Kansas City Chiefs: Studs and duds from Week 1 vs. Texans

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs talks with Patrick Mahomes #15during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on September 10, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Stud: TE Travis Kelce

The Pro Bowl tight end set the tone early for the Chiefs’ offense by frustrating Houston’s defense over the middle. Travis Kelce picked up where he left off in January against this same team in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. In that contest, the prolific pass-catcher was targeted 12 times and hauled in 10 passes for 134 yards and scores of five, six and five yards, respectively.

Kansas City trailed 24-0 in the second quarter and Kelce’s trifecta (on three consecutive possessions) would wind up giving the club a 28-24 halftime lead. On Thursday evening, he was at it again vs. Houston and finished the evening catching all six of the throws targeted at him, good for 50 yards and one score.

Stud: WR Sammy Watkins

While explosive Tyreek Hill gets plenty of headlines as well as his share of attention by opposing defenses (see Texans’ cornerback Bradley Roby in this contest), it was fellow wide receiver Sammy Watkins who reaped the benefits of the Texans’ preoccupation with the Kansas City wideout.

All told, Watkins led the team on Thursday night with seven catches for 82 yards and one score in the club’s 14-point over the Texans. Hill did finish with five catches for 46 yards and one touchdown. But it was the well-traveled Watkins that wound up being quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target in this contest as he zeroed in on the explosive seven-year veteran nine times.

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