It’s wild card weekend and today’s first matchup is one where neither team was believed to even have a shot at making the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs who started out at 1-5 this season have now made a strong playoff push winning ten straight games behind new acquisition Jeremy Maclin. A team that just last year broke NFL history for not completing a single touchdown pass to any of its wide receivers, now has a bonafide star in Maclin. Head coach Andy Reid was salivating at the mouth when Maclin hit the free agent market this past off season as the two men had prior history since Andy Reid drafted him during his tenure in Philadelphia. Maclin has been everything Reid could’ve hoped for this season receiving over 80 receptions while eclipsing 1,100 yards and 8 touchdowns. (Via ESPN)

Starting Quarterback Alex Smith has been playing out of his freaking mind this season. Sure, Smith may be in a west coast system but someone has to deliver the football to Maclin and Tight End, Travis Kelce, who in my opinion is a top five tight end in this league. Smith was the odd man out in San Francisco back in 2012 when the coaching staff decided to go with the more athletic Colin Kaepernick, over the game manager in Smith. It might have seemed as the right move at first for the 49ers, until this past season when the niners fired Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh and the team disassembled. Kaepernick would be benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert this season which is absolutely laughable. Smith looks like he dodged a major bullet coming for everyones head and the Chiefs are looking to stay red hot and win their 11th straight game and capture their first playoff victory in 22 year, but it won’t come easy.

The Houston Texans were in utter disarray very early on, going 2-4 at the start of the season. A defense that carries the most unstoppable force in the league in J.J. Watt struggled to find an identity. Running back Arian Foster would leave week 7 with a torn Achilles and the season looked to be another disappointing campaign in the Bill O’ Brien era.

The Texans have played four different quarterbacks this season (Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Ryan Mallet, Brandon Weeden) and the only constant or shed of light has to be Wide Out, Deandre Hopkins. Hopkins is the only wide receiver to have a 100 yard game with four different quarterbacks in the same season. He also now ties Randy Moss’ record for a receiver to surpass 3,500 before turning 24.

The Houston defense has gotten back on track as of late and J.J Watt could win the leagues defensive Player of the year for his second straight. Linebackers Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney will need to help put pressure on Alex Smith to rattle this safe play offense of Kansas City. But If the Texans are looking to pull off the upset then the responsibility will rest on Hopkins and Watt’s shoulders to beat this red hot Chiefs team. I believe the Chiefs are too talented on paper and well rounded to lose to a two man squad but then again we have seen miracles happen before.

Prediction: 23-17 Chiefs

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