NFL Playoffs: Breaking down the wild-card round matchups

INJURY FRONT: Chiefs C Mitch Morse was evaluated for a concussion and did not return to the game, which caused more jumbling along the offensive line with offensive tackle Jah Reid inactive with a knee injury.

Houston’s full practice participation supports the notion put forth by the linebacker earlier this week that he’ll take the field Saturday against the Texans.

Houston, who has missed the Chiefs’ last five games, also practiced on Friday but did not play against the Raiders.

“The Texans seems to be the underdog, despite playing at home, and actually hold a record that is two wins short of the Chiefs” mark (9-7 versus 11-5). Whitney Mercilus tied a career high with 3 1/2 last week and set a personal best with 12 this season for Houston, which recorded a franchise-best 45 sacks.

“We started off great”. Instead, it’s a team brand of football that is producing all of these wins.

If you’re like most Chiefs fans, you’re counting the days, hours and minutes till the Chiefs playoff game against the Texans in Houston Saturday. It should be one heck of a game. Perhaps they can rekindle that magic as they head back to Houston for the first round of playoffs this season. Head coach Bill O’Brien spent a lot of time in New England working with Tom Brady, defense coordinator Romeo Crennel worked under Bill Belichick and linebackers coach Mike Vrabel played for Belichick.

Offensively, the Texans used four starting quarterbacks in 2015, but were led by one of the NFL’s best young receivers in Hopkins.

The same lesson applied when the Chiefs’ season looked its bleakest, after a loss at Minnesota that dropped them to 1-5.

But the Chiefs regrouped and never looked back en route to an 11-5 finish – one game behind West champion Denver. They are 10th against the run, but third against the pass. They are allowing 19.6 points per game, which is seventh in the league. Like the player listed below, Smith is also a former No. 1 overall draft pick.

My first few Thoughts this week will be my predictions for Wildcard Weekend, be sure to give your predictions in the comment section. Maclin has been especially effective on quick-hitting routes and he is unsafe after the catch, but it should be noted that Maclin injured his hip in Week 17.

(Photo: Rich Shultz/Getty) JJ Watt will be the focal point of the Texans defense. The Broncos scored on their second play of the game as Osweiler hooked up with receiver Demaryius Thomas on a 72-yard catch and carry. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 23-17. If Washington had a better defense, I’d be inclined to take the home team, but I see Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers finding a way to score enough points to make it a sweep for all 4 road teams. With over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns, Maclin (and tight end Travis Kelce) has been critical in adding another dimension to the Chiefs’ offense.

In an appropriate coincidence, the NFL’s hottest team has another chance to exorcise those playoff demons in the stadium next door to where they last triumphed in the postseason. The inconsistency at starter, though, has led to a relatively low scoring offense. This is going to be the definition of a defensive slugfest and every first down will be hard to come by.