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NFL Week Two Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans

By Eric Robinson

Aug 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) makes the call at the line during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) makes the call at the line during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) returns an interception against Houston Texans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) during the second quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) returns an interception against Houston Texans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) during the second quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Why Kansas City May Win

If the Chiefs are to walk away 2-0, it will more than likely be on the shoulders of their defense for the bulk of the carrying. A game within the game will be Chiefs corner Marcus Peters going head-to-head against Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Peters is one of those second-tier corners in the NFL behind your Richard Shermans and your Patrick Petersons but it won’t be long until Peters is in the same category. Safety Eric Berry provides another difference maker on the back for Kansas City.

Where the defense make their biggest impact arguably is in the front seven. Although they gave up 155 rushing yards to the Chargers last week, the unit only allowed 98.2 rushing yards per game last season. Nose tackle Dontari Poe and defensive end Allen Bailey are two starters that provide run plugs for the defense and also allow veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson to roam loosely and rack up tackles.

On offense, the unit is a medical ward at this point with two starters on the offensive line (guards Parker Ehringer and Laurent Duvernay-Tarnif) will more than likely be out due to injuries and the team is already dealing with not having running back Jamaal Charles in the lineup due to his recovery from ACL surgery this offseason. Quarterback back Alex Smith has swelling in the throwing elbow but he also has the services of #1 receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce. As for the running game, Spencer Ware is the primary back with Charcandrick West as his backup. Ware’s 199 all-purpose yards last week was key for an offense that struggled to find its footing.

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