Chiefs vs. Texans, Week 15 preview | KCSN Daily 12.16
AFC West/Playoff clinching scenarios, final injury report, KCSN podcasts and more.
Welcome back to the newest issue of KCSN Daily, where we deliver the best Kansas City Chiefs content to your inbox.
The Chiefs will face the Houston Texans during Week 15 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It’s the final game of a three-game road stretch for Kansas City and one of two remaining road games this season. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Dec. 18 at Noon CT. The game will be televised on CBS stations throughout the midwest, southwest and west coast with Trent Green, Kevin Harlan and Melanie Collins on the call.
The next home game for the Chiefs is on Christmas Eve against the Seahawks and you can find tickets to that game down below.
KC Laboratory - Chiefs vs. Texans Week 15 Preview:
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane preview the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans game on Sunday.
Find a written preview from Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane here.
How the Chiefs can clinch AFC West, playoff berth in Week 15:
The Chiefs can secure their seventh-consecutive AFC West division title in Week 15, tying the 1973-79 Los Angeles Rams for the second-longest streak of division titles in NFL history. There are three different clinching scenarios for the AFC West this week:
1) Chiefs win over Houston OR
2) Chargers loss to Titans OR
3) Chiefs tie + Chargers tie
If the Chiefs do not clinch the AFC West this week, there are three other possible scenarios where they can clinch a playoff berth. Those are as follows:
1) Chiefs tie + Jets loss + Patriots loss OR
2) Chiefs tie + Dolphins loss + Patriots loss + Jets tie OR
3) Chiefs tie + Dolphins loss + Jets loss + Patriots tie
Defensive Film Review - Chiefs short-yardage defense improving down the stretch:
Craig Stout and former Kansas City Chiefs all-pro linebacker Derrick Johnson break down the film from the Chiefs defense from the past couple of weeks and discuss how they've performed in short-yardage scenarios.
Final Injury Report:
Chiefs:
DNP: DT Chris Jones (Illness).
LP: WR Kadarius Toney (Hamstring).
FP: DT Derrick Nnadi (Achilles), DB Nazeeh Johnson (Hamstring), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Toe), QB Patrick Mahomes (Right hand), S Justin Reid (Shoulder), LB Nick Bolton (Groin), S Deon Bush (Elbow), RG Trey Smith (Knee), CB L’Jarius Sneed (Calf), OT Lucas Niang (Knee), CB Jaylen Watson (Hand), and RB Isiah Pacheco (Shoulder/Quad).
Designations: WR Kadarius Toney (Questionable) and DT Chris Jones (Questionable).
Texans
DNP: OL Kenyon Green (Ankle), DL Taylor Stallworth (Calf), DB Derek Stingley Jr. (Hamstring), RB Dameon Pierce (Ankle), DB Steven Nelson (Foot), and WR Nico Collins (Foot).
LP: WR Brandin Cooks (Calf) and OL Justin McCray (Hamstring).
FP: DL Roy Lopez (Hip), DL Kurt Hinish (Shoulder), LT Laremy Tunsil (Illness), FB Troy Hairston (Chest), DL Maliek Collins (NIR), DL Jerry Hughes (NIR), and DL Mario Addison (NIR).
Designations: DT Taylor Stallworth (Out), OL Kenyon Green (Out), WR Brandin Cooks (Out), DB Derek Stingley Jr. (Out), RB Dameon Pierce (Out), DB Steven Nelson (Out), OL Justin McCray (Questionable), and WR Nico Collins (Out).
Key:
DNP (Did Not Participate), LP (Limited Participant), FP (Full Participant), NIR (Not Injury Related).
Notes:
Remember, the Chiefs are not required to list the practice participation of WR Mecole Hardman until he has been activated to the 53-man roster.
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel gets Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema's three key matchups for the Kansas City Chiefs meeting with the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Quotable:
“No, the big thing with Coach Reid and being around him for almost 20 years, for me, is that he allows you to be yourself and let your personality show. And Pop (Isiah Pacheco) does tremendous job of letting his personality show and you don’t want to take that away from anybody, any player, because then you’re losing who they are as a player as well. So it’s a fine line, but he knows where that line is and we all understand it. He’s toeing the line, but he’s doing a great job for us.” - Running backs coach Greg Lewis on rookie RB Isiah Pacheco being himself on the field
“Bryan (Cook) does an outstanding job. He’s super smart – every day, he sits kind of right in front of me in the meeting, and he just takes notes after notes after notes. He’s a guy that – he wants to be perfect. He always wants to be coached (and) wants to do the right thing. When he had his opportunity, when Juan (Thornhill) was down that one game, he went in, and he played extremely well for us. We’re happy with the progress that Bryan’s making.” - Safeties coach Donald D’Alesio on rookie Bryan Cook
Quick Hits:
From MVS: Marquez Valdes-Scantling recently joined the 33rd team to give his pitch for Travis Kelce being the NFL MVP this season.
From Houston: The Chiefs will be getting some sun during their trip down to Houston as NRG Stadium will have its roof open on Sunday, weather permitting. The mid-50s forecast is looking much nicer than the cold front set to sweep into Kansas City over the next week.
From the locker room: New Chiefs DT Brandon Williams spoke to Fox 4 Kansas City’s Harold R. Kuntz on Thursday about his decision to sign with Kansas City. He also spoke about getting back into the swing of things with his new team after not playing since 2021.
Important dates ahead:
Sunday, Dec. 18 at Noon CT - Week 15: Chiefs vs. Texans - NRG Stadium - Houston, Texas
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