(SportsRadio 610) -- The NFL scheduled the Texans and Chiefs to open the season Thursday night in large part because of the team's superstar quarterbacks.
Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes headlined the game just as much as the teams.
And though Watson was careful not to compare himself to Mahomes leading up to the game, it's fair to consider both performances.
Mahomes, last season's Super Bowl MVP and the league MVP two seasons ago, led the Chiefs' offense to four touchdown drives with three TD passes and no interceptions.
Watson's only touchdown pass was late in the fourth quarter, with the Texans already facing a 31-7 deficit.
Watson finished with more passing yards than Mahomes and scored on a run even later in the fourth. After the game, Watson said he took what the Chiefs' defense gave him and noted the deep shots were covered.
The Texans also struggled to keep pressure off the quarterback. Watson's lone interception was caused by pressure from defensive back Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs sacked Watson four times and he was 1-of-7 for 15 yards along with the interception.
"I tried to get my guys some opportunities to make plays and sometimes we capitalized and sometimes we didn't," Watson said. "So, we've just got to continue to go from there."
The Texans offense, with first-year play caller Tim Kelly and the absence of All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, does not appear to have found a rhythm just yet.
After trading Hopkins this offseason, the Texans focused on building around Watson, providing the quarterback with speed at receiver and from the backfield.
They signed slot receiver Randall Cobb, traded for Brandin Cooks, and of course there is running back David Johnson from the Hopkins deal.
Johnson may have been the Texans' best offensive player Thursday night. His 19-yard run in the first quarter gave the Texans their only lead of the game. Johnson led the Texans with 77 rushing yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 32 yards.
