Arrowhead Pride
What is Arrowhead Pride Premier? Arrowhead Pride Premier is our tri-weekly newsletter, one that provides analysis and exclusive insights directly from Arrowhead Stadium, delivered straight to your inbox. Below is a preview of the latest edition.
BY PETE SWEENEY
On Sunday, two of this era’s great AFC juggernauts will meet again – as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to take on the Buffalo Bills.
As we all know, the Chiefs have begun their season with a perfect 9-0 record, and a victory Sunday would push Kansas City to 10-0 for the first time in franchise history. It will be no easy task, as the 8-2 Bills are currently in the midst of a five-game winning streak.
Given the stakes, we thought this matchup required some special treatment here at Arrowhead Pride Premier, and so, with that in mind, we called up our friend and legendary football broadcaster TREY WINGO for a 20-minute conversation on the Chiefs’ 2024 season – and how he believes this game on Sunday will play out.
In addition to that, here are the three big thoughts I have entering the game:
I think that the plan for JuJu Smith-Schuster was always to return for Week 11 against the Bills.
It was four weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers when wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster attempted to push through a hamstring injury he suffered in practice leading up to the game.
In the game prior, the 2022 Super Bowl champ turned back the clock, amassing seven catches for 130 yards, filling in for the injured Rashee Rice.
The gamble to play Smith-Schuster backfired.
After just seven plays, he exited the game, further aggravating his hamstring and costing him the next month.
At the time, Kansas City general manager Brett Veach opted not to place the wide receiver on injured reserve, providing some hope regarding his availably. Players on injured reserve must miss four games, so Veach had to have some inclination that Smith-Schuster could be ready to play Buffalo.
In the meantime, the general manager added five-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and as the weeks have carried on, Hopkins has grown more and more comfortable with the offense.
As planned, Smith-Schuster returned to the practice field as a limited participant on Wednesday.
It still remains to be seen how the week plays out, but a wide receiver room consisting of Hopkins, Smith-Schuster and rookie Xavier Worthy (to go along with tight end Travis Kelce and running back Kareem Hunt) should provide enough weapons for Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid to feel like they can put up enough points every week.
When Hopkins, now the Chiefs’ top receiver, needs a play off, Smith-Schuster has already shown he can rise to the occasion. And we know that Reid will be concocting some looks where the Bills will have to deal with the two at the same time.
**What...
