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NFL Divisional Round Odds, 1/5/20 Ravens, Chiefs Open as Large Favorites | The Spread
While the Texans aren’t a double-digit underdog like the Titans, they do face long odds of knocking off the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday. Houston opened as an 8-point favorite but the line jumped to 8.5 at most books. As of this writing, 72% of the betting tickets are on the host Chiefs.
(2) Chiefs -9.5 vs. (4) Texans, O/U 49
Sun., Jan. 12, 3:05 p.m. ET, CBS (stream on CBS All Access)
Another public team in Kansas City goes against an AFC South team in Houston. This line is similar for similar reasons: the Chiefs are the better team, probably just a touchdown better in a vacuum, but there’s a lot of public action in play here. The Chiefs could absolutely smother the Texans, who have played extremely conservative at times. Or the Texans could beat them! They already did it once this season, albeit at a time when Patrick Mahomes was banged up and the Chiefs’ defense was not nearly as good as it is at this point in time.
Here’s What Patrick Mahomes’ Contract Extension Will Likely Cost Chiefs | 12 Up
If the goal is to give Mahomes a record deal, that could mean something in the five-year, $200 million range ($40 million AAV). Jared Goff, who is at least a tier below Mahomes in terms of talent, just received a four-year, $134 million deal with $57 million guaranteed.
If Mahomes gets a $200 million contract, he should be able to swing at least $100 million in guarantees, given Ryan’s $94.5 million and Kirk Cousins’ $84 million.
Roundup: 49ers DE Ford expected to return next week | NFL.com
A day after a huge AFC Wild Card Game victory, the Houston Texans are getting more good news as Rapoport reports wide receiver Will Fuller (groin) is expected to be active against the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round game, barring a setback. Fuller has missed Houston’s previous two games, including Saturday’s playoff win over the Bills.
Texans playoff focus: Five Chiefs to watch | Houston Chronicle
Chris Jones, DL
Disruptive interior pass rusher was sidelined for the Texans’ regular-season game. Jones is extremely difficult to stop inside because of his quick feet, array of pass-rushing moves, power and stamina. He has a knack for setting up blockers. Jones has nine sacks, one more than Frank Clark, along with 9 1/2 tackles for losses, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Pat Shurmur wants to coach in 2020 after Giants firing | New York Post
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy – one of four candidates interviewed by the Giants so far to be Shurmur’s replacement – could hold the key to Shurmur’s future. If Bieniemy fills one of the four (including the slow-moving Cowboys) head coach vacancies, Shurmur is a logical candidate to replace him.
Chiefs, Texans Rematch Set for Divisional Round at Arrowhead | Chiefs Digest
The Chiefs have not declared the Divisional Round game a sellout, but as of Saturday evening no tickets were available for sale directly from the club on the team’s website. Tickets are available on the verified resale market.
According to Ticketmaster, the resale price for tickets to the Chiefs Divisional Round game averaged $252 as of Friday. That was the lowest resale price for the four Divisional games, trailing San Francisco ($506), Baltimore ($463) and Green Bay ($314).
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Henry is exactly that type of runner. He finished with 303 carries this season. Andy Reid is a coach who likes to use his running backs and uses them effectively. Henry is not the receiver that Reid usually likes to have in the backfield but that is why Kansas City has young options like Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson.
Around the NFL
End of an era: Jason Garrett fired as Cowboys coach | NFL.com
The two sides will part after a long marriage that began with Garrett as a backup quarterback for seven of his eight NFL seasons from 1993-1999. From there, Garrett joined the coaching ranks as Dallas’ offensive coordinator under Wade Phillips in 2007. He remained in that capacity until 2010, when he replaced Phillips as interim coach after a 1-7 start. Since then, Garrett compiled an 85-67 record as the Cowboys coach, including a victory over the rival Redskins in the 2019 finale that ended the tumultuous campaign on a winning note.
Kirk Cousins delivers for Vikings in OT to pick up first playoff win | ESPN
Cousins won the first playoff game of his career after completing 4 of 5 passing attempts for 63 yards and a touchdown on the Vikings’ overtime drive. The quarterback hit fourdifferent receivers on the game-winning drive: Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Rudolph.
Belichick ‘not prepared’ to discuss Tom Brady’s future | NFL.com
“I’m sure there are a lot of questions about the future,” Belichick’s opening statement offered. “Nobody has thought about the future. Everybody’s been focused and working on Miami and then Tennessee. That’s where all the focus should’ve been and where it was. Whatever’s in the future we’ll deal with at some later point in time. We’re certainly not going to deal with it now. It’s always a tough ending to the year.”
Alexander was a surprise participant in the 49ers’ bye-week practice Thursday. In conjunction with Alexander’s appearance, the Niners opened his practice window to return from the injury, clearing the path for a possible return.
On the play, Rudolph clearly extends his arm to keep Saints cornerback P.J. Williams at bay, which you can see below.
If an offensive player fully extends his arm like that, it’s supposed to be grounds for offensive pass interference.
Former NFL referee Terry McAulay, who served as the lead official in three different Super Bowls, tweeted after the game that it was an obvious interference play on Rudolph.
DeAndre Hopkins passes Andre Johnson in playoff receptions | Toro Times
The franchise record DeAndre Hopkins achieved was most receptions in the playoffs with Hopkins now having 28 receptions in five career playoff games, surpassing Andre Johnson and his previous record of 25 career playoff receptions in four games.
In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride
Four things we learned in the AFC’s Wild Card round
J.J. Watt is scary — but not scary enough
He didn’t disappoint. Playing on just three of every five snaps, Watt made an impact on the game — despite a relatively pedestrian stat line of one sack, one tackle and a pair of quarterback hits.
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