Kansas City Chiefs Matt Cassel Has Make Or Break Opportunity Against Texans

During Kansas City's 3-1 start to the season, no other Chiefs' player has been ridiculed and questioned more than quarterback Matt Cassel.

For Cassel, the heat is probably well deserved considering he ranks 25th in passer rating and 30th in completion percentage. You would expect both numbers to be much better considering he's only been sacked a league low three times.

If Cassel wants to prove to his naysayers that he deserves to lead this Chiefs team, this week will be his prime opportunity. He faces off against a Houston Texans defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in pass defense, allowing more than 329 yards per game. They have also allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks and 19 pass plays of over 20-yards.

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense could potentially be facing an even tougher test than last week against the Colts' Peyton Manning. While quarterback Matt Schaub will throw his fair share of passes to perhaps the league's best receiver in Andre Johnson, it will be the Chiefs ability to slow down the Texans rush offense that will determine the outcome of this game.

The Texans are 5th in the league in rush offense, two spots behind the Chiefs, averaging more than 142 yards per game. Houston running back Arian Foster leads the league with 564 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

The keys to victory for the Chiefs in this one are simple:

1. Keep Foster and the other Texans' running backs from chewing up yards and the clock
2. Cassel and the passing game need to get rolling on offense
3. Get a two score or larger lead early and force the Texans to abandon the running game

If the Chiefs can get an early lead and limit Foster's touches, they should have an excellent shot of forcing Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub into making some mistakes. Only the Bears Jay Cutler has been sacked (17) more times than Schaub (14). The best chance for the Chiefs to let Tamba Hali and company pin their ears back and go after Schaub is if Cassel and the offense can stake their team to a big early lead.

If Cassel can't breakthrough in this game against the Texans, and particularly if the Chiefs drop their second road game in as many weeks, expect many Chiefs fans to create a quarterback controversy and start screaming for backup Brodie Croyle when the team returns home in week 7 to host Jacksonville.

Summer Altice Summer Glau Sunny Mabrey Susan Ward Susie Castillo