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.