3 keys for Chiefs-Texans

The first half of divisional week is behind us. The top seeds in both conferences played, one of them won and one of them lost. The next game this weekend is the Chiefs vs Texans and it looks to be a potential shootout in Kansas City. There are a few things we should look out for in Sunday afternoons battle.

it's noteworthy to mention that the Chiefs are 3-7 in the playoffs in Arrowhead stadium and the Texans have never in their franchise history played in a Championship game.

1. Keep both quarterbacks in the pocket: We know both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are two of the most exciting, explosive quarterbacks on the game. It could be argued that they both are most effective when they can continue the play. Moreover when both quarterbacks scramble, the receivers find openings in the defense and big plays happen.

As eager as the pass-rushers may be to get to Mahomes and Watson, it is more important to keep them in the pocket. Both defenses will probably rush four defensive linemen throughout the game, but it is key that they don't give the quarterbacks running/scrambling lanes. The pass rush has to some almost strategic and with contain.

The Texans are more hopeful that Deshaun Watson can get out of the pocket. This will get the secondary receivers involved in the game as the Chiefs secondary won't be able to guard them for too long. The Chiefs secondary will be fine against the Texans receiving corp (aside from All-Pro Deandre Hopkins), but if given enough time, Watson will find his receivers open.

2. Running backs need to play well in all facets on offense: Both defenses will game-plan to take away the top option from both offenses. The key in this game may actually come down to the running backs if they find favorable match-ups.

The Chiefs haven't been a great running team this season. Don't expect them to beat the Texans on the ground, rather expect running backs Lesean Mccoy and Damian Williams to be guarded by a linebackers. This will provide not only favorable match-ups but also much needed check-downs that will get the running backs into open space.

The Texans have tried to fill the void that Lamar Miller left them when he tore his ACL prior to the season. Carlos Hyde ran for over 1000 yards this season and has the chance to prove the Chiefs wrong for trading him in the pre-season to Houston. Both Hyde and fellow back Duke Johnson will make their biggest impact on Sunday in the passing game. They not only should get favorable match-ups to give Watson an extra target but they both will be needed as extra blockers, the offensive line has gone through it's ups and downs throughout the season but the chip-block out of the backfield from the running backs will be pivotal in the game (especially on rushers like Frank Clark and Chris Jones).

3. Clock management: This game has all the ingredients to be a high scoring game. This game also looks like the kind of game that will be decided based on which teams get the last possession.

This should be considered when the game is in the fourth quarter. Andy Reid has a history of poor clock management. Whether it's blowing a comfortable lead against the Titans in the wild card two years ago while refusing to run out the clock or having a six minute drive with eight minutes to go in the game against the Steelers three years ago that left the Chiefs with no time for another drive. Bottom-line is that Andy Reid can't let the clock be his enemy in a game like this. The difference between past Chiefs offenses and this one is Patrick Mahomes, this means that Andy Reid has a quarterback that can score no matter how much time is on the clock.

Both teams have to consider the time when the drives are taking place. We have seen so many times that a team will score to take the lead only to leave enough time on the clock for the opposing team to take the lead right back. This game will probably become one of those games.