Chiefs Week Two: Bold Predictions Against The Chargers
The Chiefs take on the Chargers on Thursday Night Football. So, let’s make even more bold predictions for Week Two.
In my last bold prediction article, I went two for three in predicting that Juju Smith-Schuster would emerge as WR1 and that Jody Fortson would score a TD. Technically I predicted Fortson would score the first touchdown, but I’m going to count it anyway. The only failed prediction was that the Cardinals would have an explosive play of 60+ yards, but I’ll gladly accept that one was incorrect.
So, moving forward let’s make another three bold predictions for the game against the Chargers. This game will be much harder to predict as anything can happen against a division rival. Not to mention, the Chargers have an infamous history of wild finishes to games. Let’s get to it then.
The Chiefs Will Score More Rushing Touchdowns Than Passing
In week one Patrick Mahomes threw for five passing touchdowns. Isiah Pacheco scored the only rushing touchdown on the day for the Chiefs. This should come as no surprise as the Chiefs are known for being a pass-happy offense, and losing Tyreek Hill doesn’t seem to have changed that. My prediction for this game is that the Chiefs will finish with more rushing touchdowns than passing.
The Chargers may have the best pass-rush duo in the NFL in Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, and on the back end, they have Derwin James, J.C. Jackson, and Asante Samuel Jr. Although it does appear as though J.C. Jackson may miss this game. Even without Jackson, the Chargers have one of the best defenses against the pass. However, one of their biggest concerns last year was defending the run, and it doesn’t appear as though they have solved that issue yet.
The Raiders fell behind early and were forced to pass more, but when called upon Josh Jacobs was averaging 5.7 yards/carry. While I still expect the Chiefs to pass the ball more than they run it, it wouldn’t surprise me if the points in this game come off of runs. In week one I was impressed by the play of all three Chiefs’ running backs, so let’s hope that continues into week two.
Chiefs Pass-Rush Finishes With More Sacks Than Chargers
This is an extremely bold prediction. As mentioned above the Chargers have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Mack alone had three sacks in week one, which is as many as the entire Chiefs defense had versus the Cardinals. Of course, it is much easier to sack Derek Carr than Kyler Murray, but the point still stands. On paper, the Chargers’ pass rush is significantly better than that of the Chiefs.
That being said, I believe the Chiefs have a better offensive line than the Chargers, and Mahomes is known for eluding pressure to make magic happen. Chris Jones may not have had a sack in week one, but he was causing mayhem in the backfield. The more attention Jones gets, the more it opens up for the other defensive lineman to get home.
For the most part, this prediction relies on my belief that Mahomes will get the ball out quickly, and avoid taking sacks. Whereas Herbert will stand his ground and try to make plays happen for his team. Keenan Allen is doubtful for this game, which takes away the best route-runner on the team, meaning Herbert may need to wait longer for routes to develop, or he will need to take more dump-offs to the RB. All in all, I believe this prediction is a long shot, but still possible.
The Chiefs Will Win By Double Digits Again On Thursday Night
The Chargers have a great roster, and I believe Justin Herbert is one of the five best QBs in the NFL. With that being said, I think the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are better. Both teams are dealing with injuries going into Thursday night, but the Chargers missing Keenan Allen and J.C. Jackson is significantly more impactful than the Chiefs missing Trent McDuffie and possibly Harrison Butker.
This won’t be an easy game, but as the game goes on I believe the Chiefs will pull away. While I wouldn’t be surprised if the game comes down to whoever has the ball last, I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs won by double digits for the second week in a row. I won’t predict that the Chiefs win by 20, but I can easily see the final score as 35-24.
So, what are your thoughts? What is your bold prediction for week two? Let us know in the comment section below.
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