On Saturday night, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Neither team is currently in playoff contention in the AFC, so a win is crucial for both to keep their hopes alive.
The game’s over/under stands at a modest 41.5, and both offenses may encounter difficulties given the cold weather in Kansas City.
While snow isn’t expected, temperatures are forecasted to be in the 20s during kickoff, with wind chills making it feel even colder, perhaps in the teens.
Mahomes, familiar with chilly conditions, still might find it challenging against a pass defense like the one he faced last Sunday.
The Texans’ defense has been impressive, allowing only 5.6 passing yards per attempt and an average of 174 passing yards per game, both rank among the NFL’s top five.
The most passing yards they have permitted this season? Only 224, which happened back in Week 1 against the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford.
One notable point: during their Week 3 matchup with the Jaguars, Houston’s defense surrendered over 200 yards. It seems they’ve struggled against tougher opponents.
Quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, and Baker Mayfield have all been limited to less than 200 passing yards against them.
Injuries Impacting Chiefs’ Offense
Things aren’t looking great for the Chiefs’ offensive line, either. It’s likely they’ll lose more than half of their starting players. Right tackle Ja’Wuan Taylor and guard Trey Smith are both questionable, while left tackle Josh Simmons has already been put on injured reserve.
I tend to think the Texans have a solid chance of containing yet another star quarterback.
My pick? Patrick Mahomes to finish with under 234.5 passing yards.
