Chiefs Have A Lot of Problems, But This Week’s Game Isn’t One Of Them

The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of issues to tackle this week, including their problems at receive and across the offensive line. But the schedule isn’t one of them now that the Chiefs have run their early gauntlet against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, because they have the NFL’s ultimate version of a get-right game coming up. 

The New York Jets are coming to Arrowhead on Sunday, and this could be an ideal fix-it week. The Jets have some talent here and there, so there’s a chance to challenge the different position groups that need help, but the Jets always shoot themselves in the foot somehow, so this could be a rout that gives the backups an opportunity as well. 

For tangible evidence of how this could work, consider the Jets’ last game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins basically torched the Jets in the second half as he wound up throwing three touchdown passes for the day. 

That means the Jets defense could be a nice workout for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the receivers -- not to mention tight end Travis Kelce -- which they seem to badly need to get everyone on the same page while getting some production down the field from the likes of Xavier Worthy. It could also be a good chance to develop Cyrus Allen, who’s shown signs of being a reliable option. 

Offensively, the Jets shredded the Raiders in the first half, so the Chiefs would also get an opportunity to be challenged by running back Braelon Allen, who had 118 rushing yards by halftime. 

The Raiders also weren’t able to mount anything close to a pass rush against former quarterback Geno Smith, and the Chiefs have been looking to improve their pass rush, so there’s an opportunity there as well. 

The Chiefs badly need a game where they can dominate their opponent, and the Jets should handily provide that as well. The Jets are one of those teams that’s right on the verge of quitting at the moment, with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick commenting afterward that Sunday’s loss to Las Vegas was basically “Jets being Jets.”

There is a small chance that this could be a trap game, so that’s where some risk enters the picture. The Chiefs can’t afford to stumble and play a nail-biter, or lose, heaven forbid, and the Jets are pretty handy on that front as well.