Bill O’Brien brings heavy expectations to his second season in Houston (Getty).
Believe the hype.
For five weeks we’ve watched the Houston Texans practice. Now the HBO series Hard Knocks has come to a close, and the real work for the Texans will begin. Brian Hoyer has been named the starting quarterback, and he’ll open with a tough matchup against the incoming Chiefs.
Kansas City is hoping to improve from last year’s disappointing season. The team struggled early, then shot to 7-3 before losing four of the final six games. The Chiefs ultimately missed the playoffs, and look to get back into contention this season.
Game Info
Brian Hoyer will start the season for Houston, after 10 games starting for the Browns last season (Getty).
Line: Houston (-1)
Moneyline: Kansas City (+100), Houston (-120)
Over/Under: 41
What To Watch For
Chiefs QB Alex Smith hopes new additions can ignite his offense (Getty).
The Chiefs offense in 2014 produced an embarrassing statistic. For the entire season, quarterback Alex Smith did not throw a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver. Odd as it may be, the Chiefs signed an instant remedy to their struggles this offseason in the form of Jeremy Maclin.
Maclin is a vertical threat, but also has the burst to turn short receptions into long gains. Chiefs coach Andy Reid drafted Maclin during his time in Philadelphia, and knows what a valuable weapon he can be. Combined with Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs offense may be primed for a breakout season.