AFC Playoffs Preview Chiefs at Texans

No moment of clarity, no major shake-up in scheme or personnel. Despite that progress, Houston was not active for the game against Oakland, but indications are that he’ll be on the field against the Texans this weekend in the playoffs.

03 January 2016: Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) celebrates after a touchdown during the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. By the time Halloween rolled around, they were a combined 4-10 and the odds of their making the playoffs seemed miniscule.

Still, Andrew Luck carved up the Chiefs defense, tossing for almost 450 yards. “All the things that you need to play good football in this league and good defense in this league, you’re having it”. Dalton has never won a playoff game but still would give his team the best chance to win if he is cleared to play.

Kansas City beat Houston in the first week of the season, but it’s safe to say, these teams are far different now.

Few expected Kansas City (11-5) to be in the playoffs after the team started the season 1-5.

“You’re looking at all the games”, he said. “Once you start stringing victories together, I was optimistic we could carry it all the way to the end and make the playoffs”.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton is confident Houston can approach picking up where he left off. During that first month of the season, this defense was not almost at full strength, but since then, they have obviously been a dominant unit. The Chiefs defense is pretty good at defending the run and pass but rank 17th in points allowed.

Kansas City is only 2-3) SU in games where it wins the turnover battle, yet 8-2 SU when losing the turnover battle. It was a road game for both the Chiefs and the Lions, but each team handled things differently.

Hoyer has been discarded by five teams in the last five years.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games at home.

On “Black Monday”, a date recognized around the league for the firing of coaches, Reid spoke of his team’s match-up with Houston and of momentum at a scheduled press conference. “There’s a system and guys follow by the system and it works”.

The former Alabama quarterback has performed admirably in three starts for the Bengals, going 2-1 in relief of starting quarterback Andy Dalton.

Jackson, the offensive coordinator, and his AFC North Division champion Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) will host archrival Pittsburgh (10-6), the No. 6 seed, at 5:15 p.m. with the game televised on CBS.

“Regardless of Andy’s status, we’re going to go – right now, at least, the early part of the week – preparing with AJ”, coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday.

Reid said Houston remains “day-by-day” and the Chiefs will continue to evaluate the fifth-year pro’s progress.

Fast-forward to 2003, and the Chiefs again went 13-3 behind one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. There are times when a good team has an opponent that will stand toe-to-toe with them to the very end and Kansas City was no exception. They are a pretty humble crew. They don’t get caught up in accolades or wins and all that stuff. You’ve spent hundreds-if not thousands-of hours practicing and training with them. Every team has got its own personality, but that’s kind of this group.

NOTES: Reid said Monday that LB Dee Ford was being tested for a concussion.