"They should be concerned": Former NFL LB sounds warning for Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs heading into division round vs Texans

Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho has issued a stark warning to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their divisional playoff clash against the Houston Texans. His assessment challenges the widespread expectation of an easy Chiefs victory against the fourth-seeded Texans.

Acho, who shared the field with Texans coach DeMeco Ryans in Philadelphia, brings an insider perspective to his analysis. His warning carries particular weight against Mahomes' perfect 6-0 record in divisional round games and the Chiefs' 15-2 regular season record.

Speaking on "The Facility" on Wednesday, Acho emphasized his concerns for the defending champions, citing the Texans' defensive prowess.

"I don't know if anybody else gonna say it: (the) Chiefs should be concerned about this game," Acho said. "If you know DeMeco Ryans, like I know DeMeco Ryans, play with me in Philly like Shady knows DeMeco Ryans. The Chiefs should be concerned about this game."

The timing of Acho's warning follows Houston's commanding 32-12 wild card victory over the LA Chargers. The Texans' defense flexed its muscles with four interceptions and four sacks. All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. snared two picks against Justin Herbert.

Texans can get upset the Patrick Mahomes' offense

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Emmanuel Acho's bold prediction stands in stark contrast to ESPN's projection, which favors Kansas City with a 62.4% win probability. His confidence builds on the Houston Texans' recent defensive masterclass and their competitive showing against the Chiefs.

The Week 16 meeting between the teams ended in a narrow 27-19 Chiefs victory. Houston stayed within striking distance until losing receiver Tank Dell to a devastating knee injury. Dell's touchdown catch brought the Texans within one point before an uncharacteristic missed extra point by Ka'imi Fairbairn.

The matchup also echoes a playoff encounter from five years ago. In that game, the Texans built a 24-0 lead before Patrick Mahomes engineered a comeback for a 51-31 victory. However, this Texans team bears little resemblance to that squad.

On Tuesday, "First Things First" host Nick Wright dismissed this matchup as the "Chiefs' final practice of the year." Such comments could fuel Houston's motivation. The Texans have already proven their ability to exceed expectations under C.J. Stroud's leadership.

"It's just a testament to the head coach we have," Stroud said after the wild card win. "The faith that he puts in us to keep going. I really feel like this is just the start."

The numbers paint an intriguing picture. Stroud passed for 282 yards and scrambled for 44 more against the Chargers. Nico Collins set a franchise playoff record with 122 receiving yards. Joe Mixon added 106 rushing yards. This balanced offensive attack, paired with Ryans' defensive schemes, suggests Saturday's game might defy the skeptics.