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Saturday NFL action is back, featuring a thrilling contest between the Houston Texans (9-5) and the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1). These two teams last faced off in 2022, with the Chiefs securing a six-point victory on the road. Houston enters this game on the heels of a solid home win over Miami, triumphing 20-12 while covering as 2.5-point favorites. Meanwhile, Kansas City just clinched a 21-7 road victory against Cleveland as 3.5-point favorites. In this upcoming matchup, the Chiefs are favored by 3.5 points at home. The kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and will be broadcast on NBC.
Who will take the win in this critical AFC showdown? Read on for the Texans vs. Chiefs prediction.
Texans Secure AFC South Title
The Houston Texans have successfully clinched the AFC South for the second consecutive year, positioning themselves for a playoff berth. This season, their competition in the division has faltered, with both the Jaguars and Titans struggling at just three wins, while the Colts trail with six victories. Coming into this matchup, the Texans have won their last two games, first defeating Jacksonville on the road and then overcoming the Dolphins at home. In the Miami game, wide receiver Nico Collins made a significant impact, catching two touchdown passes that propelled his team to victory.
Cornerback Derek Stingley faced a tough challenge last week, covering Tyreek Hill effectively, limiting the star receiver to only two catches and intercepting two passes in the fourth quarter. Houston’s head coach, DeMeco Ryans, praised Stingley, stating to ESPN, “Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now.” Quarterback C.J. Stroud ranks 12th in the league with 3,248 passing yards and boasts a 17-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Stroud also contributes as a rusher, accumulating 203 yards, although he has yet to score a rushing touchdown this season. Joe Mixon leads the Texans’ ground game with 910 yards and seven touchdowns, but he is currently listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. Collins stands out as the top wide receiver with 53 receptions for 849 yards and six touchdowns.
Houston ranks 13th in the league, averaging 23.4 points per game while their defense holds the 9th position, allowing 21.4 points per game. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o leads the team with 87 tackles and contributes to the defense with one of their 19 interceptions. Both Stingley and safety Calen Bullock are tied for the team lead with five interceptions. The Texans’ defensive line has recorded 45 sacks this season, with Danielle Hunter leading the charge at 12, while edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. contributes another 10.5 sacks.
Injury Report:
Questionable: RB Joe Mixon, WR John Metchie III, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, TE Cade Stover, C Juice Scruggs
Chiefs Maintain Home Dominance
The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated in their seven home games this season, showcasing their strength at Arrowhead Stadium. Holding the league’s best record, their only loss came against the Buffalo Bills. With the AFC West title secured, the Chiefs are currently two games ahead of the Bills for home-field advantage in the playoffs. They will look to finish the regular season strong to maintain this top seed. In their recent victory over the Browns, quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite tweaking his ankle during the game against Cleveland, Mahomes is determined to play. He commented, “That’s the reason you play this game, to push to play. I’m not going to put our team in a bad position. It’s about seeing where I’m at. I’m a competitor. I want to go out there and play.” Mahomes ranks 10th in the NFL with 3,348 passing yards and has a 22-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. Although he has added 262 rushing yards to his stats, he may limit his running attempts due to his ankle injury. If he is unable to play, Carson Wentz will take over as quarterback. Kareem Hunt leads the backfield with 653 rushing yards and five touchdowns, though his production has dipped in recent games with Isiah Pacheco also getting carries. Travis Kelce remains Mahomes’ primary target, with 84 receptions for 709 yards and two scores.
The Chiefs rank 12th in scoring, averaging 23.5 points per game, while their defense stands strong at 5th, allowing only 18.5 points per game. Nick Bolton is the team’s leading tackler with 94, contributing to three of the team’s 32 sacks. Defensive end George Karlaftis leads the Chiefs with seven sacks, followed by defensive tackle Chris Jones with five. The defense has recorded ten interceptions this season, with no single player exceeding two interceptions.
Injury Report:
Questionable: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Hollywood Brown, S Chamarri Conner, OT D.J. Humphries
Best Bets for Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
