Key Players For the Chiefs in Week 5

TAMBA HALI AND JUSTIN HOUSTON

This fearsome twosome combined last year for a total of twenty-two sacks(both had eleven) with Hali playing in fifteen games, and Houston playing in just eleven games. This year the duo is on pace for a total of thirty-two sacks. That’s an astounding number and is a pace that would set Houston sitting at twenty sacks at the end of the season. A number that would have him sitting pretty tied at 8th all time with a player whom Chiefs fans know all too well in Derrick Thomas.

DONTARI POE

Standing at 6’3 345 pounds, to put it straight Poe is a very large man. We saw last week how he pushed Vince Wilfork around like he was a rag doll on the play where the Chiefs put Poe in at fullback. Look for Poe to do pretty much the same thing against the interior of the Niners offensive line this week. Poe has 1.5 sacks this year which is a pretty good number for a Defensive Tackle. I’m expecting he adds another to that total this Sunday.

Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) intercepts a pass and runs back during the second half against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

SEAN SMITH

Smith has showed promise this season. In the last two games he has been targeted twelve times and allowed only three completions.

This put him in the top ten among 100 qualifying corners

This puts him in the top ten among 100 qualifying corners over the past two weeks. Last week smith only allowed one pass for six yards and he added three deflections and an interception to his impressive stat line as well.

After the game Smith went up to Tom Brady to congratulate the future hall-of-famer and received some praise of his own when Brady told him he had something good going for himself. This week will be a real test for Smith, San Francisco is the toughest passing team we have faced all season. Lets see if he can keep up the good work.

Expect Hali, Houston, and Poe to have an effect on the Niners passing game and for them to get to Kaepernick  early and often. Expect them to be able to slow down his legs along with the Niners rushing game. and rack up a couple of sacks along the way.

Without starting right tackle Anthony Davis, San Francisco’s wounded offensive line isn’t about to know what hit them once the Chiefs pass rush comes to town. Expect Justin Houston to have a hay-day. This pressure should hopefully force the Niners to get the ball off more quickly than they would like to. Taking some pressure off of Sean Smith and company in the secondary and forcing some more turnovers along the way.