Chiefs News 12/6: Experts believe that the Texans are well equipped to handle Patrick Mahomes

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NFL Week 14 picks, odds, predictions: Best bets, picks, survivor plays, tips from our experts | CBS Sports

Texans +3.5: “We know Houston is the No. 1 scoring defense and in total yards allowed, which will

give K.C. headaches. What you might not know is that the Texans are an ideal matchup to nullify Patrick Mahomes‘ improvisation. Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards outside of the pocket (73.4 per game), while the Texans are giving up the fewest passing yards per game (11.0) on throws outside of the pocket. For reference, this Houston defense held the Josh Allen-led Bills offense to just three total yards on his nine plays outside the pocket back in Week 11. With C.J. Stroud back under center, the Texans have the capabilities to put enough points on the board offensively, as the defense bottles up the Chiefs’ offense en route to an upset.” — CBS Sports NFL writer Tyler Sullivan on why he likes Houston to upset the Chiefs on Sunday night.

Key Matchups, Predictions for Bengals-Bills and More NFL Week 14 Games | SI

Key matchup: Patrick Mahomes vs. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter

Key stat: Anderson and Hunter have a combined 21.5 sacks.

Date, Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC

The Chiefs are in a virtual do-or-die situation. Enter Patrick Mahomes.

Nothing is going well for Kansas City. It has lost three of its past four games, both starting tackles are hurt, and now the Chiefs are facing a red-hot Texans squad, winners of four straight, featuring the best edge duo in the league in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Not ideal.

And yet, Kansas City has the one man who may prove capable of turning things around. In Mahomes, the Chiefs have the quarterback not only second in overall EPA, but first in EPA under pressure at -18.7 and -0.04 per dropback. In essence, Mahomes is a machine when not under pressure, evidenced by his +113.1 EPA, fourth-best in football. But when under pressure, nobody has been better.

NFL Week 14 roundtable: Bears-Packers revival, Eagles OC under fire, AFC South drama | The Athletic

Texans-Chiefs highlights Sunday night. Which team’s postseason chances are we more confident in right now and why?

Keefer: I’m taking Houston here, and it wasn’t a difficult decision. Have you seen this defense? It’s menacing at all three levels, and Will Anderson Jr. would be getting more Defensive Player of the Year chatter if it wasn’t for Myles Garrett’s historic season. My bet is the Chiefs’ offense won’t be able to move the ball consistently against a Texans defense that has allowed 20 points just twice this season. Houston stays hot. KC’s playoff hopes fade.

Howe: The Texans have five wins against teams that are in the playoff field, which is noteworthy because none of the seven AFC playoff teams has more than two such victories. They’re well tested, and their defense is a consistent strength. The Chiefs looked like they were ready to go on a run entering their Week 9 game against the Bills, but they instead lost three of four. All were high-stakes games, none on a bigger stage than the Thanksgiving showdown in Dallas, and they just haven’t been able to get it done. The Chiefs need far too much help in too short a stretch to feel good about their chances.

NFL Week 14 predictions: Our experts face off Bills-Bengals and other top games | CBS Sports

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) (SNF)

Dajani (Texans +3.5): If this number was Chiefs -1.5, I would take it. But if you’re giving me the hook against a 6-6 team that has a losing ATS record, I’m probably going to side there. The Texans rank No. 1 in both scoring defense and total defense and allow an NFL-low 11.0 passing yards per game outside the pocket this season. That’s usually where Patrick Mahomes thrives. Additionally, Houston is 4-0 in one-score games during this current four-game win streak. I didn’t think C.J. Stroud was perfect in his return to the lineup last week, but he wasn’t a disaster either. Houston loses by three points. Prediction: Chiefs 24, Texans 21

Dubin (Chiefs -3.5): I’m going down with the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid ship. Prediction: Chiefs 23, Texans 16

C.J. Stroud and Texans can become Chiefs dynasty-enders and bury Andy Reid and Travis Kelce for good | talkSPORT

Chiefs dynasty could crumble with loss to Texans

Success is so common in Kansas City, that anything less than a playoff appearance will set alarm bells ringing in the front office.

Coach Reid has been pivotal in building one of the NFL’s great dynasties, but there have been signs this season that things are starting to go wrong.

On offense, the passing game hasn’t been up to its once-explosive standard and the running game has been near non-existent at times.

Around the NFL

Cowboys coach: Will talk to Pickens about Sherman post | ESPN

Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said he will have a conversation with George Pickens about the wide receiver’s social media post, which he has since deleted, in response to criticism he received from former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on the Prime Video broadcast Thursday.

“I’m aware of what was supposedly put out there,” Schottenheimer said Friday. “I’ve not talked to him yet. I understand it’s been taken down, but I will be talking to him, just checking on him. Again, this is unfortunately things that we deal with in this profession. But I have not spoken to him, but I will.”

Sherman said Pickens looked “uninterested” and “disengaged” in the Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Pickens caught five passes for 37 yards and did not have a catch of more than 10 yards in a game for the first time this season.

“For myself, personally, you can’t just disappear,” Pickens said after the game while also saying Sherman should have understood the type of coverage he was facing from the Lions, especially after CeeDee Lamb was forced from the game because of a concussion in the third quarter.

Darius Slay explains decision to decline joining Bills: ‘They just caught me at a bad time’| NFL.com

Slay said he realized he enjoyed spending time with his wife and teenage sons more than he felt the need to continue playing football, leading to him informing the Bills he was considering retiring instead of heading to Buffalo.

“I just got out of Pittsburgh. I don’t feel like packing up and moving again,” Slay said. “I’m like ‘bro, I’m 13 years in. I done did it.’ Now if they’d have called me at 28 (years old), 29, I’d (be) like ‘OK!’ That’s a top organization. They’ve got a lot great things going. They going to the playoffs, they got a franchise quarterback.

“It wasn’t a bad fit. They just caught me at a bad time. … I talked to them, it was like a little mutual talk, but I said ‘hey, I’m 34 man. I know y’all be watching tape but I’m trying to relax with my family and kids.’ I ain’t feel like packing up and moving. Then, on top of that, no offense to Buffalo (but) it’s cold as hell. I’m from the south, baby. We don’t know what snow looks like.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs-Texans: 5 things to watch in pivotal Week 14 battle

1. The Texans’ pass rush

The Houston pass rush boasts two elite edge rushers and has been the key cog in their recent string of success. Defensive end Danielle Hunter is tied for fourth in the NFL with eleven sacks, and phenom edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is tied for sixth with 10.5.

This pair of highly talented edge rushers has been enough to give fits to teams with solid offensive tackle play, but the Chiefs will be without starters at left and right tackle: Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor. Simmons was placed on IR, while Taylor was ruled doubtful to play after failing to practice all week.

According to Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday, Wanya Morris could start at left tackle, and Jaylon Moore at right tackle. But when asked to confirm that on Friday, Reid took a step back.

“Yeah, they’ve actually worked both sides,” said Reid. “So we’ll just make that decision when we get there.”

Due to a hectic campaign up front, both players have played in some capacity this season — but this week, they will need to turn in quality performances against the ferocious Texans’ edge-rushing combo.

2. Chiefs’ offensive line injuries

The Chiefs will have backup offensive tackles starting this week, and right guard Trey Smith was ruled doubtful to play. That means backup guard Mike Caliendo will likely make his third start this year. He will be the third reserve lineman on Kansas City’s starting line against the NFL’s No. 1 defense in yards per game (266) and points allowed (16.5).

Taylor and Simmons being down limits what the Chiefs will be able to do in the downfield passing game, and how long Mahomes can remain in the pocket. The loss of Smith — arguably the team’s best run blocker — limits what they can do handing the ball off, and might force the play-calling to go away from it if there is no early success.

The team will need center Creed Humphrey and left guard Kingsley Suamataia to carry the load among a tattered unit.