Chiefs Super Six: Key Players vs the Vikings – this Sunday, when Chiefs play the Vikings, it’s likely they’ll be without Patrick Mahomes. With that in mind, securing a victory will fall on the shoulders of some other players, throughout the team. Some are recent valuable contributors, like rookie WR, Mecole Hardman. Others have been a major part of Kansas City’s success long term. In a game with little margin for error, the Chiefs will certainly need both.
Key One: Chris Jones
In Jones’ absence, the Chiefs have largely repaired the run defense and vastly improved their pass rush. Jones is an excellent player, but he’s also in a contract year, it’s very important for him to prove that he wasn’t part of the problem. His talent is undeniable, but he has to show gap discipline and hold up against double teams. If Jones comes out, and plays with a chip on his shoulder, it will go a long ways toward stopping a Vikings offense that can do major damage off of play action.
Key Two: Mecole Hardman
Harman only logged nine snaps on offense against Green Bay, but he caught both those targets and turned them into 55 yards, and a touchdown. QB Matt Moore doesn’t have the biggest arm, but Hardman can turn short passes into long gains, allowing the Chiefs offense to remain explosive, against a formidable Vikings front. Over the last four weeks, Hardman has caught 80% of his passes. K.C. has good weapons in Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Sammy Watkins, but Harman is the hot hand, and Reid needs to find a way to get the ball in his hands more.
Key Three: Reggie Ragland
Minnesota does a ton of damage running the ball, and working play action, off of it. If K.C. tries to go light to stop the pass, they’re liable to get burned by the run. It’ll be absolutely critical for Ragland to stay on the field as a run defender and blitzer. The Chiefs don’t have another linebacker with the same kind of juice, against the run. He’s brought a spark to this team, in limited reps, but Spagnuolo needs to find a way to increase his opportunities, this week.
Key Four: Travis Kelce
No matter who is under center, Kelce is going to be the security blanket. He’s a big target, who can do huge damage, at all levels of the field. For Chiefs to be competitive, though, he has to become more consistent. He’s been too hot and cold lately, making big plays one moment, and dropping easy passes the next. The Chiefs need Kelce to be a stone cold killer, not a 50/50 shot, like he was against Green Bay.
Key Five: Juan Thornhill
The Vikings have had a vertical passing attack to complement their run game this year. Having good safety help over the top, that also turns in an interception, would be huge in this game. Kevin Stefanski, the Vikings Offensive Coordinator, won’t be likely to target Thornhill much, but the Chiefs rookie needs to make the most of his opportunities. K.C. lost last week’s game because their margin of error was too thin, and they made a handful of mistakes. If the defense can turn near picks into turnovers, it will give the offense a lot more wiggle room.
Key Six: LeSean McCoy
McCoy is on thin ice. His fumble was a huge piece of the Chiefs losing the game last week, and it was his third of the year. Reid said that it hasn’t been a problem for McCoy in his career (24 career fumbles), which is great and all, but it’s obviously been a problem this year. If McCoy were a lesser player, he’d already have been cut. As is, he’s far and away Chiefs best pure running back. If he can learn to handle the ball properly, he can still be a huge asset, to this offense. I don’t think GM Brett Veach ever really planned on trading for RB Le’Veon Bell, but the fact that they checked in on him, was certainly a message to their resident veteran… shape up or ship out.
Key Conclusions
On paper, the Vikings are a tough matchup for the Chiefs, but they’ve also played a relatively week schedule. If the Kansas City run defense, pass rush, and secondary, can all step up, it shouldn’t be too hard for the offense to keep pace. Minnesota has a good defense, but it’s not invincible. If Kelce can be consistent… and Reid can scheme up some stuff for Hardman… and McCoy can hang onto the ball: this game might not just be a win for K.C. but, it could be a blowout. The Chiefs have every opportunity to win this game, even without Mahomes, but they need their biggest players to show up on Sunday.
Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne
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