3x Super Bowl champ lays out recipe for Texans to take down Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs in divisional round

Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth whipped up a detailed game plan for the Houston Texans against Patrick Mahomes. The Texans face a steep challenge against the Kansas City Chiefs in Saturday's divisional round showdown, who posted a perfect 8-0 record at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this season.

Speaking on the "Breakfast Ball" show on Thursday, Schlereth crafted his recipe for success. His ingredients target the defending champions' vulnerabilities while maximizing Houston's strengths.

"Let me just go ahead and give you guys this weekend's recipe for the Houston Texans. Okay, first off, we're going to start with a quarter cup of Joe Mixon because you know what? You've got to have time of possession. You have got to have control of the line of scrimmage," Schlereth said.

Mark Schlereth's complete recipe calls for;

• - A quarter cup of Joe Mixon for ball control
• - Two teaspoons of pass breakups from Derek Stingley Jr.
• - One dash of C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins
• - Five heaping cups of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson sacks
• - One cracked-in Patrick Mahomes turnover

Schlereth's final ingredient:

"You gather hands, and you say grace. And part of the grace is you thank them for this meal, and then you pray that Mahomes doesn't get the last opportunity with the ball, because if he does, he will lose this game."

Chiefs vs Texans: Divisional Round preview

The Chiefs enter this matchup after a two-week break as 7.5-point favorites. Their quest for a record third consecutive Super Bowl title faces a serious test from the Texans' elite defense, which ranked third in sacks and second in interceptions.

Syndication: The Record - Source: Imagn

When these teams met on December 21, the Chiefs won 27-19. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions.

The Texans' defense has grown stronger since that game, ranking sixth against the pass and 11th against the run.

Meanwhile, Kansas City's offense has shown signs of vulnerability. They've posted their lowest production numbers since Patrick Mahomes became the starter, though they've protected the ball well with just 14 turnovers. Their three fumbles rank as the NFL's lowest.

The Texans boosted their offensive arsenal by promoting receiver Jared Wayne from the practice squad. This move counters the recent losses of Diontae Johnson and tight end Cade Stover, giving Stroud another weapon.

The 4:30 p.m. EST kickoff on Saturday marks the Chiefs' 19th playoff game since 2018-19 - seven more than any other team. Their 15-3 playoff record and 13-5 mark against the spread show why prayers might be needed in Schlereth's recipe for an upset.