At 1-2 and off to a surprisingly disappointing start, how bold is bold when it comes to this team? Is it bold to expect the defense to stop a team in the red zone? Or for the offense to not have a turnover? Let’s decide as we look at four bold predictions as the Chiefs visit the City of Brotherly Love for what we hope is a get-right game.
Jarran Reed has a solid game against the run
The Jarran Reed signing wasn’t seen as a big splash free agency sign, but with Chris Jones disappointing (so far) relocation to the outside position, Reed was viewed as a boost for the Chiefs’ interior line. With the Chiefs, now several years into boasting a less than stellar run defense, the line shake-up and addition of Frank Clark’s former Seattle teammate was expected to pay dividends. It has not.
Jarran Reed has been M.I.A on the stat sheet. After three games, Reed has tallied only three solo tackles and two assists. Reminder: The Ravens ran a staggering 67 plays against this defense. Clearly, Reed has had no shortage of opportunities to make tackles.
This is Jarran’s week. Reed shows up big on Sunday against a depleted Eagles offensive line and their attempts to establish a ground game to keep the ball away from Patrick Mahomes and company. Reed dominates the interior line and wreaks havoc against an offensive line relying on backup players. Reed posts five solo tackles including two for a loss.
CEH gets 100 yards rushing and doesn’t fumble (kind of)
Against L.A., the Chiefs were clearly trying to establish their run game. I had said in earlier articles that if the Chiefs could develop a solid running attack combined with PM 15 and the complement of weapons he has, the sky would be the limit to a juggernaut offense. CEH had a respectable outing on Sunday to the tune of 17 carries for 100 yards. He added 2 catches for 9 yards and a touchdown. CEH also turned the ball over, again, just like the week prior against the Ravens.
This week, we will see CEH combine for 130 yards all-purpose yards and scores on the ground with a 25+ yard TD run. The Eagles have been ravaged by injuries on both sides of the ball, including DE Brandon Graham, who is done for the season. I expect Reid to scheme towards Graham’s vacated spot with a variety of run plays. This scheme allows the offensive line to blow open huge running lanes for CEH to prove himself a week after hitting the century mark. For good measure, CEH recovers his own fumble at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Chiefs dominate a team
Last season there was talk about how the Chiefs we unable to put together a solid game for four quarters and dominate a team beginning to end in all phases. This season, they narrow pulled out a victory over Cleveland and squandered leads in their next two games. This team is as easily 3-0 as they could be 0-3 or where they sit at 1-2.
They have lacked the instinct to stay on the gas and finish teams, Andy Reid bears responsibility. How many times has Reid gone to conservative play-calling late in a game? Or early in a game for that matter. Not this week.
Back where his head coaching career began and going for his 100th win with a second franchise (which has never been done before), Reid takes the gloves off and throws everything at the lowly Eagles for the entire game. Reid and this roster have been victims of their own demise this season and Reid won’t have it in front of the Philly crowd. Reid will show his former organization what he thinks of his unceremonious departure after delivering so many wins to that franchise and he will do it with a dominating beat down.
Defense holds in the Red Zone (Twice)
I know what you’re thinking – Woah, slow it down. Well, these are bold predictions, so I saved the boldest for last. The Chiefs’ defense has been nothing short of ’18 like dreadful. With the exception of a field goal by L.A. late on Sunday, K.C. has surrendered touchdowns on every red zone visit by the opposing teams and has given up 95 points in three weeks. Not this week.
With a rookie head coach, an o-line missing three starters and a lack of offensive identity the Eagles will struggle even against one of the worst defenses in the league. At some point, the Chiefs defense needs to consider it a point of pride.
The offense hinges on Mahomes ability to rescue them from the abysmal play of the defense week in, week out nearly his entire tenure as starting QB. This is the week the defense finally steps up and plays with intensity for an entire 60 mins. This will include at least two red zone defensive stops for field goals. The defense has something to prove, they do just that on Sunday.
