Official Texans vs. Chiefs Game Thread, 12/18/2022

[Keith]

The Texans (1-11-1) will bring their rotating quarterback show back home on Sunday to face the Chiefs (10-3). They are literally hurting, with at least six starters already ruled out for the game, including RB Dameon Pierce.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon CST, 12/18/2022

Announcers = Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

The line = Kansas City by 14.5

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) =Cincinnati @ Tampa Bay, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = New England @ Las Vegas, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

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Prime time:

TNF = San Francisco @ Seattle (Amazon Prime)

Saturday (noon) = Indianapolis @ Minnesota, Noah Eagle, Nate Burleson (NFLN)

Saturday (3:30pm) = Baltimore @ Cleveland, Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner (NFLN)

Saturday (7:15pm) = Miami @ Buffalo, Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez (NFLN)

SNF = N.Y. Giants @ Washington (NBC)

MNF = L.A. Rams @ Green Bay (ESPN)

[Keith]

Texans receive. Driskel at QB to start. Tytus Howard to LG for the injured Kenyon Green. Charlie Heck to RT. Mmmmmkay. You do you Texnans.

Driskel gets an 11-yd pass to Amari Rodgers first play. Drive stalls afterward, Mills did come in for a third down incompletion. 42-yd punt goes to Chiefs' 20.

Mahomes converts his first third down with a short completion to Travis Kelce then completes to him again for another first which makes Kelce #4 all time in receptions for a TE. Texans pass D will be challenged today missing both Stingley and Nelson. Drive stalls near midfield when Mahomes misses a wide open target. 45-yard punt that Desmond King returns 3 yards to the 15.

Texans 0, Chiefs 0
9:48 remaining in the 1st quarter

[Keith]

Mills at QB to start the second drive. Three and out. Weird third down play that the Chiefs sniffed out easily, taking down Rex Burkead in a poorly executed screen. Good punt, but Chiefs will begin their second drive from their own 40.

Big sack of Mahomes on first down as RB Isiah Pacheco whiffs on a block on blitzing LB Christian Kirksey. 11-yard loss. Drive is just a three-and-out as the Texans flush Mahomes from the pocket on third down. Front seven doing work as if it were the Chiefs moving their right tackle to left guard. King returns the 57-yd punt 13 yards to the 20.

Driskel starts the third drive with a keeper for 9 yards. Dare Ogunbowale dives for 2 and a first down. Mills subs in and finds Chris Moore for 35 yards down the right sideline to the Chiefs' 36. He finds Burkhead on third down for 17 yards and into the redzone. Mills' third down pass for Jordan Akins near the goalline is incomplete, but a flag for DPI on Darius Harris gives the offense a first on the 4-yd line. Driskel can't find a receiver and runs OB for a 4-yd loss.

TOUCHDOWN. Mills finds Teagan Quitoriano on 2nd and goal for the 8-yd score.

Texans 7, Chiefs 0
1:01 left in the 1st

[Keith]

I'm facing Warren in our fantasy league playoff, and lucky him he has the Chiefs defense... thrilled the Texans scored.

Chiefs respond to end the first quarter with an 11-yd run by Pacheco off right tackle then a 18-yd run off left tackle.

Second quarter begins at the Texans' 46. Mahomes finds Juju Smith-Schuster on third down for 8 to the Houston 33. Noah Gray (the other TE) takes a short pass and runs 13 yards. Mahomes then finds Jerick McKinnon to the right sideline and he scampers the rest of the way for the touchdown.

Harrison Butker converts the extra point.

Texans 7, Chiefs 7
12:27 left in the half.

[Keith]

Touchback on the kickoff. Mills connects with Moore for a third down conversion to the 36. Reverse to Phillip Dorsett where the WR pulls up to pass, can't find anyone downfield, and wisely throws it away. Mills then misses Dorsett for a long completion on third down. 48-yd punt by Cam Johnston to Kadarious Toney, darts around on the return but is dropped at the KC 22.

FUMBLE! Pacheco loses the ball when he is met by Mario Addison at the LOS. Recovered by King at the 17.

Mills then scrambles on second down with lots of running room for the 17-yard touchdown. Extra point is good.

Texans 14, Chiefs 7
9:19 left in the half.

Do you believe in Christmas miracles?

[Keith]

Chiefs benched Pacheco following the fumble. Ronald Jones from McKinney, TX, gets the next carry. Mahomes drops the shotgun snap on second down and is thrown hard to the ground by Maliek Collins. Christain Harris with a good third down tackle in space forces the Chiefs to punt. Tremon Smith on the return this time. Texans ball at their own 22 following a 7-yd return.

Mills hands off on first down to Royce Freeman who gets 7 yards. Freeman then goes 11 on his second carry. Give it to him a third time for 6 yards. A fourth straight handoff to Freeman goes for 2. Sets up Driskel who only gets 1 yard at midfield on third down. Punt is fair caught by Toney, holding penalty moves the Chiefs back to their own 4-yd line.

Mahomes goes deep on first down, but the Texans catch another break when Justin Watson drops the ball at midfield after he had it hit both of his hands. Mahomes converts a 3rd-and-5 rolling right, throwing across the field to Kelce. Unnecessary roughness called on Kelce for being a redass after the 14-yd completion, so a net (-1) for the Chiefs there.

Chiefs are fired up though. Mahomes goes 13 yards to Gray followed by completions of 21 and 11 to McKinnon. Ball at the Texans' 44.

Two minute warning.

Texans 14, Chiefs 7