Grading the Houston Texans After They Buried the Kansas City Chiefs

Make it five straight for the Texans

Landry Locker grades the performance of the Texans. Here are the grades for the win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Follow Landry on YouTube.

---

The win in Kansas City was one of the most exciting regular-season games in franchise history. It was one of the most pivotal games of the DeMeco Ryans Era. The playoffs appear inevitable, and Kansas City’s streak of AFC Championship game appearances feels dead.

The defense continues to do the heavy lifting and is the superpower, but just like they have for the last month-plus, the Texans team found a way to win.

It wasn’t all pretty, but winning in Kansas City this time of the year isn’t expected to be.

Here are this week’s Land Lock grades…

Quarterback: B+

The stat line isn’t amazing, but anyone who watched this game could see the impact of the quarterback.

The plays C.J. Stroud made off-schedule, especially on third down, were plays only a few quarterbacks in this league can make.

There are clear personnel and coaching limitations on offense, but Stroud was able to overcome them. I couldn’t care less about the box score. Stroud balled the heck out in Kansas City.

Running Backs: A

Woody Marks, like Stroud, didn’t have the most impressive box score production, but he was asked to run into a brick wall 26 times and fought for every bit of yardage he gained. The young man is TOUGH.

Marks isn’t used nearly enough as a receiver despite the touchdown, which had more to do with Stroud and him making a play than an effort by the staff to showcase his elite receiving skills.

The lack of depth at running back has been discussed a lot this season, and it took an even bigger hit with Nick Chubb leaving with a rib injury. It will be something to monitor this week closely and for the remainder of the season.

Dare Ogunbowale found the end zone on his one carry and is a clear favorite of the coaching staff despite reasonable concern about his ability to effectively fill in for one of the guys above him on the depth chart.

The backs did all you could expect, given the opportunity and realistic expectations.

Wide Receivers: A

Nico Collins had four catches for 121 yards and the two biggest plays of the game on offense. Jayden Higgins is someone who has developed chemistry with Stroud, and there’s reason to believe that it can grow even more down the final stretch of the season. The production was limited, but at least Jaylin Noel played as many snaps as Christian Kirk, which is progress.

Every opportunity the wide receivers had to make a play, they did, whether or not they should have had more opportunities is another discussion and something out of their control.

Tight Ends: C+

Dalton Schultz had some struggles blocking, but wasn’t left on an island as much as he was last time the Texans played in Kansas City. He also had a few plays on offense. Cade Stover didn’t do anything that stuck out.

Offensive Line: C-

Despite being dominated in the second half, they were alright based on realistic expectations. The offensive line is never going to be awesome, especially against a desperate Chiefs team, so I may admittedly be grading on a curve here.

Defensive Line: B-

Tommy Togiai was AWESOME. This guy can flat-out play and put on one of the best interior defensive line performances in recent Texans history.

Sheldon Rankins continues to be beyond solid in his return to the defense and was a great compliment to Togiai.

Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter didn’t feast on the depleted tackles like many expected them to, but you could tell that Patrick Mahomes was very aware of their presence.

Linebackers: B

Azeez Al-Shaair validated last season’s struggle in coverage with a game-clinching interception off the hands of Travis Kelce.

Kansas City didn’t kill the Texans in the run game, but there were some moments where the backers could have been better.

This defense is built so that not a lot is expected of the linebackers, and more times than not, they hold their own.

Cornerbacks: A+

Derek Stingley Jr. is playing like an All-Pro, again. Kamari Lassiter was banged up all week, but made a MAJOR impact on the game.

Here’s my hot take to summarize my thoughts on this CB duo: Stingley is already the best cornerback in franchise history, and Lassiter will inevitably be the second best and might already be.

Safeties: A

Jalen Pitre had the best game of his career with the hardest hit of the season and an unbelievable interception of Mahomes. Calen Bullock is finding a rhythm and is a perfect complement to Pitre’s skillset.

This secondary is really good, and despite the ongoing notion that Pitre could be exposed in coverage, it has NOT happened.

Side Note: Toad, aka Pitre, looks really appropriate in the Guardian Cap. He not only pulls it off, but he also makes it look appropriate and good.

Special Teams: B+

The last time Frank Ross’s special teams played in Kansas City, they had some low points, and Ross got pushed by Kris Boyd. This time, they contributed to a huge win.

“Cold Weather” Ka’imi Fairbairn didn’t miss a field goal, there weren’t any low points in coverage, and Tommy Townsend had some solid punts.

Coaching: B+ and Present

Ryans and his defense were elite. Frank Ross’s special teams were solid.

I’m now grading offensive coordinator Nick Caley on an attendance policy. No more letter grades. He was in the classroom and present, although he slept through the second half of class.

---