Texans started the next drive with a 4-yd pass to Hopkins against cover 2, 5-under zone.
The tackler missed, allowing Hopkins to gain another 5 yards.
There was a short Hi-Lo against the zone on the right side.
Nothing genius about the play design/call here.
Nothing to complain about, nothing to rave about either.
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On 2nd and 1, the Chiefs still stayed with 2-deep safeties.
With number (of blockers) on its side, any average defense should be able to gain a yard here.
RPO to allow Watson to keep the ball was an easy call.
It was a good time (and rather a no-brainer) for an RPO run there on 2nd and 1.
Watson bursted through a couple of defenders to gain an extra 5 to make it a 10-yd gain overall.
The Chiefs basically gave up that first down (they have 8 men around the box against 10 offensive players.)
No complaint on the play call; the offense was supposed to win in that instance, and win they did.
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Another first down.
Same cover 2, 5 under zone.
Same Hi-Lo short concept on the right.
A dump off to Hyde in the middle of the zone; he avoived a shoe-string tackle by the LB to gain a few extra yards for the first down.
We'll see how long the Texans can keep nickle-and-dime the KC bend-but-don't-break zone.
That was just easy throw-and-catch.
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Another first down.
Same cover 2, 5 under zone (4-man front).
With 9 offensive players vs. 7 in the box, you'd think the Texans should be able to run the ball here.
Not so.
The Texans somehow decide to option the LDE, cutting off their own running lane to the right edge.
Martin got stalled in the middle.
The RDE split Tunsil and the LG. (Either 78 or 74 missed the assignment here, it looks like.)
They got Hyde surrounded for no gain.
That's a wasted play.
They doubled up the LDT (and gained on that block), but they optioned the LDE (that shut down the lane creating by the double-team.)
It would have made more sense if they have the TE 87 chip the LDE before releasing to the second level, or have the first back engage in blocking the LDE (or both).
Then let Hopkins and the second back run to the right (like in Bill Yeoman's veer).
Something similar to the diagram on this page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veer
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On 2nd and 10, the Chiefs tighten up their defense.
They lined up (with a single deep safety) in man coverage against the Texans empty backfield.
With the clock running out, the Texans called a TO.
The Chiefs changed their D to cover 2 , off-man coverage.
The Texans came with that wacky screen to Hopkins in the near left slot.
They wanted 78 Tunsil to come out and block Hopkin's man.
That's insane when the DB 35 was right at the LOS; Tunsil will never get there in time.
Not only that, they also sprung out the LG; thus allowing the RDE to get into the backfield untouched.
These two defenders had Hopkins surrounded in no time at all.
In fact, they allowed the whole nest of Chiefs into the backfield due to called screen play; Watson never had the chance even if he didn't bobble the ball and fumble it.
What an idiotic way to turn number against its own offense.
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3rd and 12 now.
The Chiefs drop back into the same 52 zone coverage.
A simple Hi-Lo concept in the middle of the field isn't going to work, not against an experienced player like Mathieu.
He carried his receiver just long enough before breaking back to Hopkins for a bang bang play.
(This receiver would have been taken care off by the FS).
Mathieu probably came in a bit early, but on those plays, the refs usually don't call them since things happen so fast in real time.
Mathieu could have (and probably should have) stayed in his zone, and Hopkins would have never "looked" open to begin with.
There was no real concept to help out the receiver here.
It was a good throw by DW4.
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