**AFC Divisional Round - Texans at Chiefs**(-8.5, 42) 4:30 on ABC (2 Viewers)

[Alex P Keaton]

Stroud’s pocket awareness is something

Yeah. As much crap as Darnold (rightfully) got on Monday, Stroud is responsible for more of these sacks than the OL is.

Yeah, he should have been one of the two guys who couldn’t execute a double team block on Karlaftis

 

[karl.Racki]

Is Houston Kicker always this bad?

 

[Uncle Leo]

Refs helped KC block that FG, right?

 

[Desert_Power]

Helluva game from Reid.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Had to run errands since we all know the script. Seems like I missed nothing and the refs kept up their stellar game.

Man I hope Baltimore abuses the Chiefs and their refs.

Hey now.

 

[need2know]

I like going for it on 4th there. That KC offense likely may not give the ball back.

Texans D has played pretty well too.

Took a crazy good play & some help from the refs on that last drive for KC to score.

Help from the refs. Again like every big game for the chiefs

I haven’t been watching and am an objective viewer here. I have seen a ton of talk about the refs in this one, is it obviously bad?

2 horrendous calls that basically gave the chiefs 10 pts. Both drives would have been punts. Roughing the passer on mahomes both times. Both bs calls

It’s an NFL conspiracy at this point.

The only way to beat them is to beat them so badly refs cant help them. Which is tough to do. worst part is they are a good team. they dont need the help but get it anyway.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I’m so disgusted by that block.

 

[LionOfGosforth]

Schultz is a pathetic blocker

 

[SoBeDad]

KC D is so good.
Mahomes to Kelce is still a thing.
Folks always hate winners.

I actually like the Chiefs.

I am a Giant fan, but it’s time folks give credit to Mahomes and crew. This team is going for a 3-Peat and it’s not due to the refs.

The Tyreek trade was a big factor. They got an all-Pro CB, ammo to trade up for Rice, and some depth.

 

[Buckna]

Hou RT having a tough time

Backup Rookie swing tackle. The starting RT has been playing LG for the past month. Plugged one hole but created another...

KC had to move Thuney to LT similarly. Chiefs pass rush is tough as is but yeah that’s hard to deal with for a backup rookie.

They had TE Schutlz in there just now to help and he got completely bulldozed by Karlaftis and also beat the RB Ogun.

Schultz also gave up the sack on the 4th down attempt. Their o'line just has no answer for the Chiefs. Even Tunsil just got beat on the FG attempt as I typed this.

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Now I understand why Boyd was pushing and yelling at the ST coach on that first drive

 

[crushedspirit]

How many blocks by Chenal this year? He made that big Lutz one earlier this season.

 

[Nugget]

Chiefs defense is fantastic.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Great game.

Houston fought hard and gave them all they wanted. Kansas City was the better team and deserved to win.

 

[travdogg]

Stroud’s pocket awareness is something

Yeah. As much crap as Darnold (rightfully) got on Monday, Stroud is responsible for more of these sacks than the OL is.

Yeah, he should have been one of the two guys who couldn’t execute a double team block on Karlaftis

More in general, not that particular one

 

[Uncle Leo]

Congratulations to the Chiefs and their fans!

 

[Jayded]

Had to run errands since we all know the script. Seems like I missed nothing and the refs kept up their stellar game.

Man I hope Baltimore abuses the Chiefs and their refs.

Hey now.

Or the Bills. I’m not choosey. But them continually getting the calls is ridiculous and I hope it bites them hard next week.

 

[karl.Racki]

Schultz is a pathetic blocker

dude been pathetic for what he is making tbh

 

[need2know]

One could argue the texans were the weakest team in the playoffs. And kc needed the refs help to win at home. Sad

 

[NickRocks]

I like going for it on 4th there. That KC offense likely may not give the ball back.

Texans D has played pretty well too.

Took a crazy good play & some help from the refs on that last drive for KC to score.

Help from the refs. Again like every big game for the chiefs

I haven’t been watching and am an objective viewer here. I have seen a ton of talk about the refs in this one, is it obviously bad?

2 horrendous calls that basically gave the chiefs 10 pts. Both drives would have been punts. Roughing the passer on mahomes both times. Both bs calls

It’s an NFL conspiracy at this point.

It's a fan conspiracy.

 

[travdogg]

Really rubbing it in on the 8.5 spread

 

[rockaction]

Oh wow. Were you guys getting 8.5 or 9?

 

[Uncle Leo]

Oh man safety makes it a 9 point game.

 

[karl.Racki]

One could argue the texans were the weakest team in the playoffs. And kc needed the refs help to win at home. Sad

Steelers

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Lol

 

[gump]

So much for subtle.

 

[Steeler]

Wait! I teased the line to HOU + 9.5

 

[NickRocks]

Stroud’s pocket awareness is something

Yeah. As much crap as Darnold (rightfully) got on Monday, Stroud is responsible for more of these sacks than the OL is.

He needs to learn to give up on a play and throw it away.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just remember, the devil invented the point spread.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Hopkins with a donut. Wild.

Stroud shareholders get to hold their breath the next few days.

 

[crushedspirit]

Texans can hold their heads up high that was a solid effort. They really need to upgrade that line.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Wait! I teased the line to HOU + 9.5

I wish I did. Man - .5 point game.

Vegas is so good at this.

 

[Major]

Texans can hold their heads up high that was a solid effort. They really need to upgrade that line.

The line has been trash all year and hurt to watch CJ get pummeled. Was giving me PTSD from the David Carr days

 

[irish eyes]

One could argue the texans were the weakest team in the playoffs. And kc needed the refs help to win at home. Sad

Steelers

Easily Steelers were the worst.

 

[karl.Racki]

Man, what is up with Pacheco?

 

[ProstheticRGK]

I love Big Red. I absolutely love Spags. I’m a fan of Kelce, even though he and his brother are oversaturating the market lately. The chiefs are an awesome team, with a lot of great players. I like their fanbase.

This game was kind of a tragedy of officiating. Not to take anything away from the Chiefs’ performance, and Kelce showing life after being written off all season.

But, I feel bad for HOU fans- they played hard and really gave KC a game. Woulda/coulda/shoulda won if things broke a little differently. I didn’t give them a shot at winning, but they definitely could’ve won this one.

 

[Buckna]

One could argue the texans were the weakest team in the playoffs. And kc needed the refs help to win at home. Sad

Steelers

Easily Steelers were the worst.

I don't know if LAC was the worst, but the Texans completely destroyed Herbert and the Chargers a week ago

 

[Dez]

If anyone had KC-9 they must be going crazy right now

 

[travdogg]

Stroud’s pocket awareness is something

Yeah. As much crap as Darnold (rightfully) got on Monday, Stroud is responsible for more of these sacks than the OL is.

He needs to learn to give up on a play and throw it away.

He has this real bad tendency to step up in the pocket, and then just forget that he's being rushed. Like, he'll avoid a guy, and then just stand there, like job done. Is it a Texas thing, because I swear Dak does that a lot too. Either take off or throw it away, you don't have Detroit or Philly's OL, and even then, those guys are throwing it, or taking off in Hurts case.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Wait! I teased the line to HOU + 9.5

I wish I did. Man - .5 point game.

Vegas is so good at this.

They are very good at this.

But that safety was the obvious right move to win the game.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Great game.

Houston fought hard and gave them all they wanted. Kansas City was the better team and deserved to win.

What are your thoughts/opinions on the reffing situation concerning KC games, Joe?

This has been as big a topic of discussion as the games themselves for multiple years now.

 

[Nugget]

Texans can hold their heads up high that was a solid effort. They really need to upgrade that line.

The sacks, the special teams, the coverage on Kelce. You can miss on one of those, not all three.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

One could argue the texans were the weakest team in the playoffs. And kc needed the refs help to win at home. Sad

Steelers

Easily Steelers were the worst.

Yeah, this needs to be "Besides the Steelers . . . "

Houston has absolutely nothing to feel bad about. They're a young team who gave KC all they and the officials could handle in Arrowhead. They are in a weak sister division. Better days ahead if they play their cards right.

 

[Zeppelin]

I love Big Red. I absolutely love Spags. I’m a fan of Kelce, even though he and his brother are oversaturating the market lately. The chiefs are an awesome team, with a lot of great players. I like their fanbase.

This game was kind of a tragedy of officiating. Not to take anything away from the Chiefs’ performance, and Kelce showing life after being written off all season.

But, I feel bad for HOU fans- they played hard and really gave KC a game. Woulda/coulda/shoulda won if things broke a little differently. I didn’t give them a shot at winning, but they definitely could’ve won this one.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Great game.

Houston fought hard and gave them all they wanted. Kansas City was the better team and deserved to win.

What are your thoughts/opinions on the reffing situation concerning KC games, Joe?

This has been as big a topic of discussion as the games themselves for multiple years now.

I think it's mostly a conspiracy. I laugh about it a lot on Random Shots and have fun with it.

I think the league would vastly prefer another team to win the Super Bowl. It's better for their business. So I put little stock in it.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Star players in any sport always get a little deference. Josh Allen gets the same. Brady got it. It's life.

 

[travdogg]

Texans can hold their heads up high that was a solid effort. They really need to upgrade that line.

The sacks, the special teams, the coverage on Kelce. You can miss on one of those, not all three.

The special teams was probably the biggest issue. Directly can trace 10 points to them. 2 missed FGs, 1 missed XP, and the KR that gave KC the FG to open the game.

 

[Jayded]

Also don't forget the injuries. This was a worse Texans team than last year even though the offseason we had should have addressed that. Injuries proved killer. We have Nico as a weapon against the two time champs....not enough.

The OL coach is now hopefully fired. Slowik needs to go too. Then we can get to the business of acquiring weapons and OL and reload for next season. We have to hope we didn't damage Stroud psychologically through what this OL and terrible play calling all year did to his second season. Clock is ticking on his rookie deal and we need to get past the divisional hump sooner rather than later.

 

[Dizzy]

Anyone have an update on the QB injury? Those two Texans smacked helmets together awfully close to Mahomes' ear hole. Hopefully Patrick is out of Tinnitus protocol for the AFCC game (not that they need him).

 

[crushedspirit]

Texans can hold their heads up high that was a solid effort. They really need to upgrade that line.

The sacks, the special teams, the coverage on Kelce. You can miss on one of those, not all three.

Fairbairn is usually money, but ya he had a bad game. Kelce being left alone was a failure in zone coverages, not sure which LBs kept missing assignments there.

Their line was horrible all season coming in.