NFL Week 1: Chiefs Lose If…

Aug 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) receives a snap against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) receives a snap against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 19: Phillip Gaines
SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 19: Phillip Gaines /

The Chiefs decided not to give Sean Smith the contract that he was looking for and he became an Oakland Raider in the offseason. While I will agree that Smith was good I think there are things that were masked by the Chiefs scheme to help him. The biggest issue facing Kansas City on Sunday is the inexperience of their secondary. KC only has 1 corner on the roster that’s started 16 games in his career. The rest of the corners are third year player Phillip Gaines, second year CB’s Steven Nelson and Kenneth Acker, and rookie corners DJ White and KeiVarae Russell.

Phillip Rivers has to be liking the match-ups he will have in the secondary on Sunday. While Gaines has the speed to run with Benjamin, Peters does not. I fully expect San Diego to attack Gaines early but I don’t think they will avoid Peters all together. Peters had a great second half to the season but struggled early last year and Rivers didn’t see him until after he had found his stride.

The other match-up that Rivers has to be liking is Gates on Berry. Gates has routinely had good days against Eric in the past. If he can continue to take advantage of this size difference over Berry the Chiefs will be in for a long day at Arrowhead.

Peters, Gaines and Nelson have a very tall task on Sunday. This isn’t the best WR core that they will play against but it is a very good one. If Benjamin and Allen get over the top more than two times in the game on Sunday, Kansas City will have a very difficult time winning.

Next: Pass Rush