Arrowhead Pride
Coming off Week 2’s 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unaccustomed position: starting the season 0-2. Can they collect their first win of the season against the New York Giants on “Sunday Night Football?”
Here’s what I’ll be wondering as the game gets underway.
Through two games, the Chiefs have not been able to get their offense moving quickly. In both Week 1 and Week 2, Kansas City went three-and-out on its opening drive. If you combine the first three drives of both games, the team has just three total points. The first 15 plays are the ones head coach Andy Reid scripts throughout the week — but this year, those have not been clicking.
This week, the Chiefs need to get out to a fast start. Can Reid craft a script that maximizes the current roster? Getting tight end Travis Kelce going early feels like a good way to jump-start the opening drive. If Kansas City can design plays that free Kelce in space for chunk gains, it could help put the offense into rhythm.
The New York pass rush may be the best the Chiefs have faced so far. Some might argue that case for the Eagles, but the Giants have more top-end talent. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and defensive tackle Jalen Carter are both arguably the best at their positions. New York also features Pro Bowl defensive end Brian Burns and second-overall pick Abdul Carter on the edge. Beyond those stars, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is a former top-10 pick, and the team has solid depth with defensive tackles Darius Alexander — and former Chief Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who is doubtful for the game with a foot injury.
What makes the Giants’ pass rush dangerous is its versatility: New York can exploit matchups with its best players. Lawrence is the league’s best run-stuffer, but he also has a wide range of pass-rush moves and can dominate both at nose tackle and as a three-technique. Carter has already shown the ability to be a Swiss Army piece. He can win from the edge, line up over a guard or center, and create havoc with his athleticism. Burns primarily rushes from the edge, and his speed helps him collapse the pocket.
The Giants will be testing Jawaan Taylor and Kingsley Suamataia in one-on-one matchups. Taylor will see a lot of Burns — and it will be critical for him to seal the corner so Patrick Mahomes can escape outside the pocket. Taylor also needs to limit holding penalties when Burns bends around the arc. Suamataia will face both Lawrence and Carter, and he must be prepared for both. When Lawrence lines up over him, Suamataia must anchor and reestablish leverage after initial contact. Against Carter, he must stay agile and light on his feet, ready...
