Texans vs. Chiefs Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
The Chiefs are coming off their most decisive victory of the season with last week’s 21-7 win in Cleveland and have built their league-leading 13-1 record on the strength of this season’s perfect 7-0 record on home turf. The Texans look to make gains in the AFC standings after topping Miami 21-12 last weekend and subsequently clinching the AFC South title thanks to the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 15 loss to Denver.
The Chiefs look to the first Saturday matchup of the NFL campaign perched as 3-point favourites on the NFL Week 16 odds. The Texans sport +125 odds on the NFL moneyline and the total is pegged at 41.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Texans have lost three straight to the Chiefs including a pair of defeats at Arrowhead Stadium by an average margin of 17 points and have dropped seven of nine overall meetings since 2010. Houston now look to make gains in the conference standings, where they currently hold the No. 4 seed and trail Pittsburgh by one game. The Texans have helped their own cause with back-to-back victories, ending a worrisome 2-4 run that threatened their grasp on the division lead, and have also won two straight on the road. However, in addition to producing just three against the spread wins in even games, the Texans have yet to produce a road win this season against an opponent currently in the playoff picture. The Chiefs extended their current win streak to four games while snapping a seven-game ATS swoon with last week’s win over the Browns. Kansas City has limited opponents to just 17 points per game during their 4-0 run but have failed to dominate on offence while averaging 19.7 points over their past three outings.
Houston Texans
Huge defensive efforts proved to be the key to the Houston Texans’ 20-12 victory over the Dolphins in Week 15. Fresh off a bye, the Texans forced four turnovers including a pair of crucial fourth-quarter interceptions by corner Derek Stingley and limited the Dolphins to just 224 total yards and have now held opponents to 20 or fewer points in each of their wins during a 3-1 run. The stout defensive performance was timely considering the Houston attack mustered just 181 total yards. CJ Stroud made the most of his limited opportunities, throwing two scoring passes while compiling just 131 passing yards but was sacked four times on the day, bringing his season total to 45, second most in the NFL. That could be a concern against a Chiefs offensive line that sacked Browns QB Jameis Winston five times last week. Rusher Joe Mixon has provided the spark, especially on the road, where he has topped 100 yards in all six appearances this season and scored nine of his 11 touchdowns. However, Mixon suffered an ankle injury in last weekend’s win but avoided landing on the Tuesday injury report.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have powered their unblemished home record with stingy defence, giving up just 18.6 points per game during their 7-0 run but have kept fans on the edge of their seats while claiming their past three home wins by a combined margin of just eight points to extend their ATS losing streak at home to four games. An apparent leg injury suffered by Patrick Mahomes in last weekend’s win heightened those concerns, but Mahomes appears to have quickly rebounded and was a full participant in Tuesday practice. Tuesday also marked the return of receiver Hollywood Brown to practice. Brown has been sidelined all season after undergoing shoulder surgery and if the former 1000-yard wideout is ready to return to game action, it would provide Mahomes with a much-needed lift to a KC passing game that has generated just three total touchdowns over the past three home games.
HOU
KC