National Football League

NFL Week 1: Chiefs Lose If...

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Sep 1, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan (6) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dadi Nicolas (52) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won 17-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

By about 3 p.m. CST on Sunday we will have several answers to what kind of team the Chiefs will be in 2016.

On paper this is a game that the Chiefs should win hands down. Kansas City has San Diego beat in all position groups besides QB. I can’t stand Phillip Rivers but he has been a great QB for his entire time in the NFL (and yes I just threw up in my mouth a little bit).

San Diego improved on the offensive line in the off-season but not enough to withstand the pressure the Chiefs “Fearsome Foursome” of defensive lineman will bring into Arrowhead on Sunday. Melvin Gordon is healthy and should have an improved line to run behind. Ken Whisenhunt is back in San Diego and knows how to run a very good offense. Phillip Rivers has better weapons in a healthy Keenan Allen and newly signed Travis Benjamin along with trusted TE Antonio Gates.

A quick Red Friday preview of the upcoming game against the San Diego Chargers.

In the end this game will be decided by the Chiefs. Talent doesn’t always trump desire and if Kansas City doesn’t show up ready to go to work on Sunday then they will walk out of Arrowhead Sunday afternoon 0-1. An entire off-season of preparation and it all comes to a head on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City.

So how can Kansas City lose? The Chiefs could lose the game if several key areas go in San Diego’s favor. The obvious answers of injuries and turnovers is true here but it is not what I am referring to. Kansas City will hold the keys to its own destiny when the game kicks off in Arrowhead.

SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 19: Phillip Gaines

The Chiefs decided not to give Sean Smith the contract that he was looking for and he became an Oakland Raider in the offseason. While I will agree that Smith was good I think there are things that were masked by the Chiefs scheme to help him. The biggest issue facing Kansas City on Sunday is the inexperience of their secondary. KC only has 1 corner on the roster that’s started 16 games in his career. The rest of the corners are third year player Phillip Gaines, second year CB’s Steven Nelson and Kenneth Acker, and rookie corners DJ White and KeiVarae Russell.

Phillip Rivers has to be liking the match-ups he will have in the secondary on Sunday. While Gaines has the speed to run with Benjamin, Peters does not. I fully expect San Diego to attack Gaines early but I don’t think they will avoid Peters all together. Peters had a great second half to the season but struggled early last year and Rivers didn’t see him until after he had found his stride.

The other match-up that Rivers has to be liking is Gates on Berry. Gates has routinely had good days against Eric in the past. If he can continue to take advantage of this size difference over Berry the Chiefs will be in for a long day at Arrowhead.

Peters, Gaines and Nelson have a very tall task on Sunday. This isn’t the best WR core that they will play against but it is a very good one. If Benjamin and Allen get over the top more than two times in the game on Sunday, Kansas City will have a very difficult time winning.

We’ve been talking about this all off season and now it’s time to see if it is really the issue we thought it could be. Without Justin Houston the Chiefs cannot put pressure on the QB consistently. If Ford continues to not step forward the Chiefs defense will have a very difficult time getting to Rivers. The one area that could help KC is the defensive line and if they can push the pocket it won’t allow Rivers to step up. That may give the pass rushers the extra second to second and a half they will need to get there.

If I’m San Diego I’m giving my right tackle help early with Dee Ford. Have the TE chip him or help double team him. Don’t let Ford get into the game as he did last year. Tamba Hali has missed the entire preseason and is on a snap count for the game. If Ford can’t provide the pressure Hali won’t be able to step in and do it himself. Expect Sutton to dial up some exotic blitzes early. He has to try to set a tempo for the defense. However, watch out if Rivers is able to escape the rush enough to get a deep ball to Benjamin.

When the defense takes the field they must find a way to create pressure. If the Chiefs give Rivers 3 to 4 seconds every snap he is going to pick the young CB’s apart. If Kansas City doesn’t find a way to make Rivers frustrated and hit him at least 5 or 6 times in the first 2 or 3 drives the Chiefs will lose.

If there is one group that holds the key to the Chiefs season the most it’s the offensive line. If we are to get specific Parker Ehinger and Laurent Duvernay Tardif please step forward. The Chiefs guard play is going to determine the ceiling and the floor for this team. For the most part the starters have played well but Ehinger has struggled against the better competition in the NFL.

San Diego has already suffered injuries on the defensive line losing Lissemore for the season. Furthermore, Joey Bosa is not expected to play as he is dealing with a hamstring injury. I fully expect SD’s defense to try to confuse the young guards. Stunts and delayed blitzes, using their power and strength to shut down rushing lanes and destroy plays before they have a chance.

San Diego must get pressure on Smith early. Parker must hold up as a blocker and can’t let himself be driven into Alex Smith’s lap. LDT needs to continue what he has shown most of the preseason and not revert back to last season. Chiefs fans remember Mike McGlynn for being a turnstile at guard, and if either of the guards are even close to that bad on Sunday Kansas City will lose.

Both the Chiefs offense and defense should be better than the Chargers units. Scheme, play calling and coaches affect every game and this one will be no different. Reid needs to call a good game offensively and get his team off on the right foot on Sunday.

If he stumbles and hooks it three feet wide of the upright, the Chiefs will be facing an uphill battle the entire season. Even though this Chiefs roster is very good, that pressure wears on teams with shallow depth.. The starters and depth at CB, OLB and OL have many unanswered questions that they must address.

What do you think, Addicts?