Arrowhead Pride
Momentum swing for Kansas City?
After weeks of disjointed showings, the Chiefs finally looked a lot like their old selves last week against the Ravens. The return of speedy receiver Xavier Worthy helped reignite a sputtering offense on multiple fronts, and Kansas City exceeded its scoring average for the season by 17 points.
Now the Chiefs will try to extend their win streak to three games and also reel in the Los Angeles Chargers, who lead the AFC West with a 3-1 record. To do so, Patrick Mahomes and company will have to deliver another effective performance and ensure ball security remains a priority as they face the Jaguars, who boast a ball-hawking defense that has recorded at least three takeaways in each of its four contests this season.
With Worthy back on the field for the first time since his Week 1 injury in a collision with Travis Kelce, the Chiefs regained a big-play threat last week. The second-year pro made five catches for 83 yards and also ripped off a 35-yard run. He also helped open up things underneath for fellow pass catchers Kelce (five catches for 48 yards), JuJu Smith-Schuster (four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown) and Hollywood Brown (three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs’ offense had its most productive day in terms of points, yards and first downs, and Mahomes posted his best passer rating (124.8) of the season and didn’t turn the ball over for the first time since Week 1.
The Jaguars also enter this game on a two-game win streak after beating the Texans in Week 3 and the 49ers in Week 4. This will serve as a good measuring stick game for Liam Coen’s young team, and also help them keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts (also 3-1 in the AFC South), who host the Las Vegas Raiders this week. (Chiefs at Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, ESPN)
Tyquan Thornton, Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+400)
The Kansas City Chiefs’ receiver core was hammered with injuries to start the year. That led to Tyquan Thornton being thrown into the mix, and he built a rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Through the first month, Thornton is first on the team in receiving touchdowns (3), along with 10 catches for 182 receiving yards. The Baylor product has scored a touchdown in three straight games. The model is projecting 24 points for the Chiefs on Monday, it likes the value of taking Thornton anytime touchdown odds at +400
Travis Kelce turned 36 on Sunday
Stefon Diggs...
