It’s long been an article of faith in the NFL that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
For at least one week, the Houston Texans successfully challenged that notion and nearly upset the Dallas Cowboys. It appears they’re willing to flout convention again on Sunday when they host the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs.
Rotating Davis Mills and newly acquired Jeff Driskel, Houston (1-11-1) led in the final minute before Dallas completed a 98-yard touchdown drive to earn a 27-23 win. Mills completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and a Hail Mary interception with three seconds left, while Driskel ran for 36 yards on seven carries and passed for 38 yards and a touchdown.
“I don’t think they knew what was coming,” said Houston defensive lineman Maliek Collins. “Any time you have a surprise like that, Jeff Driskel being a lot more mobile, you see it’s a difference you have to prepare for.
“When you’ve got a mobile quarterback versus someone who’s standing in the pocket, that all makes a difference. I think it was a surprise for them.”
The unorthodox move resulted in one of the Texans’ best offensive games this year. The offensive line didn’t allow a sack while paving the way for the team’s second-highest point total and third-down conversion rate (46.7 percent).
Can Houston find a way to move the ball and keep Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes off the field? That might be tougher with rookie running back Dameon Pierce and his team-high 939 yards on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain. The Texans might also be without veteran wideout Brandin Cooks (calf).
Coach Lovie Smith hasn’t publicly committed to another week of the two-quarterback system.
“We’ll see exactly what we do, if it gives us the best chance,” he said when asked about it.
With Mahomes running the show, the Chiefs (10-3) don’t have to worry about splitting snaps. While he tossed three interceptions last week in Denver, he also threw for 352 yards and three scores in a 34-28 win, including a ridiculous sidearm toss under pressure that Jerick McKinnon turned into a 56-yard touchdown.
Mahomes’ interceptions helped the Broncos nearly overcome a 27-0 second-quarter deficit, but Kansas City improved to 10-0 against them with Mahomes starting. That made him the fourth quarterback in league history to win 10 straight against an opponent without a loss.
“The rest of the team stepped up,” Mahomes said of winning despite tossing three picks. “Defense made a lot of stops in some critical moments when we were putting them in some bad situations.”
And the Chiefs’ running game pitched in as well. McKinnon and rookie Isiah Pacheco helped chew up the game’s last 4:21 with three crucial first-down runs. Pacheco finished with 70 yards on 13 attempts, prompting NFL Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, who played five seasons with Kansas City, to praise his “fearless” approach.
“That’s a great explanation of how I carry myself,” Pacheco said.
As if the Chiefs’ offense needed reinforcements, they could get wide receivers Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Mecole Hardman (abdominal injury) back Sunday.
–Field Level Media
