Nick Wright lays out why CJ Stroud, Texans have best chance to challenge Chiefs
A NEW CHALLENGER EMERGES
27 February 2024
What should we expect from the 2024 Texans? Composite Getty Image.
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl championships, and it doesn't look like they're slowing down anytime soon. But if they were to take a step back in 2024, free agency could be one of the main reasons.
The Chiefs were elite on the defensive side of the ball this past season, and two of their best defenders could be moving on to another team. Chris Jones and L'Jarius Sneed are expected to command a ton of money on the open market that KC may not be able to match.
So if that happens and the Chiefs aren't quite as loaded in 2024, which team has the best chance to challenge them? According to most sportsbooks, the Ravens, Bills, and Bengals have the best opening odds to win the AFC if we eliminate the Chiefs from the conversation.
However, FS1's Nick Wright doesn't see it that way. He's a huge Kansas City fan, so he doesn't really see any team as a true threat. But if he has to pick one, he's going with CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans.
Are the Texans the next team up to challenge the Chiefs?
— @getnickwright on why Houston reminds him of the Cincinnati Bengals when they beat KC: pic.twitter.com/NQNu6qeNCn
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 20, 2024
Nick makes the case that the Texans are already a playoff team, with Houston winning their division and a playoff game in 2023. They have a great QB, and consistency at head coach and the coordinator positions. He believes Houston has a similar blueprint as the 2021 Bengals, the only team to knock off the Chiefs in the AFC over the last five seasons.
Joe Burrow was in his second year, just like Stroud. He had two big time playmakers at receiver with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. And they were able to load up on defense in free agency before the season.
That does sound a lot like the Texans, who have the seventh-most cap space, according to PFF.
Updated cap space leaders 👀💰 pic.twitter.com/VyBkrB4aj9
— PFF (@PFF) February 23, 2024
And Nico Collins and Tank Dell provide Stroud with a ton of firepower out wide. If there's a team that can make a big leap and challenge KC, don't be surprised if it's the Texans.
What do the odds say?
If we look at those same odds from above for the AFC, Houston has the sixth-best odds to win the conference and head to the Super Bowl. Here's what the opening odds for 2024 look like.
Kansas City Chiefs +360
Baltimore Ravens +425
Buffalo Bills +475
Cincinnati Bengals +700
Miami Dolphins +1100
Houston Texans +1200
Los Angeles Chargers +1400
New York Jets +1400
Jacksonville Jaguars +1400
Cleveland Browns +2000
Be sure to check out the short video above as Nick makes his case for Houston.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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