In Week 5 the Kansas City Chiefs will be returning home to play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs are coming off a tough, and frankly weird game, against the Detroit Lions. In a game where Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a single touchdown, Kansas City still scored 34 points and fumbled three times in the third quarter. Despite all this, Mahomes was able to lead his team on a scoring drive in the final minute to win the game.
The Colts are up next, coming off a loss to the Oakland Raiders, and have a rapidly growing injury report. More than likely the Chiefs will not have have too much trouble with the Colts this week. Below is a look at the Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs Week 5 matchup.
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs: Breakdown and Prediction
Throw Deep Early and Often
Last week the Lions did a decent job of limiting Patrick Mahomes‘ downfield options. While he still threw for 315 yards, it wasn’t the Mahomes performance Chiefs fans are accustomed to. Andy Reid heavily utilizes flood concepts, which test the secondary on all three levels. Detroit took away the deep threats, leaving the check-down and midfield options open. The Colts simply don’t have the personnel to do the same.
The Indianapolis Colts could have both of their starting safeties missing Sunday. Not only will Malik Hooker be out due to a knee injury, but Clayton Geathers may not play if he is unable to pass the concussion protocol by game time. This leaves the Colts with rookie Khari Willis and second-year man George Odum. Willis, a fourth-round pick out of Michigan State, was praised out of college for his strength, size, and short zone awareness. However, he lacks speed, causing him to be a liability when playing deep zones. Odum too was criticized out of college for his poor deep-ball coverage ability.
Andy Reid and the Chiefs offense will test these young players early and often Sunday. With the speed the Chiefs have at the receiver position and Mahomes’ arm strength, seam and post routes should carve up the secondary easily. The Chiefs numbers through the air this week will probably look like a box score from Madden.
Chiefs Run Defense Will Struggle
It’s no secret that teams can run on the Chiefs defense. Currently, they have allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league (only the Miami Dolphins have allowed more). With the Colts offensive line being the best the Chiefs have faced this season, it should be more of the same this week.
The Colts are currently ranked seventh in rushing this year. Marlon Mack is averaging nearly five yards a carry this season as well. However, Mack is currently nursing an ankle injury. He’s expected to be limited in practice this week, but will likely play. Frank Reich doesn’t want Jacoby Brissett to have to throw 40 times in a game, so their best option is running the ball every chance they get.
Keeping the ball on the ground and Mahomes on the sidelines has had some limited success this year. Considering Indianapolis has a poor secondary, and a hobbled T.Y. Hilton, the running game seems to be the Colts only hope of keeping things respectable.
Last Word
The hardest part of the coming week for most Chiefs fans will be having to see Justin Houston play in another team’s jersey. The current problems the Colts have, are the same places where the Chiefs excel. The Colts can run the ball to hemorrhage the bleeding, but in the end the Chiefs should emerge victorious.
Prediction: Chiefs win 41-26
Main Photo
