Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie delivered in one of the most important key matchups of the game vs. Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs' defense played a huge part in defeating the Houston Texans during the divisional round on Saturday. One of the players who led the way was cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was named an All-Pro in 2024 for the second consecutive year. Going into the game against Houston, everybody knew that one of […]
The Kansas City Chiefs' defense played a huge part in defeating the Houston Texans during the divisional round on Saturday.
One of the players who led the way was cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was named an All-Pro in 2024 for the second consecutive year. Going into the game against Houston, everybody knew that one of the biggest matchups was going to be McDuffie against Texans wide receiver Nico Collins.
Collins is by far and away the Texans' No. 1 pass catcher. He was selected to the Pro Bowl this season after racking up 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. McDuffie was up for the challenge and put the clamps on Collins. Per Next Gen Stats, during the 15 times McDuffie and Collins were matched up, McDuffie held him to just one catch on three targets for 24 yards.
It is a tremendous advantage for the Chiefs to have a player like McDuffie who can basically eliminate the opposing team's top receiver. As a whole on the day, he recorded four total tackles and three passes defensed. McDuffie had this to say earlier this week when he was preparing to matchup against Collins.
"I love going against players like this," McDuffie said about Collins. "I call him a complete receiver. He's big, he's physical, he's fast, has good hands. His connection with CJ [Texans QB C.J. Stroud], you can tell is at an all-time high. They're kind of click on all cylinders, and he's their number one receiver. That's really why you want to play this game – to go against the best competition in a game that means a lot in the playoffs. So, I'm excited to go against him knowing what he's going to come into this game with. I'm ready to go compete."
Kansas City will face either the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens in next week's AFC Championship Game, both of whom have plenty of talented receivers. The Chiefs will once again lean on McDuffie to contain them and make a handful of big plays.
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