Through the first eight weeks of the 2019 season, the Chiefs have battled through adversity thanks to the injury bug as well as a tough schedule. The season hasn’t been perfect for Kansas City, yet they are 5-3 on the season and well ahead in the AFC West division.
The Chiefs have been tested so far this year and have fared as a better road team compared to playing in their own building. Which, in a word, is…strange.
Arrowhead Stadium has been known throughout the National Football League as one of the loudest and toughest places to play but it hasn’t been quite the case for opposing teams, considering the Chiefs are a lousy 1-3 at home.
Kansas City’s poor record inside Arrowhead Stadium mounts largely to the injuries they’ve suffered and the slate of tough opponents who’ll be in the mix for making the playoffs this season. In regards to the Ravens (5-2), Colts (5-2), and Texans (5-3), the chances of the Chiefs playing at least one of these teams again soon as January rolls around, is very high.
Still, for whatever reason, the Chiefs have displayed a different kind of energy when playing in another team’s stadium and have a 4-0 record to show for it. But again, this could come down to the competition that Kansas City was up against.
In four games, Kansas City has defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4), Oakland Raiders (3-4), Detroit Lions (3-3-1) and Denver Broncos (2-6), all teams who are a wase away from competing for a trip to the postseason.
This isn’t to take away anything from the Chiefs’ success on the road, the Jaguars, Raiders, and Lions all had undefeated records at the time the Chiefs played them, after all.
This is to merely demonstrate that Andy Reid’s team was dealt a tougher hand when playing at home.
Injuries played a hand in all three of Kansas City’s losses, the absence of their starters kept the Chiefs from playing to their full potential and yet they still managed to keep each game close and only lost by a touchdown or less.
In the Colts game, Indy did a great job of shutting the Chiefs down for the most part. Since the Chiefs were already without left tackle Eric Fisher and losing lost guard Andrew Wylie during that game made it very easy for Justin Houston and the Colts pass rushers to get to Mahomes, who was playing on a bum ankle. The result was Indianapolis overpowering Kansas City in the trenches and the Colts won.
The Chiefs also lost receiver Sammy Watkins, defensive tackles Chris Jones and Xavier Williams and cornerback Kendall Fuller to injury. Not to mention Tyreek Hill also wasn’t available at the time which made it easy for Indy to stop the Kansas City’s air raid with man coverage.
In the Houston game, the Chiefs got Tyreek Hill back but the lack of starters on the offensive and defensive lines continued to doom the Chiefs. Some believe that the game could have gone a little differently had Reid not gone one dimensional, but who knows? Although, running the ball would’ve opened up some of the passing lanes and kept the Texan defense honest. The Chiefs’ o-line was on its heels, especially on the left side. Cam Irving and Martinas Rankin just weren’t up to the task of blocking the like of J.J. Watt and the Houston d-line.
Heavey pressure and man coverage allowed Houston to do a good job defending the Chiefs’ air attack and Reid’s neglection of the run game made it that much easier. Plus the Chiefs’ inability to keep Houston’s run game at bay on defense doomed Kansas City even more.
The Chiefs also went stride for stride last week against the Packers despite having no Patrick Mahomes, who was the latest player added to the long list of injuries.
Matt Moore filled in for Mahomes and proved a lot of doubters wrong with a superb performance throwing 24-of-36 for 267 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs were very much in this game and had a chance to knock off one of the league’s best and had LeSean McCoy not fumbled in the third quarter with the game tied at 17, we may have seen this one end a little differently.
It goes without saying that Kansas City is a battle-tested team and they could very easily be 3-5 considering the teams they’ve gone up against and the long line of injuries.
It’s no doubt that the first eight weeks of the season have not been kind to Kansas City. The combined record of the opponents they’ve played so far is 34-25-1 and four of eight games were against legit playoff teams.
Things get a little simpler heading into the second half of their schedule, with only two teams that currently sport winning records who also happen to be the two toughest opponents the Chiefs have left.
One is the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings, who storm into Arrowhead this weekend. The other is the New England Patriots on December 8, who remain undefeated so far this year.
The rest are against teams that are floating around the .500 mark and four will be against division opponents.
The Chiefs will also be getting healthier and could see some of their own return soon, beginning this week.
According to Friday’s injury report, starting offensive guard Andrew Wylie and defensive tackle Chris Jones were both full participants in practice. Getting both players back in the lineup would help bolster the offensive and defensive lines which would be huge for the Chiefs.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also said to be a game-time decision for this Sunday’s game. Although it’s more likely that Matt Moore will be getting his second consecutive start on Sunday. It’s only a matter of time before Kansas City finally gets their gunslinger back.
Also, cornerback Bashaud Breeland was limited in practice battling a shoulder injury and Kendall Fuller returned for a limited stretch with an injured thumb. Defensive end Frank Clark also returned to practice at a limited capacity as well. Clark was out for the past few weeks and will continue to be ‘week to week’ with a neck injury.
Heading into the second half of the season, the Chiefs are still predicted to win their division and make the postseason. At 5-3, Kansas City has shown through adversity that they are a tenacious bunch that has a fighting spirit that won’t go down easily.
The next eight games should be fun to watch.
