Chiefs should rely on Travis Kelce to beat Chargers

Travis Kelce (c.)

Travis Kelce (c.)
picture: Getty photographs

i do know a quantity of followers might even be inclined to suppose this Thursday evening time soccer recreation might presumably be decrease scoring than we’re anticipating. L.A.’s Keenan Allen was dominated out, and this would possibly be the most important time inside the Justin Herbert period that the Chiefs might presumably be with out Tyreek Hill. nonetheless, in case final week wasn’t ample proof already, the Chiefs don’t want Hill with a view to be explosive. whereas the dearth of Allen does harm the Chargers’ passing assault, Herbert proved elevated than in a place to spreading the ball round to completely different playmakers in final week’s victory over the Raiders. This recreation will clearly be a measuring stick for every franchises, one which improved drastically over the offseason and one which many believed had regressed in that very similar span.

i do realize it sounds apparent to declare that the Chiefs want their All-professional tight finish and go-to passing weapon to carry out effectively to be sure that that Kansas metropolis to win, nonetheless it goes extra than that. whereas the Chargers upgraded at edge rusher with the addition of Khalil Mack as effectively as to at cornerback with the addition of J.C. Jackson (you’d possibly argue the addition of Sebastian Joseph-Day was additionally an monumental improve), they didn’t improve their linebacking corps. A slot nook is simply too small to cowl somebody as huge and gifted as Kelce, and l. a.’ inside linebackers simply aren’t gifted ample to cowl him. I imply, Kenneth Murray had a 38.1 safety grade from professional soccer Focus final season. sure, Drue Tranquill is best in safety, however he’s nonetheless considerably inexperienced. regardless of 2022 being Tranquill’s fourth yr inside the NFL, he’s solely started 12 video games in his profession. Plus, the final time Tranquill was put in cost of overlaying Kelce, Kelce went off for 10 receptions, 191 yards, and two touchdowns. Tranquill was given a 29.6 safety grade — the second-lowest of his profession — throughout 36 go safety snaps that recreation.

The logical conclusion could be to protect Derwin James on Kelce. James’ physicality has been heralded by NFL gamers ever since he obtained here into the league. He performs larger than his dimension (he’s already an monumental man) and would in all probability be in all probability the best probability for the Chargers to restrict Kelce’s affect. Hell, even Kelce himself has sung James’ praises. The final time they performed, when James was on the sphere, Kelce solely had one catch for fourteen yards. return up and have a look at his line for your whole evening time. Yeah, James’ presence was felt.

So, now the question is, would the Chiefs’ huge receivers be gifted ample to maintain the offense if Kelce’s affect is proscribed by James? The optimistic an component of me hoping for a extreme-scoring affair desires to say sure. whereas J.C. Jackson will seemingly shut down JuJu Smith-Schuster a lot of the evening time, Patrick Mahomes did say earlier to the season that the offense would run by a distinctive receiver every week. whereas Smith-Schuster might have been the very best wideout selection in opposition to Arizona, it might very effectively be Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and even working again Clyde Edwards-Helaire who will get the majority of the targets in opposition to L.A. tonight. That’s the place Joey Bosa and Mack are obtainable in.

Mack gave the impression of his prime self final week in opposition to his former crew, recording three sacks and simply general being a menace as a run defender as effectively. That’s been Mack’s largest power the earlier few years as his go-dashing prowess has taken a dip. Assuming that final week was a fluke and that we obtained’t see one other three-sack efficiency from Mack all season, the earlier Defensive participant of the yr will seemingly be restricted in his affect on this recreation in opposition to KC.

The Chiefs have by no means been a terribly environment nice crew working the ball with Edwards-Helaire, and whereas Isiah Pacheco seemed succesful as a runner in Week 1, he obtained the majority of his carries inside the second half of what was already a blowout win. both strategy, the Chiefs will seemingly look to maintain away from working all that always in opposition to a stout Chargers defensive place, so Mack’s worth should come as a go rusher, and that would possibly presumably be a draw again counting on who he’s lined up in opposition to a lot of the evening time.

The Chargers will look to revenue from the Chiefs’ inexperienced proper deal with Andrew Wylie. He’s positively not a pushover, however he’s undoubtedly the weakest an component of that Chiefs’ offensive line and would possibly seemingly be fed a healthful dose of Mack and Bosa all evening time. aside from Wylie although, the Chiefs don’t have an extreme quantity of of a hole wherever on their O-line. Andy Reid is clearly an distinctive coach and shouldn’t have a draw again drawing up safety plans to mitigate any effort the Chargers would possibly make to strain Wylie proper into a one-on-one state of affairs with both of their All-professional edge rushers.

regardless of all of the enhancements the Chargers made this offseason, the Chiefs nonetheless maintain the benefit for my half. Their enhancements are principally countered by how the Chiefs function. They don’t rely on a single receiver, so J.C. Jackson might even be a non-challenge. They don’t run the ball as typically as you’d like, so Mack’s strengths are restricted. aside from that, it’s principally the identical Chargers crew that the Chiefs battle effectively each time.

the sport is in Kansas metropolis, and the absence of Keenan Allen might harm the Chargers drastically contemplating how poorly the Cardinals’ offense carried out in opposition to what’s taken beneath consideration a weak Chiefs’ secondary with out DeAndre Hopkins. This recreation should be a shootout, and whereas there is a blueprint for a strategy the Chargers might maintain the Chiefs’ offense to a terribly low rating, there might even be an extreme quantity of for L.A. to give consideration to and there wasn’t ample time to rearrange. both crew might win, nonetheless the Chiefs undoubtedly have the elevated hand.

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