The Houston Texans are coming off a reinvigorated two-game stretch with rookie QB Deshaun Watson at the helm. Putting up a franchise-record 57 points in last week’s win, they now play host to the league-leading, undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC (live stream it on NBCSports.com).

This Week 5 game will be one of the more offensively loaded games on Sunday, but the real similarity is the surprisingly productive and successful seasons the two teams’ quarterbacks are having.

For the Chiefs, Alex Smith has exceeded expectations heading into his 13th year in the league and currently leads all NFL QBs with a 124.2 passer rating. In addition to the success of the passing game, Kansas City has found a way to not only replace Jamaal Charles — who it lost to Denver in free agency — but to improve on the team’s running game with rookie Kareem Hunt. For his part, Hunt is barreling toward some impressive franchise and league records and is currently leading the league in rushing yards (502) and scrimmage yards (659).

After spending what seemed like an eternity with Tom Savage at quarterback, the Texans finally handed the reins over to the rookie Watson. Since then, it’s been a completely new Houston team. During last week’s record-setting win, Watson joined Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton (1961) as the only rookies in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards (283) with four passing and one rushing touchdown in the same game.

With the offenses preparing for a high-scoring matchup, the fate of this primetime game will be in the hands of each team’s defense.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: NRG Stadium, Houston
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: NBCSports.com
• Odds: Kansas City is favored by 3.5 points

Chiefs vs. Texans news:

• Chiefs rookie RB Kareem Hunt is already one of the more exciting players in the league.
• Several of the Texans’ coaches and front office members are pointing fingers over why Watson wasn’t the Week 1 starter:

A few days after Deshaun Watson put up a performance so exquisite that the rookie was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week, we learn that the Texans’ general manager was so bullish on Watson that he tried to move up even more aggressively than originally thought to acquire Watson’s services.

• Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker didn’t know many teammates before he went on to make the game-winning field goal last week:

Kelce mentioned that he walked up to him and said, “Hi, I’m Travis” before the game but I thought he was joking. Another reporter said, wait a minute, did you really introduce yourself and Kelce confirmed that he did.

• Houston has a way of developing talented late-round draft picks, and CB Andre Hal might be their next success story.

While so many have lamented the loss of A.J. Bouye, keeping Andre Hal may prove to be the smarter decision. Not only is the safety position currently a greater need for Houston (the injury to Kevin Johnson notwithstanding), but Hal has a way of flashing at the right times.

Chiefs vs. Texans predictions:

The odds say it all, this is looking to be a close game. And one that could see the only team in the NFL still undefeated get their first loss of the year. With Watson finally elevating Houston’s offense, and a defense that includes the likes of Jadaveon Clowney and J.J. Watt, the Chiefs will struggle to maintain the upper hand. Our experts are pretty split on this game, but five of nine agree the Texans get the win.

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