The Kansas City Chiefs are 6-2 and are a half game behind the AFC West leading Oakland Raiders. Last week the Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite missing starters Alex Smith, Spencer Ware, Parker Ehinger, and Jamaal Charles, plus having to play a majority of the game without Jeremy Maclin. On top of all of that, Travis Kelce had to sit out most of the fourth quarter after being ejected for throwing a towel at an official. This week’s matchup comes against last season’s Super Bowl runner up, the Carolina Panthers.
Kansas City Chiefs Week Ten Keys to Victory
Contain Cam Newton
Cam Newton is not having a season like last year’s MVP campaign, but that does not mean he should be taken lightly. Newton still has the ability to throw the deep ball and take advantage of missed assignments in the secondary. The defense will have to play sound football in order to keep the passing game in check.
Newton also has the ability to terrorize defense with his feet too. The Chiefs will need to make sure they have someone responsible for the quarterback at all times, particularly on third down, when Newton likes to take off and run to try and gain a first down.
The best way to get into Newton’s head is with a strong pass rush. Dee Ford is leading the Panthers with nine sacks on the season, good for third in the league. With the way he has been playing lately, Ford will certainly have an effect on the Panthers passing game. Justin Houston’s status is still in question for this weekend, but there is a chance he can play. If Houston does return, expect to see the Chiefs bring him along slowly, much like they did with Jamaal Charles before he had to have another surgery.
Protect the Quarterback
Alex Smith is returning to the starting lineup after missing the Chiefs Week nine game thanks to two hard hits he took in Week eight against the Indianapolis Colts. Smith plays best when he is able to stay off the ground and when he does not have pressure in his face all game. The Panthers have a very good front seven that will push the pocket all day if the Chiefs defense allows them to.
The best way to protect a quarterback is to have a strong running game. The offense struggled to run the ball last week against the Jaguars and it will be tougher for Kansas City to pull off a road victory this week if they struggle on the ground. Hopefully the return of Smith and Ware will provide a spark to the ground game that gets the offense over the top.
Do Not Overlook the Panthers
It is easy to dismiss the Panthers and their 3-5 record. The Panthers started the season 1-5 but have won two straight after their Week seven bye week. Granted, none Carolina’s wins have come against a team with a winning record, but that does not change the fact that this team is not all that different from the squad that went 15-1 last year and played in the Super Bowl. This team could hit their stride at any time, and it is not in the Chiefs best interest to take a win against the Panthers for granted.
We have seen before what happens when one of Andy Reid’s teams comes into a game unprepared. See the Houston Texans game from Week two of this season or the Tennessee Titans game from 2014. The Chiefs have games with the Atlanta Falcons, Raiders, San Diego Chargers and two against the Denver Broncos still ahead on the schedule, so the most important games of the season still to come for them. It is important that Kansas City does not to look ahead and forget to focus on the task at hand this week.
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