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4. Coverage strategy
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Photo by Michael Owens/Getty ImagesThe Cincinnati offense’s biggest threat is through the air — when Burrow can get the ball to a top-heavy pass-catching group led by wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That could be stunted by Higgins’ hamstring injury; he has been listed as doubtful after missing this week’s practices.
In previous seasons, former Chiefs’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed played a role in limiting their production. Without him, cornerback Trent McDuffie is slated to take on Chase; in Week 1, McDuffie was the primary defender to account for the Ravens’ top receiver: Zay Flowers.
Chase, however, is a more physical (and more talented) receiver. So defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo may rely on a more team-oriented approach to containing him — like a safety cheating to help one of the other cornerbacks cover him.
That strategy would set up McDuffie on an island against one of the Bengals’ auxiliary receivers: second-year wideout Andrei Iosivas or veteran slot receiver Trenton Irwin. He would be expected to shut them down as throwing options by himself.
5. Finishing drives
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Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty ImagesThe Kansas City offense made the Week 1 win way closer than necessary. Two first-half possessions advanced into the red zone, but neither one ended with a touchdown. The team punted from Baltimore territory in the third quarter — and then couldn’t close the game out on their final possession.
Some of that can be blamed on three Mahomes passes that were dropped, according to PFF. (Personally, I believe the count could be four). But that wasn’t the only problem. The lack of pass protection ruined some third-down attempts — which only happened because the running game wasn’t much help on early downs.
Last year, Kansas City ended the season ranked 17th in red-zone touchdowns. It’s a facet of the game where the Chiefs have sometimes been elite — the team ranked second in 2022 — so their progress in this area will be important to monitor.
With the Bangels having had their butts handed to them last week by the Pats makes this week the perfect trap game for the chiefs. I do not look to see the same Bangels to show up in Arrowhead this week that lost against what was, on paper, an inferior team last week. The Chiefs will need to be prepaired!
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