Behind Enemy Lines: A new-look Chiefs?
The Kansas City Chiefs have managed to separate themselves as Super Bowl contenders in a season where not many teams are able to do so. They’ve gone a little bit different direction than the 49ers since their meeting in Super Bowl LIV. They went back to the Super Bowl the next year while the 49ers missed the playoffs. Then last year both clubs lost in their respective conference championship games.
This season the Chiefs have started 4-2 and looked the part of a contender in a 24-20 loss to the top-seeded Bills in Week 6. They’re doing that without a handful of the players they leaned on in the Super Bowl victory over the 49ers. How much different do the Chiefs look now? We got in touch with Chiefs Wire editor Charles Goldman to find out what San Francisco will be facing Sunday against Kansas City:
Niners Wire: How is the Chiefs' offense different without Tyreek Hill?
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Charles Goldman: Teams are playing more man coverage against them and daring receivers to beat guys 1-on-1. They didn’t do that when Tyreek Hill was here because they’d be asking to get burnt by him 98% of the time. I’d say the biggest difference is that the Chiefs are spreading the ball around. They don’t live and die by the big play like they did last season when Hill and Travis Kelce were their only offensive outlets. They’re much deeper now.
NW: Is there a clear-cut RB1 for Kansas City?
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CG: Not quite. I think if you asked the coaching staff, they’d tell you Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the starter, but Jerick McKinnon has got more snaps in back-to-back weeks because he’s an ace in pass protection. Really all three of them have their roles, but Chiefs fans are desperate to see more of seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. He’s got that Marshawn Lynch-esque running style.
NW: Who’s their best WR?
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CG: JuJu Smith-Schuster. Last week was a bit of a breakout game for him. He had five receptions on five targets for 113 yards and a touchdown. It was his first 100-yard receiving game and his first touchdown in Kansas City. I think he’s finally starting to settle in and understand how to practice and prepare with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback.
NW: What’s the Chiefs’ biggest defensive weakness?
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CG: I would say the secondary, but they should be getting a key boost there this week with second-round safety Bryan Cook returning from a concussion and first-round corner Trent McDuffie expected to return from injured reserve. I feel comfortable saying that this defense is much better than the group the 49ers faced in Super Bowl LIV. They’re faster and younger at all three levels.
NW: Are there any players 49ers fans likely don’t know who could shine Sunday?
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CG: Rookie WR Skyy Moore seems to be usurping a bigger role on offense – he hasn’t really had a breakout game per se, but he’s getting there. On the defensive side of the ball, I’m thinking that LB Willie Gay Jr. is going to make his presence felt in this game. In my humble opinion, he’s the second-best defensive player on this roster next to DT Chris Jones. He’s coming off of a four-game suspension too, so you know he’s going to be anxious to get in there and make plays.
NW: Let's do the prediction thing here.
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CG: I’ve got Chiefs 31, 49ers 24. At the end of the day, I think it’s going to be on Jimmy G to keep up with Patrick Mahomes – even with Mahomes going against a very talented San Francisco defense. We’ve seen him shred No. 1 ranked defenses like they were No. 32 ranked in the past. It all goes out the window when you play against him.
