Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs have to beat Jets in the air

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

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The Kansas City Chiefs have to win on Sunday, and to do it, have to go via air.

Kansas City has long been known as a team that likes to grind out victories. Long gone is the explosive offense led by Trent Green (who will be calling Sunday’s game), Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez. The Chiefs are very reliant on the run game to move the chains, giving the ball to Spencer Ware and eventually, Jamaal Charles.

However, head coach Andy Reid should consider a different approach against the Jets on Sunday. Looking over some stats, I came across an interesting paradox. New York has been able to crush the quarterback, registering seven sacks to rank fourth in the NFL (all of those sacks came in Week 1). However, the Jets rank dead last in yards allowed per pass at a whopping 11.0.

If the Kansas City offensive line can give Alex Smith some time, this should be a game where Reid goes to the air early and often. Darrelle Revis is the only notable name in a hideous secondary, and he is a far cry from who he used to be. Jeremy Maclin should eat, and Travis Kelce should find plenty of open space. Heck, Chris Conley and Tyreek Hill should be given a deep shot or two, if nothing else to loosen up the safeties.

At some point, Smith will have to make some big throws on third down in this game. New York loves to blitz, with head coach and former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles being one of the most aggressive in the game. With the blitz comes man coverage, something Kelce and Maclin should win all day against this group.

This is a huge, huge game. Reid and Co. can’t afford to have a bad plan going in. Throw the ball.

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