3) Adding in Al-Shaair – The Texans are facing a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He beat Houston with his smarts, arm and legs in the December matchup. But he didn’t face a Texans defense that was led by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in that game. Including last week’s playoff win, when the captain and 6-year pro started games this season, the Texans were 9-3. They have a better defense and a better team when he’s on the field.
“Azeez has been a great vocal leader,” Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He always shares a great message. He’s great at articulating those messages to the players and the players are really attentive when Azeez is talking. When Azeez talks to the team, it’ll always come from the heart.”
Al-Shaair and his impact on the Texans isn’t lost on the opposition, either. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid thinks highly of Al-Shaair, who’s jersey number is 0.
“We didn’t have a chance to play against ‘0’ last time we played them a couple of weeks back,” Reid said. “He’s fast also as a linebacker and he’s their main play-caller there.”
With Al-Shaair back in the lineup the last two weeks, when he’s been on the field, the Texans have allowed just one touchdown, combined, in those two wins.
4) Manage Mahomes – The Chiefs quarterback guided his club to 15 wins in 16 starts this season, and rested in the regular season finale loss to the Broncos. He made plays throughout, and hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 237 passes. That’s six straight starts, all of which resulted in Chiefs victories.
Because of Mahomes’ elite ability to create on the move, Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke explained one of the most important things for Texans defenders on Saturday.
“Awareness of the clock when the plays are extended and then just how those receivers are going to try to work open in zones and scramble drills, mechanics, and those sorts of things,” Burke said….
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News…