Houston Texans vs Kansas City Chiefs Predictions, Odds & Picks

• Quarterback Deshaun Watson just got paid, signing a 4-year contract extension
• The Kansas City Chiefs hope to beat the Super Bowl curse, starting in Week 1
• The Chiefs return intact, the Texans return without key receiver DeAndre Hopkins

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Texans vs Chiefs Predictions and Picks

Two powerful offensive forces led by star quarterbacks who can do just about everything from under center, including run and elude tackles, so this game will come down to neutralizing the head of each other’s snake, far easier said than done given these two QBs.

Take the points and the Texans – the Chiefs will most likely win this one, but to do that by ten points this early in the season seems highly unlikely, especially given the lack of preseason prep time these teams have been given.

Our Pick:

Texans +9 -110

How to Watch Texans vs Chiefs

After months of uncertainty, the 2020 NFL season is officially underway, and the first game of the year is a fun one featuring the Houston Texans traveling north to take on the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both of these franchises had a productive offseason, but whether the players they signed and drafted will get them a win in Week 1 is a good bet to consider, and given the different nature of the NFL during the pandemic, anything could happen.

That’s what makes placing wagers on this first game so interesting, so we take a closer look at the predictions, odds, and picks for this first game of 2020, one that should reveal how the league plans on executing this difficult but necessary season of pro football.

Can the Texans Stop Patrick Mahomes?

Can anyone stop Mahomes, really? That is the question that most teams couldn’t answer last season, and it will be up to the Texan’s front line to make the difference in this one.

J.J. Watt is a given quarterback hunter, so count on him to put the fear of sack into Mahomes’ head, but Watt will not be able to do it alone.

That’s where defensive end Angelo Blackson and rookie nose tackle Ross Blacklock come in –they will have to figure out a way to take advantage of the double teams that Watt will attract and become their own problem for the elusive and effective Kansas City quarterback.

Can the Chiefs Continue to Be the Chiefs?

The Kansas City front office spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the offseason in order to make sure that the same team that won the Super Bowl last season was about the same team as they suit up in 2020 Week 1.

So it comes down to whether the Chiefs can simply play like the Chiefs, which is to blow away their opponents with an unstoppable offense and simply outscore whatever points their defense happens to allow.

That formula earned them a Lombardi Trophy last season – be interesting to see whether virtually the same roster can defy what’s known as the Super Bowl Curse and snag a repeat championship in 2020.

Texans Key Player: (DE) J.J. Watt

Last season, J.J. Watt was responsible for 4 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, 3 passes defended, a forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 24 tackles, with 4 of those being for a loss.

A Texans win on Thursday will involve Watt having a typically effective game, which means keeping the entire offensive line he faces on their toes since when healthy, he can attack from any angle he chooses.

Watt needs to post at least a sack and two tackles for loss to make a difference in this one.

Chiefs Key Player: (QB) Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes had incredible stats in 2019, including completing 319-of-484 for 4031 yards and 26 TDs with just 5 interceptions.

All Patrick Mahomes has to do to win this Week 1 game is Patrick Mahomes, meaning play like a superstar who can’t be predicted or stopped, so count on he and head coach Andy Reid to prepare something special for Watt and company.

It’s whether or not they can execute their tricky offense with such little prep time that will determine whether they can cover the 9-point spread.