Arrowhead Pride
The Kansas City Chiefs are clinging to their playoff lives as Week 14’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Houston Texans looms.
The challenge begins with a feared Houston defense that currently leads the league with a -0.18 expected points added (EPA), per Next Gen Stats.
“You’ve got to match their intensity,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Obviously the D-line’s good. The linebackers are good, and the DBs are good. But I think what makes them who they are is how hard they play. Every single snap they’re flying around and they’re trying to make plays happen. They’re trying to intercept the football. They’re trying to knock the football out. They’re trying to make big hits. So, we’ve got to match that intensity — as an offense and as a team — in order to go out there and get a win.”
Center Creed Humphrey will be lining up against the Texas defense for the third time in a year.
“They play aggressive defense,” he observed. “They’re really sound technically, really sound schematically, and they play very hard. Everybody has a great motor on the defense — so whatever scheme they’re playing that week, they’re doing a great job with it. For us, it’s just about coming out and making sure we match that energy — and bring more — and to show up with the right mindset on Sunday.”
Making things worse, the Chiefs could be facing Houston’s defensive front with multiple backups on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Wednesday after undergoing wrist surgery. Right guard Trey Smith and right tackle Jawaan Taylor also missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries.
Reid suggested that Mike Caliendo would continue filling in for Smith — and if needed, Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore are in line at the tackle spots. He noted that Caliendo played well in both of last season’s games against the Texans — and in 2024’s regular-season matchup against Houston, Morris took over at right tackle when Taylor was injured.
Still, the coach knows that it will be a difficult test.
“They did a good job,” recalled Reid of Morris and Calidendo’s performances last season, “so they know what they’re up against. That’s a great defensive front — a great defense. All three levels are really good, and they’re No. 1 in a lot of categories there, defensively. But those guys are getting themselves ready to go.”
Mahomes pushed back a little on a suggestion that under the circumstances, he will have to run the ball more often.
“You’re going to have to utilize everything,” he insisted, “not just my legs. You’ve got to utilize everything you have to go out there and win. This is a really good football team that’s playing really good football right now — and has a really good defense. So we’re going to throw it all out there and try to find a way to win....
