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The Kansas City Chiefs open the 2020 NFL regular season on Thursday, Sept. 10, hosting the Houston Texans. The two teams met twice last season, splitting both memorable games at Arrowhead Stadium. The headline players discussed then and now remain quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. It’s a budding rivalry between two young star quarterbacks.
Both players have been compared in numerous ways ranging from racial background to revolutionizing the position in today’s era. Watson hasn’t found success in the postseason as of yet, but has shown flashes of brilliance, leading Houston. The quarterbacks were both given well-deserved extensions this offseason. Many hope the extensions will lead to more exciting games to come between the two players, a sentiment echoed by Mahomes during Sunday’s press conference.
“You see that Deshaun [Watson] and the Texans are a great football team,” Mahomes said. “There’s a lot of great talent around him, and he makes a lot of big plays in big games. I think I said something to him last year at the end of the game, that we’re going to have these battles for a long time. We’re two opponents in the same conference in the AFC, so I’m sure I’ll see a lot of games against him.”
The Chiefs were able to overcome a considerable first-half deficit to defeat Watson’s Texans during last year’s divisional playoff game. Andy Reid shared his thoughts on both players’ extensions and their bright futures while speaking with reporters.
“I think it’s great,” Reid said. “I’m happy for Deshaun, for the opportunity that he has to make a living. You can see the response of his family and how they felt there, and likewise with Patrick. So, I think it’s great for the National Football League. Individually, it’s great for them and their teams, but also the league. We’re blessed right now to have a transition to these young quarterbacks that are coming in. They’re fun to watch, so I think it’s great for the game.”
Thursday night won’t hold the same significance as their last meeting, but it will still have the country watching with high expectations. The Chiefs’ road to another Super Bowl begins with a familiar foe at Arrowhead Stadium.
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