Can Colts Cool KC Down?

The AFC West doesn't quite look like the juggernaut many experts anticipated, but I'm still thrilled to see our Kansas City Chiefs alone on top of the division. Beating the Los Angeles Chargers was no easy task. Patrick Mahomes looked mortal multiple times when potential picks were bobbled and dropped by the frustrated Chargers secondary. Rookie seventh-rounder Jaylen Watson turned a probably touchdown for LA into a memorable touchdown for KC with a 99-yard pick-six. Patrick's haters can hate all they want, but the game ended with both QB's posting a Passer Rating over 100 and Mahomes earning more than five points than Justin Herbert in this measurement. Today, we'll see the #1 Passer Rating in football against the #31 Passer Rating.

Call it a trap game if you want, but there should be little hope for the 0-1-1 Indianapolis Colts today. They have failed to achieve victory over two teams that Vegas oddsmakers expect to win 11 games combined this season. Indy's defense consistently fails to apply pressure, and it's making success on either side of the ball difficult for them. Only five teams in the NFL have fewer sacks through two weeks, and only three teams allow a better Passer Rating to opposing QB's.

Not even the production of last season's rushing leader should be enough to keep the Chiefs from victory. Jonathan Taylor's 161 rushing yards in Week 1 weren't enough to help the Colts win against the Houston Texans. That's not to say the Chiefs will allow that kind of performance today, even with the noteworthy loss of Willie Gay to suspension. KC faced another top-shelf running back last week when they hosted LA, and Austin Ekeler averaged only 2.8 yards on the ground over 14 carries. There's no other individual on Indy's roster that forces opposing coaching staffs to alter their battle plans.

The Chiefs don't look perfect, but they look like a real Super Bowl contender. The Colts don't look talentless, but they look like a real contender to choose first in next year's draft. I'm taking the Chiefs, 34-17. 

KC Cannot Expect to Wreck Chargers Like They Wrecked Arizona

The Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs started their seasons in very different ways this year. After a slow start, L.A's offense heated up and Justin Herbert spread the ball around effectively against the Las Vegas Raiders. Six different Chargers caught at least three passes in Week 1's 24-19 victory over the new Raiders regime. It wasn't all roses for the Chargers, though. Austin Ekeler averaged under 2.6 yards per carry, which made controlling the clock difficult. L.A's defense also allowed a variety of big plays to Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs and especially Davante Adams, which kept Vegas in a game that should've been decided by far more than a single possession.

Derek Carr had the ball late in the fourth quarter with a chance to score a TD to take the lead, despite throwing three picks and fumbling twice. I expect Herbert's crew to put up more than 24 on a team when the opposing QB compiles a 26.9 QBR. I'd be willing to bet my house that Patrick Mahomes will put up slightly better numbers than this, but I'm only renting. Mahomes didn't throw any picks while racking up 360 passing yards and five TD passes. Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon all averaged at least five yards per carry with at least four carries each. Pacheco, the 7th-round draft pick rookie, led the way with 12 carries for 62 yards on the ground. 

I ultimately think KC loses this game tonight, but I also don't think that sting will linger for too long. I'm predicting the Chiefs as the 2022 Super Bowl winners, and I promise, that was my plan before the dominant 44-21 win in Arizona. Few teams are as complete as KC, and none have the same level of supreme talent that has achieved victory in big moments. With that being said, the Chiefs could easily prove me wrong tonight by wrecking the Chargers, who honestly looked more flawed than I expected in Week 1. I have to balance my optimism for now, though, and this newly rebuilt Chiefs offense isn't going to destroy all teams like they destroyed Arizona last week.

I'm predicting a great game and a Chargers victory tonight, mainly because I have faith in them to look more like the Super Bowl contender most fans expect to see. I also think the Chiefs are the better team when it matters most, and I'd be thrilled to see these teams face off three times this season. This time around, I'm predicting a 30-27 Chargers victory.

Quick Predictions for Every '22 Regular Season Chiefs Game

Are you fired up yet, KC? Our Kansas City Chiefs begin their regular season today against Kyler Murray's Arizona Cardinals. To commemorate the beginning of meaningful football in Chiefs Kingdom, I'm looking through KC's schedule and making a quick prediction for each game. 

KC's first game against the Cards could have been a significant test for KC with DeAndre Hopkins on the field. Without his play-making ability, I'm giving the clear edge to the Chiefs here. Reid/Mahomes beats Kingsbury/Murray until proven otherwise, even though Kingsbury/Murray is really fun to say. Predicted Record: 1-0.

Game #2 is a toss-up at Arrowhead Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers. Let's balance some of my upcoming optimism by predicting an L for the Chiefs here. The Chargers have the talent, if not the experience, of a Super Bowl contender. It could be Justin Herbert's time to step up and get to that next level of playoff success, but Mahomes and Burrow still stand in his way. Predicted Record: 1-1.

The Indianapolis Colts shouldn't be favored by anyone in Week 3, despite still having Wild Card potential this season. Indy could even challenge the steady Tennessee Titans for that division title, but they're one of many teams who won't quite stack up with KC this year. Predicted Record: 2-1.

Week 4 takes the Chiefs to Tampa for a second straight road game. KC could lose this one, but I'll give them the edge over a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that's lost some momentum and talent since their Super Bowl LV victory. We'll cover this topic exhaustively when the time comes. Predicted Record: 3-1.

The Las Vegas Raiders then return to KC to lose to Mahomes for the eighth time in his ninth game facing that franchise. This will be the Raiders' fifth game under new head coach Josh McDaniels and stud wide-out Davante Adams. Real offensive cohesion will presumably take longer than that. Predicted Record: 4-1.

The Buffalo Bills travel to Arrowhead for a game where they'll seemingly have the edge. KC snuck by last time when they still had Tyreek Hill, and Buffalo could now be the league's best team on paper. It's hard to bet against the Bills this week...or this whole dang season. Predicted Record: 4-2.

The San Francisco 49ers should present a unique challenge with a strong coaching staff, but I'm giving KC the edge in this one. That means I'm predicting KC to win two rematches of recent Super Bowls within four weeks. Weird. Predicted Record: 5-2.

The Chiefs follow up their bye week with a trip to Nashville for an intriguing test of the new-look defensive line, which should be somewhat galvanized at this point. Any significant success in limiting Tennessee Titans star RB Derrick Henry should lead to a Chiefs victory. Predicted Record: 6-2.

The Jacksonville Jaguars may improve throughout this season, but not enough to upset the Chiefs in Week 10. Back-to-back home games against beatable opponents represents a strange must-win pair of games for KC when they have such a brutal schedule before and after this short stretch. Predicted Record: 7-2.

Chiefs split the season series with the Chargers by winning this Week 11 game in LA. This is my least-confident prediction. I wouldn't be shocked if KC swept the Chargers, or if it happened the other way around. Predicted Record: 8-2.

The Los Angeles Rams don't represent an automatic L for KC, but the reigning champs are one of very few teams who could arrive in Arrowhead late in the season as the betting favorite. Give them the win here, but could KC get revenge in The Big Game? Crazier things have happened. Predicted Record: 8-3.

Speaking of revenge, I want so badly to pick KC to win on the Cincinnati Bengals' home turf in Week 13. Truth is, Burrow's Bengals have the Chiefs' number until proven otherwise. This kinda reminds me of what I typically say about Mahomes. That's how the benefit of the doubt works when it's earnestly earned. Predicted Record: 8-4.

The tradition of over-panicking in Chiefs Kingdom will take place later than usual this time around, specifically when KC loses in Denver in Week 14. This hypothetical path puts the Chiefs dangerously close to missing out on the playoffs entirely, despite hypothetical wins over strong competition like the Bucs and Chargers. All these possible paths indicate that even reaching the playoffs is no given for KC this season. Predicted Record: 8-5.

Wins against Houston and Seattle will put an end to some fear in the fanbase, just in time for an exciting face-off with the Broncos at Arrowhead. Both the Texans and Seahawks are expected to stink, so they're the duo that earns the least analysis time from me or probably anyone else. Predicted Record: 10-5.

Vegas oddsmakers predict the Wilson/Hackett version of the Broncos to win 10-11 games this season. Am I the only person wondering about this? I want to give Denver the win, for balance or for being devil's advocate or for simply believing the experts, but my gut says it won't happen. The Chiefs blank the Donkeys this year to stomp on their fans' hopes and reach an impressive 11-win record with one regular season game left. Predicted Record: 11-5.

Week 18 will could decide some critical playoff seeding for KC, while perhaps being the last chance for the Raiders to earn a Wild Card. This tightly contested game should be won, as it usually is, by the superior duo of QB and head coach. That duo will belong to Kansas City for at least two more presidential elections. Predicted Record: 12-5.

That's a high bar to set for what we expect this season, yet I predict that this still leaves KC without a divisional title. I think the Chargers are about to look excellent. A variety of factors could prove me wrong, including injuries, turnover concerns and major flaws on special teams. If all goes well for Herbert's crew, however, I expect them to win around 13 games and the AFC West crown.

I'll review the Cards game, preview the Chargers game and give my Chiefs-related playoff predictions next week. Check in then for plenty more Chiefs Kingdom content.