The NFL season started Thursday as the previous one ended: with a Kansas City Chiefs victory over Patrick Mahomes. This time, at home in front of a 25% occupied stadium, the Chiefs dominated the Houston Texans (34-20) who owe only two late touchdowns to have softened the score (31-7 with ten minutes from the end ). And as the Texans had opened the scoring (on a run from their rookie David Johnson, 7-0, 6th), it means they conceded a scathing 31-0 in 33 minutes (16th-49th).
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Mahomes, MVP of the last Super Bowl, managed three touchdown passes (24 successful passes on 23 and 211 yards) and the Chiefs were able to count on their veterans Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Tyreke Hill, author of a touchdown (at the reception) each.
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But the (half) surprise came from the champion’s rookies. Full-back L’Jarius Sneed recorded the first interception of his career, after a heavy job by Tyrann Matthieu on opposing quarterback Deshaun Watson. And the biggest performance is to credit to runner Clyde Edwards-Helaire, university champion with Louisiana State last year and taken with the last pick of the first round of the last draft. “CEH” has accumulated 135 yards on the ground (25 races) and scored a touchdown of 27 yards shortly after the restart to kill the suspense. The champion’s workforce seems even larger than a year ago.
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Note that the pre-match was marked by two particular facts. First of all the decision of the Houston Texans not to go on the field until after the execution of the anthem, during which some players of the Chiefs have put a knee to the ground. Shortly after, as the two teams demonstrated unity, arms entwined in the middle of the field, a few boos descended from the stands. A scene that could have an impact on the actions that the other teams will undertake during the rest of the first day on Sunday (including the Atlanta Falcons-Seattle Seahawks, broadcast on the L’Equipe site at 7 p.m. French time) and Monday.
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