Chiefs Hoping Addition Of Maclin Leads To Success, Start Season On Road In Houston

While they finished with a respectable 9-7 record last season, the Kansas City Chiefs also concluded the campaign with some well-documented futility, becoming the first NFL team since the merger in 1970 to finish a year with zero touchdown receptions from any of their wide receivers. With the signing of Jeremy Maclin this past offseason, however, that may change everything, specifically the Chiefs’ chances of making the playoffs.

To kick off the upcoming slate, the Chiefs had to NRG Stadium in Houston to take on the Texans on September 13 in Week 1. Tickets for this contest are averaging $301.53 on the secondary market, while the get-in price currently sits at a very reasonable $101. With the Texans also coming off a 9-7 season that saw them narrowly miss the playoffs as well, this should be an important game for both clubs, and it’s why Chiefs fans have been making their arrangements to get to the game in person. Fortunately, Hipmunk.com makes it all an easy process, with affordable Houston airfare from most major airline carriers. Furthermore, they have cheap downtown Houston hotels nearby the stadium, with rooms starting from only $67 per night.

Not only do the Chiefs now possess an upper echelon receiver in Maclin, they also still boast one of the best running backs in the game, that of course being Jamaal Charles, who is coming off yet another stellar season. Not only that, the Chiefs have a very capable No. 2 back in Knile Davis for when Charles needs to take a breather. While some might say that the receiving corps is thin behind Maclin, Kansas City can at least point to their young emerging Travis Kelce, who is coming off an outstanding rookie season. At the end of the day, it appears veteran quarterback Alex Smith might just have enough toys after all to get this team back into the playoffs.

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs look like they have a solid enough defense to help them navigate through a tough division that also boasts the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers. Justin Houston was one of last year’s breakout stars, leading the NFL in sacks, while the club should also get a boost from the return of former top prospect Eric Berry, a former first round pick of the Chiefs. Dontari Poe and Tamba Hali are also useful players on D who often make their presence felt.

If you look at this matchup closely, you might note that both teams are similarly built. Both offenses lean on a game-manager-type quarterback, a superstar running back, and a big-time receiver. The defenses are also comparable, with each team possessing some big names within their unit. Thus, it’ll be important for the Chiefs and Texans to try and steal this game, as both of these teams might be closely in contention for a playoff berth when all is said and done. And if that’s the case, this contest could potentially come into play later on in a tiebreaker scenario. Either way, it’ll be an intriguing start to the season for both organizations seeking to get back into the postseason.