Chiefs, Texans bring different focus to matchup

By KRISTIE RIEKEN/AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) - The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans will have two entirely different agendas when they meet Sunday night.

While the Chiefs (5-4) are looking for a win to bolster their playoff hopes, Houston is playing to save the job of coach Dom Capers.

“I think I'd be lying if I said we didn't think about that,” Texans quarterback David Carr said. “He's a guy you want to play for, a guy you want to win for. We've got to win some games for him to help him out.”

Houston (1-8) has lost two straight after breaking a seven-game losing streak by beating the lowly Cleveland Browns.

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion Capers won't survive this nightmare of a season, but the players think winning the rest of their games could help his plight.

“Even though our win-loss record isn't what he wants it to be, I couldn't imagine having a better coach as far as having a guy to look up to,” Carr said.

Meanwhile the Chiefs are hoping to shake off last week's mistake-filled 14-3 loss to Buffalo. Quarterback Trent Green was sacked a season-high six times and threw three interceptions after entering the game with just three on the season. Kansas City also lost two fumbles and missed as many field goals.

Coach Dick Vermeil said injuries to their offensive line, most notably to Pro Bowl tackle Willie Roaf, forced his team into relying on the run early and then playing catch up late.

The problems could continue this week as Roaf is listed as questionable, though Vermeil said he is “making progress.” Their playoff hopes hinge on getting key players healthy, Vermeil said. The Chiefs are two games behind Denver in the AFC West.

“I think we have a chance, but the tough part of our schedule is these next seven games,” he said. “It's tough right now, it will be tough. But if we can get healthy and get everybody back, we can finish stronger than we started. Only time will tell.”

Green had just one interception in a 24-21 loss to Houston in 2004, but it was a memorable one. The Texans trailed in the third quarter before safety Marcus Coleman intercepted Green's pass in the end zone and returned it 102 yards for the longest touchdown in Texans history.

Now the Texans hope to erase the bad memories of their last nationally televised game, a 42-10 debacle at Seattle in which the Seahawks piled up 320 yards rushing.

“We just don't want it to be nothing embarrassing this time,” running back Domanick Davis said. “We just want to go out there and prove to everyone that we can play.”

Vermeil isn't worried about his team overlooking Houston and said the Texans aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be.

“I think personally that they aren't so bad, but they are a victim of their schedule,” he said. “They played the toughest first nine games in terms of wins/losses than any team in football. ... They've struggled on offense, but the biggest struggle starts on how many great teams you have to play.”

Houston has played Seattle (7-2) and Cincinnati (7-2) and faced Indianapolis (9-0) twice this season.

Capers said he's proud of the way his team has dealt with problems this season.

“I can see our team improving,” he said. “I think we've faced our share of adversity, and I think our players have done a good job of not making excuses and accepting responsibility for where we are right now.”

One of Houston's biggest struggles has been stopping the run. The Texans are last in the league in run defense (153.3 yards per game).

The Chiefs rank seventh in the league (131.2) and don't seem to have dropped off much since Priest Holmes went on injured reserve and was replaced by Larry Johnson.

Johnson had 132 yards rushing against Buffalo and said he is more prepared and comfortable each week. The third-year player has 638 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 5.1 yards a carry.

He looks at facing one of the league's worst run defenses for the second straight week in larger terms than simply picking up yardage.

“I look at it as an opportunity for us to try to win the game,” he said. “This definitely is a must-win for us, regardless of how bad any defense is.”

Houston should get a boost with the expected return of Davis and kick returner Jerome Mathis, who both missed the last two games with injuries.

Houston's often sputtering offense, ranked 31st in the league, and the oft-sacked Carr will need all the help they can get as the injury decimated line lost yet another starter this week. Tackle Todd Wade will likely miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The good news is that right guard Zach Wiegert is expected to return after missing the last four games with a high ankle sprain. But he'll play at right tackle as Capers tries for some sort of continuity by keeping Victor Riley at right guard, where he played last week.