The backstory's Dan Hanzus has labeled this Saturday afternoon matchup the "No Respect Bowl." The and are a combined 16-2 since Week 8. Over that same span, Houston ranks first in every major defensive category while Kansas City ranks just behind in points per game and third-down defense.If not for Ron Rivera and Bruce Arians, we would be hearing a lot more about Andy Reid and Bill O'Brien as legitimate NFL Coach of the Year candidates.Giving more responsibility at the line of scrimmage than he ever allowed previous quarterbacks such as Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb, Reid has recovered from an abysmal September and the lo s of All-Pro tailback to join the legendary Paul Brown as the only coaches since the 1970 merger to make the postseason after a 1-5 start.Is it po sible to botch a quarterback room to a greater degree than O'Brien did in September after a Hard Knocks audience that both and can play? Hoyer lasted just three quarters into the season opener before O'Brien came with the hook. Since then, the have gone through nine quarterback changes, the most recent handful out of nece sity rather than indecision. Minus , O'Brien and coordinator George Godsey have been winning with a smoke-and-mirrors Jaxson Hayes Jersey offense -- relying on gadget plays, a patchwork backfield and ' ability to physically beat defensive backs at the catch point."Eleven years in the league, and this is the first year I've seen a coaching staff ," wide receiver recently told NFL Media's Albert Breer. "Normally, on offense, a guy goes down, and the next guy is expected to do the same exact thing the first guy did. Not here. Every guy has different strengths, so they use every guy differently."So why is this viewed as the least attractive contest of Wild Card Weekend?Start with the notion that neither of these teams has truly been tested during their winning streaks.The did not face a playoff opponent in their final seven games of the season. They started 1-5 against teams with a combined winning percentage of .625 and closed out the season 10-0 versus teams with a combined winning percentage of .419.The gorged on the toothle s AFC South to the tune of a 5-1 record while managing an uninspiring 4-6 record against opponents outside the division.Under pre sureHoyer has been discarded by five teams in the last five years. He was benched twice for Mallett in the first month of the season.Whereas Hoyer has the benefit of entering January with low expectations, is still trying to shake the "" pejorative and live up to his .Smith entered midseason with a dubious reputation for coming up short on third downs and two-minute drills. His penchant for throwing short of the sticks in key situations , dubbed "ALEX" in his honor, to measure a willingne s to attack downfield when the situation calls for it.Since then, however, Reid has placed the offense in his hands, trusting Smith's high football IQ at the line of scrimmage."I tell him, ," Reid explained to TheMMQB's Jenny Vrentas. "He's got ways in and out of plays, really every play, and I've got confidence that he can do it."A more confident and aggre sive Smith is playing the best ball of his career during the ' 10-game winning streak, winning inside and outside the pocket like a poor man's .Belying his reputation, he has authored two of the finest playoff performances of the past half-decade in instant-cla sic shootouts versus the and . In fact, he boasts the most pa sing touchdowns (9) without an interception in postseason history. Can he continue that playoff succe s against the best defense he has faced in January?Matchup to watchIt's natural to wonder how Houston's smoke-and-mirrors offense will move the ball versus Kansas City's swarming defense, but this game offers a more naturally enticing matchup.Who can win the race to the quarterback between and versus and ?Watt and Mercilus are the NFL's most effective pa s-rushing tandem, racking up 29.5 sacks this season. Since 2013, the combined 64 sacks by Houston and Hali are second only to the Houston duo's total of 72.5.The most dominant defensive force of his generation, Watt leads all defensive linemen in sacks (17.5), QB hits (50), tackles for lo s (29) and pa ses defensed (8). He's the best player on the field every time he lines up against quivering guards and tackles.Watt and Mercilus have a major advantage against a offensive line that run blocks exceptionally well but allows sacks at one of the highest rates in the league.The battle between the ' offensive line and the ' front seven could be decided by injuries.Hali (thumb) returned for the regular-season finale. Houston () will join him this weekend after mi sing the last five games.Can they exploit the absence of left tackle , who suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury last week?The can take solace in stand-in 's experience while protecting 's blindside during the ' 2014 playoff run.Mind-blowing statsSince Week 8, the have held five of nine opponents ( twice, , , ) to exactly six points. ... Over that span, they are the only team in the bottom third on offense with a positive point differential (+71). ... The are the seventh team since 1950 to start four or more quarterbacks in a season and make the playoffs. The 1984 are the only one of that group to win a playoff game. ... is the only player in NFL history to post a 100-yard receiving game under four different quarterbacks in the same season. ... Houston's backfield trio of , and jitterbug have averaged a combined 5.4 yards per carry over the past month, as the coaching staff caters to each back's strengths. ... The ' third-down defense (28.5 percent conversion rate) is the best the NFL has seen since the 2003 . ... Since the sack became an official statistic in 1982, and Reggie White are the only players with at least 17.0 sacks in three different seasons. ... Watt has 101 QB hits over the past two seasons. Since that statistic was first tracked in 2006, is the only player to ama s 100 QB hits over a three-year span. ... Houston finished in last place in Football Outsiders' metrics for special teams.Kansas City's current eight-game playoff losing streak is tied with Detroit for the longest in the league. ... The haven't lost a game since the Royals made it to the World Series in October. ... Over the past five seasons, trails only , and in quarterback wins. ... Among running backs with at least 70 attempts, 's average of 5.6 yards per carry is tied for first. ... The ' 19 rushing touchdowns are tied for the NFL lead. ... finished the season with the best hands in the league, dropping just one of 120 targets. He joined as the only players ever to accrue at least 1,000 receiving yards under . ... cornerbacks combined for just one interception in 2014. Rookie has eight this season, tying for the league lead. Peters is also tied for the most pa ses defensed and ranks seventh among cornerbacks in opposing pa ser rating (55.5). PredictionBrace yourself for a low-scoring slobberknocker featuring fleeing quarterbacks. Neither of these teams are allowing more than 13.0 points per game since midseason. The offenses, on the other hand, are low on playmakers, forcing the coaching staffs to get creative with option, read-option, jet sweeps and Wildcat looks. Don't be surprised if the decisive play is of the gadget variety or a defensive score.Watt is especially monstrous at home, with 11.5 sacks and 36 QB hits in eight games. Now that his cast has been removed -- unleashing maximum beast potential -- I'm siding with the disruptive defense in a bruising bout.Houston Texans 13, Kansas City Chiefs 12 Darius Miller Jersey