Hoyer vs. Smith…it ain’t exactly Brady vs. Big Ben.
The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans Week 1 obviously lacks star power in the pocket, but it does present some intriguing storylines and gives us our first pick from the opening weekend schedule.
The Texans opened as a 1.5 point fav when the Week 1 lines were first posted. Since then Houston has named Hoyer their starting QB and Alfred Blue, not Arian Foster, is number one on the running back depth chart.
Air Coryell it isn’t, but the Chief’s’ offense will open up a bit this year, starting Week 1
The betting public responded to the Foster injury news with a universal shrug.
The current line at 5Dimes Sports (and most other outs) is Houston -1. You can check all the updated NFL Week 1 Odds.
Hoyer is indeed running the offense. An offense without their star player. Foster is coming back sooner than most expected, but not soon enough to help them kick-off the new season.
The Chiefs’ D will be challenged in September, it just won’t be in Week 1. With the Broncos and Packers on deck, there are some sleepless nights ahead for KC’s defensive coaching staff. The Texans don’t present the same challenge. I just don’t see where Houston will consistently create stress and mismatches.
Different story when their defense takes the field. JJ Watt and Co. are all about stress and mismatches. They’ll be very disruptive, creating problems along a Chief O-line that has holes.
This isn’t going to be a fun ride for either offense, but I do give the edge to the Chiefs. The eternally boring Alex Smith should do a good job protecting the ball while making the right reads and keeping the chains moving. I can’t say the same for Hoyer.
Much has been said about Smith not tossing a single TD pass to a wideout all season. How that is even possible I don’t know, but look for the offense to open up. Don’t expect Dan Fouts and Air Coryell, but Jeremy Maclin’s arrival and the early chemistry he and Smith displayed in pre-season hint to a vertical element that simply didn’t exist in 2014.
And with a healthy Jamaal Charles pulling help into the box, they should get several favorable matchups outside. As well, with the damage Charles can do when he gets the ball in space, it’s going to slow that pass rush down.
I have more confidence in the Chief’s offense vs. the Texan D than I do the Houston O vs. the Kansas City D.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans Week 1 Pick
We are taking the Kansas City Chiefs as a small underdog to pick up a road win to kick-off their season.
Kansas City +1
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