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Kris Boyd shoves Texans special teams coordinator, receives penalty after opening kickoff vs. Chiefs

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 12 hours•

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Kris Boyd shoves Texans STC
Screenshot courtesy of @cjzero/X

On the opening kickoff of Saturday’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game, the Houston Texans struggled to contain Kansas City Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio as he rattled off a long run. After the play, though, Kris Boyd shoved Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross and received a 15-yard penalty for taking his helmet off.

Remigio took Ka’imi Fairbain’s kickoff back 63 yards to get Saturday’s playoff game underway, and the Chiefs recovered the ensuing fumble. But after the play, Boyd headed toward the sideline and had a heated altercation with Ross, throwing his helmet in frustration on his way off the field.

Ross quickly returned to the game, though, playing defense on the ensuing possession. The Texans forced a Chiefs field goal to trail 3-0 despite the short field.

Boyd is in his first full season with the Texans after arriving last year following his release from the Arizona Cardinals. He’s been a big contributor on special teams this year, appearing in every game during the regular season. He totaled eight tackles and a fumble recovery during that time.

Kris Boyd started his career with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent the first four years of his career in the Twin Cities, totaling 95 tackles, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries during that time. He then signed with the Cardinals in 2023, but they released him after just four games. That’s when he signed with the Texans.

Houston got two field goals from Fairbairn in the first half, but trailed the Chiefs 13-6 at halftime after allowing a Kareem Hunt touchdown. The Texans are coming off a resounding victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last time out, intercepting Justin Herbert four times to secure a spot in the Divisional Round.

Of course, Saturday’s game is also a familiar matchup. The Chiefs and Texans previously played in Week 15 – a 27-19 Kansas City victory. C.J. Stroud pointed out the advantage of playing the Chiefs last month, but noted it goes both ways.

“You definitely have to go back and see things that worked and things that didn’t work and I think that definitely helps playing them so recently,” Stroud said. “But they also have that advantage as well, so we still have to be able to have a new game plan and do things that are new. It definitely does help to see a familiar team again and they do a lot of great things. We didn’t really see a whole bunch of it, I think there are some exotic things so I wouldn’t be surprised if that stuff started to show up. It definitely does help that we have seen them not too long ago.”