5 Questions with Arrowhead Pride ahead of Chiefs-Bills AFC Championship Game

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will perform a show for NFL fans on Sunday night where the winner claims the right to represent AFC in Super Bowl Lix. Bill’s Mafia and Chiefs Kingdom are ready to get past all the hype – it’s time to see which team has found out.

To get us ready for tomorrow’s showdown, Jared Sapp from Arrowhead Pride joined me once again to chat with everything Chiefs-Bills had. Although it was only nine weeks ago when Kansas City’s bid for an undefeated season ended in the hand of Buffalo, these teams are quite different. Much of it has to do with staff and the way the players are used.

Jared joined me to discuss whether there is fire to the smoke, there is quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ often reported ankle damage, Rookie Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy’s development over the past eight weeks and what has happened to Running Back Isiah Pacheco since his return from a knee injury earlier in the season.

Jared also comes in on Tight-end Travis Kelce’s involvement in the playoffs, and what it takes for Kansas City to move past Buffalo to make a Super Bowl in a row.

You can Read my answers to Jared’s questions about the bills by going over to Arrowhead Pride. Ready? Let’s dive in!

1. Patrick Mahomes is again noted with an ankle injury. How can it affect things on Sunday, and will Andy Reid make a schedule to keep him out of injury more than usual?

Since the situation is free for two weeks or going home, I think Mahomes will have green light to be as aggressive as necessary. Chiefs are possibly the league’s most resilient team to report treatment, so I don’t think there’s more than Mahomes still see the coaches for the high ankle stew he has been playing through since the beginning of December. He did not look limited in any way against Houston. Even being fired three times a week ago, he managed to avoid taking big hits and looked fine while the fight continued. He came back from the injury to play two matches in four days in week 16-17. I don’t think the problem will affect the game.

2. Has his use on attacks changed?

When Worthy was appointed, he was immediately seen as a bull hill or Desean Jackson option. He and Mahomes have never seemed to develop the timing on deep shots, but they have been money on shorter routes during the second half of the season. It’s very hard to keep Worthy from moving the chains on a short route because his speed inevitably adds important yards. Devonta Smith would probably be a better example than Hill or Jackson for Worthy’s rookies season. His little form makes him vulnerable to the pressure, but he has shown a wider route tree than most people had expected. Worthy may not catch a 50-yard bomb, but he has a good chance of stacking five receptions on 10 or more yards.

3rd Isiah Pachecon has not been nearly as dominant after returning from an injury. Has he been limited, or has Andy Reid just taken a more committee approach by utilizing Kareem Hunt? What should we expect to see out of the couple on Sunday?

Pacheco got a broken fibula early in the season and has not been the same player since returning in November. He has certainly seemed to have minor blasting. In addition to the damage, Pacheco’s workload rose as Chiefs moved Guard Joe Thuney outside left tackle. For the most part, Thuney has helped keep Mahomes upright, but his replacement on the left Guard Mike Caliendo has not kept his weight so well in the race. Chiefs have all screamed that they will run to the right.

Hunt was easily the best of the two running backs last week, but Chiefs looked to intentionally hold him out to be their fourth quarter closer. Apart from his touchdown in the second quarter, almost all of Hunt’s work came in the last frame. Again, with a win that ensures a goodbye week, I wonder if Chiefs will be more comfortable putting Hunt in a bell-cow role with Samaje Perine, who spells him on obvious transient downs.

4th. Travis Kelce had suffered from a low season according to his standards, but his game rose again as the after -season began. What do you expect chiefs to do to get Kelce more involved than he was back in week 11?

With Taylor Rapp out, and Taron Johnson is probably playing with a hanger, I expect Chiefs to target the middle of Bills’ secondary early and often with Kelce working out of the castle. I won’t be surprised if Chiefs tests Johnson on the first occasion to tackle Kelce one-on-one to see if Bills decides to devote security assistance to the Nickel Hjørnet.

Chiefs have not had many opportunities to have their planned speed combination of Worthy and Hollywood Brown on the field together. I can also see Chiefs see if Bills sells out to stop Kelce after his big match last week and become more aggressive downfield with their Wideouts.

5. What is the key for Chiefs to pass Bills and back to SB for the third time in a row?

On the offensive it is clear to play flawless football. Mahomes threw two elections in week 11, and poor pass protection made him run hectic over the second half. Opportunities will be there against Bills’ defense, but Buffalo is great for being in the right place to take advantage of uncomfortable mistakes. Chiefs need effective drives (preferably eating some watch to prevent James Cook from doing so).

The Bills was the only team that scored 30 points on Chiefs for two seasons (except for the meaningless week 18-debacle in Denver). Chiefs have some important starters left in cornerback Jaylen Watson and Defensive End Charles Omenihu. Watson is likely to staff the border of each defensive snap, hopefully Trent McDuffie will be used more strategically (possibly against Shakir in the castle). Bills may have the league’s best offensive line, but the attention will now come to Omenihu, George Karlaftis and Chris Jones, who hopefully force Josh Allen into some faster decisions before going to his legs.

Once again thanks to Jared Sapp for spending time with me this week to discuss the Bills Chiefs ahead of tomorrow’s AFC Championship Game. Make sure that Go over to Arrowhead Pride to check my turn in the hot seat and answer Jared’s Bills-focused questions.