Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs remain unbeaten and poised to make another Super Bowl run.
If there was any chance of a Super Bowl “hangover” for the Kansas City Chiefs, that’s obviously gone.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs remain unbeaten at 8-0 and seem poised to make another Super Bowl run. How good is Kansas City? And what will keep the Chiefs from being the first team to win three-straight Super Bowls?
Before any of that happens, the Denver Broncos (5-4) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to try to be the first team to beat KC this season.
We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Chiefs heading into Sunday’s game with Jared Sapp from Arrowhead Pride to preview Sunday’s game.
MHR: How good are the Chiefs? What is the feeling about this team and it’s chances to win a third-straight Super Bowl?
Jared: The Chiefs are playing very unselfish football, with the offense and defense complimenting each other perfectly. There is some frustration from parts of the fan base that the on-field product doesn’t look like beating a child on Madden (especially on offense), but this team is 8-0 for a reason. The offense has picked up the last two weeks, which should be scary.
MHR: What will keep KC from winning the Super Bowl? Where do the Chiefs need to improve as a team, which is funny to say for a team still unbeaten?
Jared: The team as constructed right now can absolutely win a Super Bowl. The biggest threat seeming to loom over that is the injury bug. The Chiefs have been snake-bitten with some awful health luck with key players. How possible a three-peat feels is likely tied to if players like Isiah Pacheco, Hollywood Brown, and Charles Omenihu return as key reinforcements — or if more top talent misses time.
Assuming the team isn’t fully in control of improving on health, the Chiefs really need to enter the playoffs with left tackle being less of a concern. Second-year man Wanya Morris has taken over. His play is generally solid, if not inspiring. But it is clear sometimes Mahomes does not fully trust Morris to hold up, and some throws are rushed or he leaves the pocket too early.
MHR: How will KC attack on offense and defense? What do the Chiefs have to do to get the win on Sunday?
Jared: I expect the Chiefs to try to win in the run game to start with on offense. It seems very suspect for a team with Mahomes, but the run game has played a huge role in the Chiefs’ success so far. Rookie WR Xavier Worthy had a rough game against Tampa Bay last week, and I suspect Andy Reid will probably try to scheme him into some advantageous situations early.
On defense, the Chiefs should do what they have done so far and take away the run game to make the opponent one-dimensional. The only player to rush for more than 60 yards on the Chiefs so far has been Lamar Jackson. With a rookie quarterback getting his first look at Steve Spagnuolo, the game plan will be to force Bo Nix into throwing situations and then attack with extra pressure if needed.
MHR: What is your best bet for Sunday’s game? And what do you think of the current spread?
Jared: Kareem Hunt has gone over 50 yards on the ground in each game since joining the Chiefs’ active roster in Week 4. He has also found the end zone at least once in each of the last four games (though he took almost five quarters to do so on Monday). Right now, so much of the Chiefs offense runs through Hunt that I would consider most bets involving him.
For reasons specified above, I would avoid trusting Denver running backs as a ground game against this Chiefs defense has effectively resulted in wasted downs. I think the Broncos are a game opponent, but I don’t see Javonte Williams and company pulling off what Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, and Bijan Robinson — among others — have failed to do thus far.
As I write, Fan Duel Sportsbook lists the Chiefs at -7.5. I think that is fair, although I am actually going to predict a more comfortable Kansas City win. Division games can be weird, and the Chiefs tend to prioritize keeping the clock moving above running up the score on opponents when winning.
MHR: What are your expectations and predictions for Sunday’s game?
Jared: I respect the Broncos and have been surprised by how well they have played at times this season. But I see them leaving Arrowhead with a two-game losing streak. Nix is proving to be a better pro than I predicted he would be in the draft process. But his completion percentage has dropped to 43.6% when under pressure. I think Steve Spagnuolo is going to have some things in store for the rookie that he has not seen. The Chiefs defense is also going to have a chip on their shoulder this week after coming up short in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime on Monday night.
Baltimore was able to have their way with the Broncos last week both through the air and on the ground, and I think Andy Reid will take note of recent film and plan the best matchups for the Chiefs. AFC West games tend to play closer for the Chiefs, but I am taking Kansas City to win 27-13.