The Kansas City Chiefs start their fifth game of the season aiming to regain their top position among the NFL’s elite. Although they lost their first two games, the Chiefs have won two in a row and now face a key AFC clash on Monday Night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Suddenly, the Kansas City Chiefs have an opportunity to tie for the lead in the AFC West. With the Los Angeles Chargers losing their second straight game and the Denver Broncos pulling off a surprise win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs can claim a share of the division lead.
Furthermore, this will be the second-to-last game the team plays without their top receiver, Rashee Rice, who will serve the remainder of his suspension after next Sunday’s showdown against the Detroit Lions.
As the Chiefs prepare for this game, they might need to limit wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s participation, as he suffered a mild ankle sprain during a walk-through on Saturday. Although the injury isn’t serious and all signs indicate he will play against the Jaguars, his absence could disrupt the flow of the Chiefs’ offense.
Kansas City has a prime opportunity to reshape its season against a team it has often succeeded against in the Patrick Mahomes era. Although Trevor Lawrence entered the NFL with more flair and higher expectations, he’s not on the same level as his opponent tonight.
Mahomes once again leads the Chiefs’ latest comeback. Although it took two and a half games for him to find his rhythm, he orchestrated double-digit wins over the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens to tie for the top spot early in the NFL season.
The Chiefs know the AFC is open for anyone to claim. With the Buffalo Bills losing at home to the New England Patriots, they revealed their weaknesses and joined the rest of a crowded AFC field that could earn the coveted postseason bye week.
In other words, no one is going to take the conference title easily, and that’s why this game sets the tone for the Chiefs as they face two of the NFC’s top teams at home this month. With the Sunday night game against the Lions and the Washington Commanders (Redskins) coming to Arrowhead, winning at Jacksonville is crucial for their comeback.
The Jaguars are led by new Head Coach Liam Cohen, who has brought his personality to his team. Jacksonville secured a big road win at San Francisco last week, but the game came at a cost, as it resulted in the loss of their top defensive player, Travon Walker, who underwent wrist surgery. He was listed as questionable on the final injury report, even though he wore a cast to protect the injury.
Head Coach Andy Reid found his rhythm last week thanks to Worthy’s return. He made a strong comeback, leading the Chiefs in passing and rushing yards. He’s such an essential part of the Chiefs’ offense that if he plays tonight, Kansas City should be in good shape.
However, he might not be the main story heading into this game. The defense continues to step up and is playing some of its best football since the 2023 season. Steven Spagnuolo has unleashed his rookies and blitz packages, leading to back-to-back wins.
His reliance on rookie cornerback Noel Williams, along with rookie defenders Omar Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte, has created speed and power in pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Now Lawrence can scramble out of the pocket, but if they trap him like the Chiefs did last weekend against Lamar Jackson, he’s likely to make mistakes.
Secondly, the Chiefs’ offensive line has been strengthened by the development of left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia. They had their best game of the season against Baltimore and will need to perform at that level in October, as the Chiefs will face some of the top defensive lines in football.
If that growth continues, with a healthy Worthy and Rice returning to the offense, Kansas City suddenly becomes the team to beat again in the NFL.
Although the Jaguars are 3-1, those wins weren’t accidental. They’ve become more disciplined under Coen and have gained confidence in their ability to beat strong teams.
So, this won’t be easy for the Chiefs, and if they turn the ball over or commit numerous penalties, Jacksonville can take the win. The key in this game is for the Chiefs to keep expanding their offense, spreading the ball around, and giving more opportunities to rookie running back Brashard Smith.
The SMU standout has become more confident with the coaching staff since the season began, and I believe that after the Bye Week in November, he’ll be at the top of his position’s depth chart.
Furthermore, if the Chiefs can win their third straight game by double digits, that should boost their confidence as they head into three consecutive home games.
Final Score Prediction:
Chiefs 34 – Jaguars 21
