Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/9/2018

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Arrowhead Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Houston Texans head to Arrowhead Stadium to play the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, August 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City as 2.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 35. The Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-9-0. The Chiefs were 10-7-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 8-9-0.

Valuable Houston Texans Betting Trends

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important Kansas City Chiefs Betting Trends

The Kansas City Chiefs were 8-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Kansas City Chiefs were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Key Houston Texans Injuries

04/22/18 QB Deshaun Watson Knee is "?" Sunday vs New England

Key Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

05/22/18 TE Demetrius Harris Suspension is OUT Sunday vs LA Chargers (1-game suspension)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Texans were 17th in the National Football League in points scored with 338 last year. They ran 1,027 plays for 5,120 yards, which ranked them 20th in the NFL in total offense. The Texans averaged 5 yards per play, which was 20th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 313 1st downs last season, ranking them 14th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Houston ran for 1,842 yards as a unit, which ranked 14th in the league. They ran 448 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Texans were penalized on offense 124 times for 1,050 yards last year, which had them 3rd in the NFL in penalties. Deshaun Watson passed for 1,699 yards last year. He completed 126 throws while attempting 204 passes for a completion percentage of 61.8%. His quarterback rating last season was 103. He averaged 13.5 yards per completion and 8.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Houston was 32nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 436. They gave up a total of 5,546 yards on D, which was 20th in the league. The Texans were 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense allowed 7.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 30th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 321 throws on 501 attempts against the Houston Texans defense last season, ranking them 6th and 3rd in the league. The Houston pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,799 yards in the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 440 attempts for 1,747 yards last season, putting them in 13th place in the NFL against the run. The Texans had 122 penalties for 1128 yards on defense last year. That placed them 31st in the league. They allowed a score on 39.7% of possessions on defense, which was 29th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Houston was 11th in the NFL in punt returns with 36 last year. They totaled 296 punt return yards and averaged 8.2 yards per return, which was 18th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 49 yards. They returned 27 kicks for 558 yards on special teams, placing them 28th in kick return yardage. The Texans averaged 20.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last season. They were 20th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,340. The Houston Texans tried 25 field goals last season and made 20, which was 25th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 80.0%. Houston Texans kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 32 for 35 last season. Their punters accumulated 4,507 yards on 92 punts, averaging 49 yards per punt. That ranked them 2nd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Kansas City Chiefs ran for 1,903 yards as a team last year, which ranked 9th in the NFL. They ran 405 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Chiefs were penalized on offense 118 times for 1,044 yards last season, which had them 6th in the league in penalties. They were 6th in the NFL in points scored with 415. They ran 985 plays last season for 6,007 yards, which ranked them 5th in the league in total offense. The Chiefs averaged 6.1 yards per play, which was 2nd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 322 1st downs last year, placing them 10th overall as an offensive unit. Patrick Mahomes II averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt and 12.9 yards per completion last season. He completed 22 passes on 35 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.9%. His quarterback rating last year was 76.4. He threw for 284 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Chiefs rush defense allowed 443 attempts for 1,890 yards last year, putting them in 25th place in the league against the run. Kansas City committed 107 penalties for 864 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 8th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.5% of possessions on defense, which was 17th in the league. They were 15th in the league in points allowed on defense with 339. They surrendered a total of 5,842 yards on D, which was 28th in the NFL. The Chiefs were ranked 26th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 25th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 325 passes on 570 attempts against the Kansas City defense last season, placing them 9th and 27th in the National Football League. The Kansas City Chiefs pass defense also gave up a total of 3,952 yards through the air, which was 29th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Kansas City Chiefs attempted 45 field goals last season and made 41, which was 1st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 91.1%. Kansas City kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 40 for 40 last year. Their punters totaled 2,937 yards on 65 punts, averaging 45.2 yards per punt. That placed them 14th in the NFL in punting average. Kansas City was ranked 15th in the league in punt returns last season with 35. They accumulated 216 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 26th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 82 yards. They returned 47 kicks for 1,051 yards on special teams, ranking 1st in kick return yardage. The Chiefs averaged 22.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last year. They were 1st in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,496.

Who will win tonight's Texans/Chiefs NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Chiefs -2.5

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