Official Texans @ Chiefs Game Thread, 9/10/2020

[Arky]

Well it's almost here. This Thursday night, the Texans visit the Chiefs at Arrowhead to kick off the 2020 NFL season.

Forgive me for the abbreviated coverage, but I've been so far removed from football lately, that I don't know quite what to expect.

The Chiefs are favored by 9 to 10 and I'll be tuning in just to see how all this is gonna work this year. The Texans can do a lot for fan confidence if they pull off the upset however, I'm not holding my breath. No preseason games, little coverage of training camp and unfamiliarity with the roster (although a lot of familiar names still here) so I think most of us have some catching up to do. It will be a first look at the drafted rookies. Find the Texan roster here.

NBC will carry the game at 7:20 CST.

[nunusguy]

Such a totally weird year in so many ways so not surprising that also goes for the NFL in 2020.
Not even a set of intersquad scrimmages with another NFL team, let alone a preseason game or two to give us a preview so we will be seeing it altogether for the first time this year Thursday night.
And a new DC and a new OC. I have no idea what to expect ?

[Keith]

Brandin Cooks downgraded to questionable for his quad. I have not kept up with preseason injuries, so I am unsure how serious this is, but Cooks is another WR with a history of missed snaps. Hopefully he is just limited in practice this week so he is a full go on Thursday but who knows.

On the flip side, Will Fuller is NOT on the injury report. With Hopkins gone to Arizona, having these WR options (including Cobb and Stills along with Cooks and Fuller) healthy is what will make the offense dangerous. I have some faith that Watson is comfortable enough in the pocket to make his reads so long as he has something worth reading.

As for the game, as much as we want to see the offense, we all know it boils down to how well the Texans can slow down Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. And again, having not seen training camp or any preseason games, who knows. Big test for Anthony Weaver.

[Arky]

Here's the roster updates for September:

09/07
The Houston Texans signed the following two players to the active roster: Brent Qvale and Jon Weeks.

The Houston Texans placed the following two players on the Reserve/Injured list: Gareon Conley and Isaiah Coulter.

The Houston Texans signed the following 14 players to the practice squad: Auzoyah Alufohai, Davin Bellamy, Anthony Chesley, Nate Hall, Chad Hansen, Jerald Hawkins, Cordel Iwuagwu, Greg Mancz, Steven Mitchell Jr., Elijah Nkansah, Jonathan Owens, Scottie Phillips, C.J. Prosise, and Tyler Simmons.

09/05
The Houston Texans released the following seven players from the active roster: Angelo Blackson, Jerald Hawkins, Greg Mancz, Kyle Murphy, Brent Qvale, Jaylen Watkins and Jon Weeks.

The Houston Texans waived the following 16 players from the active roster: Auzoyah Alufohai, Davin Bellamy, Anthony Chesley, Nate Hall, Chad Hansen, Karan Higdon Jr., Cordel Iwuagwu, Rick Leonard, Steven Mitchell Jr., Elijah Nkansah, Jonathan Owens, Scottie Phillips, Tyler Simmons, Jordan Thomas and Isaac Whitney.

The Houston Texans waived the following player from the active roster with an injury settlement: Dylan Stapleton.

They waited till the last minute to keep Weeks. Hmmm....

Gareon Conley and rookie Isaiah Coulter to IR....

[Keith]

Update on Cooks, which is somewhat encouraging I suppose.

@AaronWilson_NFL 10:25 PM · Sep 7, 2020
Brandin Cooks, who's limited on injury report, doesn't have new quadriceps injury. It's just the first official injury report. Team managed workload throughout camp as he rehabbed it. He didn't do a lot of full-team work. Looked fast, created separation in drills throughout camp

[HPF Bob]

You can call this game in your sleep:

When Texans have the ball: Watson runs around on third down like a chicken with its head off and looking frantically for #10. After realizing this is 2020, he'll complete some short stuff or take off running or get sacked, mostly the last two.

When Chiefs have the ball: Have you ever watched a hot knife go through butter? This will be faster. Mahomes will calmly look for #10 (since there's no rush) and hit him or Kelce repeatedly like this was a practice.

Predicted score: Chiefs 48, Texans 20.

[Keith]

The Texans had a good game plan for their regular season match-up last season... they held possession and ran the ball, keeping their defense off the field and from getting gassed. And in the playoffs, they did jump to a 24-0 lead before O'Brien, well O'Brien'd it.

So I agree the Chiefs will be the predictable aspect of this game. It's anybody's guess as to how the Texans play. They were game in New Orleans for last year's opener, and Watson is a prime time player. O'Brien seems to start slow out of the gates though.

O'Brien in openers:
2019 L @ NOS 28-30
2018 L @ NEP 20-27
2017 L vs JAC 7-29 (Savage started this one before giving way to Watson at the half)
2016 W vs CHI 23-14
2015 L vs KCC 20-27
2014 W vs WAS 17-6

[chuck]

I'm not going to bitch about this all season, I promise, but I have never been less interested in an upcoming football season in my life. I'll probably watch the game tomorrow, but I can't imagine I'll watch any others. They have no other prime time games, do they? I think I remember that this is their only one.

A single public humiliation is more than enough, I guess.

[HPF Bob]

I'm just the opposite. I see no need to see the Texans get flogged like this was Alabama vs. Rice. I'll wait until they face a more equal opponent - like the Jags.

[Arky]

Sounds like they will allow 17K fans into the stadium.

NFL ready to take center stage during pandemic with Texans-Chiefs.

[Keith]

Cooks is active. Keke Coutee is not.

[Arky]

David Johnson looking good so far.

Still in the 1st qtr. Texans driving and in FG range at the Chiefs 19.

Chiefs had a TD called back as incomplete.

David Johnson runs it in for the TD! 19 yards.

Texans 7, Chiefs 0

4:54 left in the 1st qtr.

[Keith]

S Justin Reid with the pass breakup to force the Chiefs TD incompletion... needed to be reversed on replay, but nice play regardless.

Texans ate up some clock on their TD drive. Decent start on both sides of the ball. Going to be a long game though.

[Arky]

Chiefs answer with a 6-yard TD pass to Kelce.

Texans 7, Chiefs 7

14:13 left in the half.

[Arky]

Chiefs score on a short pass, 10 yards to Watkins but it may be short. Under review.....

Ruled short.

Two plays later, 2 yard TD pass to Watkins is good for the TD.

Chiefs 14, Texans 7

Texans getting smeared in time of possession: Texans 8:48, Chiefs 18:46

2:26 left in the half.

[Keith]

Yeah, time of possession looks bad - because it is - but the defense is giving a lot of looks to make the Chiefs corral their own offense from speading the ball downfield.

Conversely, the Texans have healthy speedsters in Fuller and Stills, and an apparently spry Cooks, and yet they have not taken any deep shots, either. Teams each feeling each other out in this half. I'd expect some changes from at least one of these offenses in the second half.

[Arky]

Texans have a chance to salvage a FG but Fairbairn is no good from 51.

Chiefs have the ball at their 41 with 26 seconds left in the half.

Chiefs don't waste any time moving the ball, a Texan penalty and Butker is good from 29.

Chiefs 17, Texans 7

Halftime.

[Arky]

Chiefs with 19 first downs in the first half.

Texans, Rockets and Astros all could lose on the same day. These guys really not helping my civic pride....

[Arky]

Edwards-Helaire runs it in from 27.

Chiefs 24, Texans 7

[barrett]

I think I liked it better when they scored fast against us. This is brutal just watching 10 straight successful plays.