Chiefs Toughest Tests the Rest of the Way

Chiefs Toughest Tests the Rest of the Way

by Laddie Morse | November 27, 2018

The title will sound bit silly when you consider that the Kansas City Chiefs face the hapless Oakland Raiders twice as well as the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Seattle Seahawks (the three who happen to be their toughest challenges) during the remainder of the 2018 season. I consider the Raiders games sure fire W’s in the win/loss column. So, it comes down to the Ravens, Chargers and Seahawks: I’ll rank them in terms of their difficulty to the Chiefs and spell out what the challenges will be. So, here are the Chiefs toughest tests the rest of the way.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-3) – the Chargers have won 7 of their last 8 games and are coming off of a 45-to-10 stomping of the Arizona Cardinals. After falling behind, 10-to-nothing, the Chargers charged back for 45 unanswered points in their game against the Cards played in L.A.. While their engine is tuned and everything is clicking on all cylinders, their star RB, Melvin Gordon suffered a horrendous leg whip and what was thought to be a MCL injury has now been called a bruised knee. He is said to be out for a couple of weeks but Gordon has a history of knee injuries and expecting him back at full strength for the game vs. the Chiefs at Arrowhead just two weeks and two days from now would be asking a lot. Even with Gordon at full strength… the Chiefs have owned the Chargers for years. The last time the Chargers beat the Chiefs was in December of 2013, Reid’s first year as HC of the Chiefs and five full years ago now. Some of the Chargers rookies were just graduating from high school five years ago.

While the Chargers are the Cinderella of the late season — and most certainly will be in the playoffs — the fact that Andy Reid’s Chiefs has beat them nine straight times says to me that he knows how to beat them and will continue to do so until he’s no longer the Chiefs HC. The challenge for the Chiefs offense will be that Joey Bosa is back on the field for this game and he and Melvin Ingram pose the best pass rush duo the Chiefs have faced this season. DB Derwin James has also proven to be a monster in the defensive backfield with 3.5 sacks, 2.0 INTs and he leads the Chargers in tackles with 78.

In an article written last week for the NYTimes by Ben Shpigel called, “Can Anyone Slow Down the Kansas City Chiefs? Try the Chargers” he states,

“Since losing to the Rams in Week 3, the Chargers have won six of seven games. Over that stretch, they have allowed the fewest points in the league, an average of 16.6, because of their stinginess in the red zone, where opponents have scored touchdowns against the Chargers only 47.1 percent of the time, the fourth-best mark in the N.F.L.”

So, while I am listing this game as the third toughest game the rest of the way for the Chiefs… they are not to be taken lightly.

The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) – the Ravens have been built around their tough defenses over the years and the same remains true now: 1st in total defense, 2nd in passing defense, and 3rd in rushing defense. Now, we’ve seen the Chiefs dynamic offense treat some of the league’s best defenses as if their feet were planted in cement but the Ravens may pose the biggest test for Patrick Mahomes and his band of airy men yet. The Ravens are the only team in the league to hold their opponents to less than a 300 yards per game average at 295.4. In the meantime, the Chiefs are averaging 434.3 yards per game so, something’s gotta give.

The reason the Ravens are listed ahead of the Chargers is that while QB Joe Flacco is seeking the advice of a hip specialist doctor, his rookie replacement Lamar Jackson presents a player with skills not seen at the QB position since Michael Vick was on the field. Although Jackson threw 2 INTs vs the Raiders this past Sunday, he also had a passing TD and 71 rushing yards. It’s not like Lamar Jackson is seeing his first time in an NFL game either as coach John Harbaugh has been bringing him along slowly giving snaps in each game this season. So far this year he’s 34-of-56 for 415 yards passing and 329 yards rushing. If Harbaugh begins to utilize Jackson’s RPO ability, the Ravens could be trouble for every team they face the rest of the way out, including the Chiefs. Since this game will be played in Arrowhead Stadium, that should have a negative effect on Jackson. Advantage to the 12th men and women of the Kingdom!

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) – the Seahawks team has been improving game by game this year. They started out 2-3 and then have gone 4-2 since then. Their offense is centered around QB Russell Wilson — as it should be — and his ability to escape and extend plays. It’s the extending plays that could give the Chiefs their biggest test during their last five games. In the meantime, the Seahawks defense is 16th in total defense, 13th in passing defense, and 22nd against the run. In their first 5 games they gave up 22.8 points per game and in their last 6 games, 21.5. So, while their defense has been a constant this season, their offense has has averaged 23.2 in the first 5 games and 26.6 points per game in the next 6 games. Improvement on both sides of the LoS is showing as the playoffs draw closer and closer for the Seahawks who are stuck in the Rams division and if they are able to make the playoffs will have to do so as a Wildcard team.

Linebacker K.J. Wright was inactive for the Seahawks game vs the Panthers on Sunday. Consequently, the Hawks allowed 220 yards on the ground when they average 80 yards less than that per game. Here’s what HC Pete Carroll had to say about Wright’s absence:

“K.J.’s played these guys a lot. He and Bobby [Wagner] have, and they have real intricate roles and it showed up that there were some errors and some misreads and stuff like that that hasn’t happened in years past.”

If the Seattle Seahawks are healthy and make it to the playoffs, they will be one of those teams that no one wants to face. It’s a good thing that they’re in the NFC. That’s also why they will be a very tough out in Seattle for the Chiefs on December 23rd.

If you think I’m writing the 2-and-9 Raiders off when I should not, don’t get your cookies all in a crumble because you must remember that when the Chiefs face the Raiders this weekend, Andy Reid will be coming off the Bye week and his record after the Bye week is 16-and-2. Yes, that includes his time in Philly but the point is, Reid will have his team ready, no matter who they’re playing and the fact that this is “Raiders Week” should tell you that he’ll have this crew ready to rumble.

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