Chiefs Struggle Despite 2-0 Start: Detailed Analysis

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00:00But I think to speak to the fact that this team could easily be 0-2, maybe not easily,

00:08but it's certainly on the board with the way those games have gone.

00:11Of all the 2-0 teams, the Kansas City Chiefs have the lowest point differential of any

00:17of them.

00:18Now you could argue they've had the toughest stretch playing Baltimore and Cincinnati,

00:22but this has not been a dominant Chiefs team, which is what I think a lot of people were

00:26expecting out of the Chiefs this year, is all that ugliness and ruggedness from last

00:32year would be gone, and it would be crisp, smooth sailing, MVP Pat.

00:36And again, that's not been here.

00:39Pat is coming off of maybe the least prolific game of his entire career, throwing for under

00:43160 passing yards last week, yet still a field goal favorite on the road.

00:49Donnie, how important, though, do you believe Isaiah Pacheco's absence will be in this game?

00:54I mean, massive.

00:55When would we ever think about that?

00:56Like a running back, oh no, Kansas City Chiefs, so what?

00:59You have so many weapons at wide receiver, at tight end, the best offensive line in the

01:02league at Andy Recalling plays.

01:04Now we're short of shuffling tackles here, Kevin, at the wrong time.

01:07Now Pacheco is down, so you're going to lean on Carson Steele as your lead back at this

01:11point.

01:12Rasheed Rice seemingly your only viable option at wide receiver, worthy not yet there, and

01:16of course we know that Marquise Brown won't be around until the postseason if the Kansas

01:20City Chiefs make the postseason, which leads, it's all on Patrick Mahomes' shoulder here

01:24on a week-to-week basis.

01:25Now, you might say to yourself, well, that's not a bad option to have, the best quarterback

01:29in football, maybe when it's all said and done, one of the best of all time.

01:32But he needs help, Joe.

01:33You take a look at Kelsey at tight end, he hasn't shown up yet.

01:36This is when it's supposed to be Batman and Robin taking care of business on the road,

01:41but it comes at a time where, can I say I don't know if I trust Kansas City right now?

01:45But you're putting your trust in Kirk Cousins?

01:47No, I didn't say that.

01:51I mean, he did it last week, right?

01:52He had the two-minute drive, leads the victory, Kirk Cousins, 22-21.

01:57But now it's back-to-back potential prime time spots.

02:00Can this Falcons team step up?

02:01And to Donnie's point, in regards to Pat Mahomes, you know, Travis Kelsey hasn't stepped up.

02:06One reception, five yards.

02:08I do feel that in this spot on the road, this is a perfect opportunity to maybe open it

02:13up and utilize the best player on the field and the passing attack.

02:16I think Carson Steele will have and carry the ball maybe 15 to 17 times in this matchup.

02:21Could also catch the football out of the backfield.

02:23He's a little bit bigger and shorter to the ground than Pacheco.

02:27But again, this is going to come down to Pat Mahomes.

02:29I told you, he's 38-11 straight up on the road or on a neutral field in his career.

02:35And I'm just not buying, again, in Atlanta, big picture.

02:37They did it last week.

02:38That was a great drive.

02:40But again, I need to see it in multiple weeks.

02:42I'm not putting my money on Kirk Cousins, but I do feel Kyle Pitts could have a bounce

02:46back way.

02:47I saw Gosicki eat for Cincinnati in regards to the tight end position.

02:51Kyle Pitts could be a factor for that offense in Atlanta.

02:54And Isaiah likely tore up Kansas City in week number one.

02:56They're so far the worst team against tight ends in this league.

03:00I think it's a really interesting spot, and Joe, you said it so perfectly.

03:03It was a great drive for Atlanta.

03:06If the Eagles had converted on that third down opportunity, we would be sat here.

03:10Sky is falling.

03:110-2.

03:12They'd be catching four and a half, five points.

03:15Yes.

03:16There probably would be some panic chatter.

03:17I mean, I may or may not have floated it out in the middle of that Monday night, or quite

03:22frankly, I can only look Kansas City in this game at the flat three.

03:27But the Chiefs, look, I laid two and a half with them in week number one, and I was able

03:32to sneak out of there, thanks to Isaiah Likely's foot.

03:34I probably will not be betting this team again for at least a while, because this is the

03:39same team that every time you lay points with them, you feel silly at the end of it being

03:44like, oh, look, they won by two, or they won by one point.

03:48Them not covering last week against Cincinnati was the least surprising thing that happened

03:53on the entire slate of games here.

03:56One thing that I am expecting, though, today is to see Mahomes continue to use his legs.

04:0129 rushing yards last week.

04:03His prop today at 18 and a half, I think, is way too low.

04:06I know it's not apples to apples from comparisons, but Hertz and Fields ran all over Atlanta,

04:12combining for 142 yards over those two games.

04:15Pat Mahomes over 18 and a half rushing yards, Joe, is one of my favorites on today's slate.

04:19It's a great look, and Pat Mahomes takes games over, right?

04:23He knows he's the guy, so it's a good look in regards to breaking contain, especially

04:27if they utilize blitz packages, and Pat Mahomes could step up into the pocket.

04:31I like the over, actually.

04:32I lean to Kansas City to cover this line, but again, fast track, I understand limited

04:37weapons, but the way you win and have to challenge Atlanta, in my opinion, is over the top.

04:42We saw Julian Hertz do that for the most part in the first half, couldn't do it in

04:45the second half, and again, we saw Kirk Cousins come into a rhythm.

04:50Does that continue?

04:51Because I don't think they're going to be able to run the football on that front seven.

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