The Houston Texans will be out for double revenge in Week 2 when they welcome the Kansas City Chiefs back to NRG Stadium in hopes of avenging a pair of home losses incurred to Andy Reid’s squad last season with the latest coming in the form of a 30-0 beat down in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. KC could be without a couple of major playmakers on offense for this tilt, so there will be no excuses for Houston not to get the job done.
This contest in Week 2 of the regular season will go down Sunday, September 18, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Kansas City Chiefs +2.5
Houston Texans -2.5
Over/Under 43.5
Odds Analysis
It’s been all one way traffic with the pointspread as the betting public thoroughly expects the Texans to rise to the occasion and protect its house. After opening at -1, Houston was bet up to -1.5, then -2 and then -2.5 -115 where it currently sits. If Jamaal Charles and Jeremey Maclin aren’t good to go for this one, this line will likely surpass the 3 point threshold.
Two of the last three meetings between these clubs combined to go under the closing number. The one that went over was a 27-9 game in the 4th quarter before Houston tacked on a couple touchdowns to make the final score a bit more respectable. This number likely stays put but could plummet should KC be without Charles and Maclin.
Injury Report
Jeremy Maclin – KC’s WR1 left last week’s game due to concussion-like symptoms. If he isn’t able to go in this one, Alex Smith’s safety valve will be removed from the equation forcing him to look to lesser pass catchers. That in turn would make KC much easier to defend through the air, which should have Romeo Crennel dialing up blitz packages.
Brian Cushing – The loss of their Pro Bowl middle linebacker for the next six weeks was a tremendous blow to a defense already forced to use J.J. Watt sparingly as he recovers from back surgery. His absence will open the middle of the field up for Spencer Ware who ran admirably in relief of Charles last week going off for 70 yards and a score on the ground as well as 129 yards on seven receptions out of the backfield.
Letdown Spot
If ever there was a time for the Texans to exact revenge against the Chiefs, it’s this week after KC battled all the way back from a 27-10 deficit in the 4th quarter to win the game in overtime against the division rival Chargers.
Tons of emotion and energy was put forth to pull off the shocking comeback win, so it’s possible the team runs out of gas in the second half against a Houston side determined to halt its losing streak in the recent rivalry at three.
Free ATS Pick
While it was far from pretty, the Texans did just enough to log their first win and cover at home last week against the Bears. After Chicago dictated the pace of play in the first half, Houston came out and dominated the second half keeping the Bears scoreless while scoring 13 unanswered points to pull out the 23-14 home win and cover. The triumph moved them to 5-1 SU and ATS at home over their last six dating back to last season, while the Chiefs check in a bankroll killing 1-4 ATS their last five games following an outright win.
While Ware could keep the Chiefs running game humming along, it’ll be much tougher this time around with Houston likely to bottle up KC’s limited passing attack that will have even more issues should Maclin not be able to go. There won’t be nearly as much room for him to run amok, and if Smith is unable to give him any breathing room by stretching the defense, it’s going to be a long day for Kansas City’s offense. The Chiefs just aren’t the same team that went into NRG last season and dominated. Look for Houston to take advantage and exact a bit of revenge.
NFL Odds: Texans 23, Chiefs 10
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