The game for Sunday was moved to prime time, and rightly so. Playing under the lights for this game pits our Kansas City Chiefs against the Los Angeles Chargers. It will be a desperate effort for LAC to stay in contention in the AFC West. However, for the Chiefs, it is a game that will essentially seal the deal for the seventh AFC West title in a row, and because of that, they would ensure a berth in post-season play. I don’t regard the Chargers in the same light as I view the Raiders, whom I continue to see as hooligans at best.
The Chiefs Have Issues
WR Room – The group will be light with at least two players out. JuJu Smith-Schuster sustained a concussion last week in the game vs. the Jaguars. It was a severe hit that should have been flagged, and the player should have been ejected. This week, JuJu could not complete the five-step concussion protocol. Also, MIA is Mecole Hardman, who was placed on the IR due to a stomach injury or illness. He will be out through week 14. Not having these two players available is akin to losing your two front teeth. Both JuJu and Hardman are starter players of the offense. Additionally, I am concerned that Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who also suffered a violent hit by the same CB who did the deed against JuJu. MVS had Limited Participation at Friday’s practice.
If MVS can’t get ready for Sunday Night, the Chiefs have then lost two front teeth and a molar of the WR Group. With two days to recover from an illness, I do think he plays.
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An OT With an Elbow Injury
In the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Andrew Wylie sustained an elbow injury. Prince Tega Wanogho (PTW) came into the game and played well, however he did give up two pressures. What we could see of PTW was enough to get people clamoring for him to start this week. That may be premature. Seth Keysor examined every PTW snap for the game and gave him a middling type grade for the contest. I went back through the tape as well. I saw many good plays by Prince, but he did have misses, so I believe he is an”average” OT — so far — but developing skills as his time expands on the roster. Wylie is an average NFL OT as well.
What we could see of PTW was enough to get people in the Kingdom clamoring for him to start this week. That may be premature. Seth Keysor examined every PTW snap for the game and gave him a middling type grade for the contest. I went back through the tape as well. I saw many good plays by Prince. But he did have misses, so I believe he is an “average” OT, but developing skills as his time expands on the roster. Wylie is an average NFL OT as well.
With Wylie, we have an experienced ROT. With Tega Wanogho, we have a newcomer, who has less than one game’s worth of snaps to evaluate. So get over to mid-field and toss a coin? No! Andrew Wylie was in”Full Practice” Status Wednesday Through Friday. So he will get the nod to start at the ROT position unless his performance is limited by wearing a brace. Here’s Seth Keysor’s take on Wylie and Tega-Wanogho:
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The Secondary
CB Trent McDuffie, is back! Last week’s game saw four members of the “Fab Five” get a hefty dose of NFL snaps.
The Fab Five list includes rookies: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Bryan Cook, and Nazeeh Johnson. I was excited about seeing McDuffie in his return. He played well again, but came back to earth, so to speak. He gave up a reception to a receiver he was covering.
Good Heavens! What a disaster.
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I saw some comments out in Nederland that Sneed wasn’t good enough to play the Slot because he gave up a TD. That is nonsense. #38 is a solid CB with the versatility to play Outside, or in the Slot. Bryan Cook was also solid. When you think of Juan Thornhill and Justin Reid, they both played a solid game. Our secondary is a solid group of players and substitutes. This week, Tuesday and Wednesday, L’Jarius Sneed was in “Limited Participation” status. That is a worry as well.
Note About the Secondary: CB Chris Lammons also sustained an injury. His import is more for Dave Toub’s Special Teams crew than as a corner, but he is still vital to that group. He has been in Limited Participation” status all week. An aside to the
• Footnote: The Fab Five Rookies are all DBs including: Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, and Nazeeh Johnson.
“Laddie Morse wrote about the camaraderie among the rookie DBs in his Friday article, Chiefs: Nutballs and Fruitcakes.” It was a fun, lighthearted article.
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The Running Backs
It was almost exclusively RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon last week. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had four snaps. HC Andy Reid and OC Eric Bieniemy had some Coach-Speak about the RB performance and CEH. This week it may be a different pair since McKinnon was on the Injury report this weak, and his status was Limited Participation due to a Shoulder, as well as a Hamstring. Ronald Jones (RoJo) has not been active for game day — yet — and this was a conversation around the Kingdom.
The Front Four
Improvement by returning players occurred last week due to coverage corner Trent McDuffie’s return to the field. Now, the Front Four get a boost this week with Frank Clark having cleared his suspension. He missed games in Week’s Nine and Ten but was coming off his best performance in 2022 in Week 7. Clark’s numbers for Week 7 were: 1.5 Sacks, 4 pressures, and 2 Stops. If he can come back Sunday and give the Defense that type of effort, things from the Defense will get a Big Boost.
DC Steve Spagnuolo had this to say about Clark’s return:
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“Yeah, we like Frank (Clark)’s juice…. He gives us something off of the edge, and I kind of thought that he was finding a groove before he hit the suspension. I just hope that he can get back into that.”
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Spags also cautioned the press during the presser that coming back from having missed games, players would have to knock off the rust. He said:
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“Sometimes, you’ve got to knock a little rust
off. Hopefully, there won’t be a lot of rust.”
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The Chiefs DL Chris Jones anchors the middle and is having a great year. Also this year, DT Khalen Saunders has emerged as a force in the middle, especially as a run stopper. He also got a sack in the game against the Jaguars. That’s good news for the defensive Front.
Once again, I want to shine a light on Carlos Dunlap. Carlos is playing great football and notched his 100th career sack. I want him to return next year, and he has verbalized that he would like to return for another year. Watching him in the game last week, it was apparent he was in excellent physical condition, spry, and youthful-looking. He was very active in the game.
Also, George Karlaftis has played really well in his rookie season. He ranks at the top with pressures and leads the NFL in batted passes. He has a sack, and he is still learning the ropes. Giving the players cheers is essential, but so is recognizing good coaching. Once again, I want to say that during camp and preseason, new DL Coach, Joe Cullen, enlisted all the players in active participation, which has shown itself in the prowess of the defensive Front. Several of the players have given Cullen a Tip-o-the-hat! All last season, the Chiefs had 29 sacks. After week 10, the Chiefs have 27.
Outlook: The Defense
The D should have a good game both in run defense and in combating the aerial attack by Justin Herbert. The crew has played extraordinarily well despite being first-year players, with four rookies getting significant play. The Secondary is on an ascending trajectory, and there is no reason for me to doubt that it will continue. Don’t get me wrong: Justin Herbert is a big man and a dangerous foe.
He still will likely be without an OT and possibly two primary receivers. It may be that both Mike Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) can play. Williams, Allen, and WR Deandre Carter (ribs) were listed as “Limited Participation” as were OT Trey Pipkins and TE Gerald Everett. Worse, their PK, Dustin Hopkins and Punter, JK Scott, did not practice on Thursday. Their injury report is significant, and they have yet to update for Friday’s practice, nor have they listed the game status for Sunday.
I know the Chargers will make this game a brawl, and I am under no illusion that the Chiefs will face a weak team. The Chiefs depth and potent offense should outscore the Chargers at the night’s end while the Defense holds Herbert & Co. at bay. I don’t see a shootout occurring. Playing this game in L.A. will bring an advantage with Chiefs fans who like to travel, and the temps won’t matter much with the game taking place indoors at SoFi Arena.
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Chiefs 34, Chargers 20
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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