be able to handle the pressure of facing a 'workhorse' running back like Joe Mixon?
    What strategies will the Chiefs use to neutralize Nico Collins' impact in the Texans' passing game?
    What impact will the absence of key Texans defenders have on their overall performance against the Chiefs?

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