NEWSLETTER
Finally, football has come back to our television sets.
I’m honest when I write about my uncertainty regarding if we’d get to this point. We, as a society, have been through a lot since the last time a professional football game was played. I don’t imagine there’s a need to re-hash what’s happened since February. But I want you to know how much I appreciate that you’re here with me as we embark on the first game of the NFL’s 101st season.
The last time we saw the Chiefs, they were hosting the Lombardi Trophy. Patrick Mahomes engineered a third postseason comeback that resulted in a win by double digits. And while wins in the AFC Divisional and Championship rounds were impressive, doing it on the game’s biggest stag is the most impressive thing I’ve seen in quite some time.
No team has repeated as Super Bowl champs since the Patriots in 2004 and 2005. However, Mahomes leading the way is reasons nough for K.C. is favored to win again.
If they don’t, then the Texans could be a team with a shot to dethrone them. Even after a wonky offseason in which Houston traded one of the best receivers in football, having Deshaun Watson gives the Texans a puncher’s chance at winning a title. At minimum, Houston is positioned to go toe-to-toe with the high-powered Chiefs tonight.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Trubisky (pictured below) is preparing for the biggest year of his professional career.
Giddy up! Football season is upon us.
Game Info
Houston Texans (10-6, 1st AFC South in 2019) at Kansas City Chiefs (12-4, 1st AFC North in 2019) – 7:20 p.m. CT
NBC-TV (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
Westwood One Radio/WSCR-AM 670 (Kevin Kugler, Kurt Warner)
Site: Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City
Referee: Clete Blakeman
Game Thread
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can do this again when the Bears return to action on Sunday.
Coaches
Texans Bill O’Brien (52-44) vs. vs. Chiefs Andy Reid (207-128-1, 77-35 with Chiefs)
Starting Quarterbacks
Texans: Deshaun Watson: 3,852 passing yards, 26 TD, 12 INT, 67.3 completion pct., 98.0 passer rating in 2019
versus
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes: 4,031 passing yards, 26 td, 5 INT, 65.9 completion pct., 105.3 passer rating in 2019
Texans Expected Starters
Offense
• QB Deshaun Watson
• RB David Johnson
• WRs Will Fuller V, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb
• TE Darren Fells
• LT Laremy Tunsil, LG Max Scharping, C Nick Martin, RG Zach Fulton, RT Tytus Howard
Defense
• LDE J.J. Watt, NT Brandon Dunn, RDE Charles Omenihu
• WLB Whitney Mercilus
• ILBs Benardrick McKinney, Zach Cunningham
• SLB Brennan Scarlett
• CBs Bradley Roby, Vernon Hargreaves III
• FS Justin Reid
• SS Eric Murray
Specialists
• Ka’imi Fairbairn (kicker), Bryan Anger (punter, holder), Jon Weeks (long snapper), DeAndre Carter (kick/punt returns)
Chiefs Expected Starters
Offense
• QB Patrick Mahomes
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• WRs Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman
• TE Travis Kelce
• LT Eric Fisher, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Austin Reiter, RG Andrew Wylie, RT Mitchell Schwartz
Defense
• LDE Tanoh Kpassagnon, LDT Chris Jones, RDT Derrick Nnadi, RDE Frank Clark
• WLB Willie Gay Jr.
• MLB Anthony Hitchens
• SLB Damien Wilson
• CBs Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton, Damien Wilson
• FS Daniel Sorensen
• SS Tyrann Mathieu
Specialists
• Harrison Butker (kicker), Tommy Townsend (punter, holder), James Winchester (long snapper), Mecole Hardman (kick/punt returns
