Why Kansas City Will Win the AFC Championship
Kansas City is running better than you probably think it is.
For all the pyrotechnics and brilliance from the passing game when everything was on the line against Buffalo, it was the ability to come up with a big run here and there throughout the first three quarters that mixed things up and ended up setting up the mid-range throws that turned into home runs.
The Chiefs have hit the 100-yard mark in each of their last five games and in seven of the last nine – including 155 yards against the Bengals the first time around – with a good mix of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, Patrick Mahomes taking off, and with a few quirky other plays here and there.
Again, it’s been lost in the greatness of the way the Buffalo game ended, but Kansas City’s offense controlled the tempo. Even with Buffalo’s epic-long fourth quarter drive to take the late lead, Kansas City still dominated the time of possession battle with the ball for close to 37 minutes – this includes overtime – and more than ten minutes more than the Bills.
The defensive side should be able to do its part.
Joe Burrow has managed to survive behind a leaky offensive line that’s getting him rocked way too much. Josh Allen took his big hits on runs. Burrow will take his trying to wait for the deep plays to develop.
Tennessee sacked Burrow eight times and popped him 13 times in all. Kansas City hit him six times in the first meeting, but it should be able to bring just enough pressure to matter.
Burrow won’t run like Allen did.
– What’s Going To Happen, Prediction