Fallen players shouldn’t stifle the Chiefs at this stage

What does losing Eric Berry mean for the Kansas City Chiefs’ chances at a Super Bowl run?

The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the NFL world in their season-opening tilt with the New England Patriots, leaving Foxboro winners of a 42-27 affair with the defending Super Bowl champions. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t come away unscathed. All-Pro safety Eric Berry was felled by an Achilles injury that will bring his season to an end for 2017. Reviews were mixed around the league despite winning a Week 1 road game in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Largely, because the loss of Berry ostensibly spells trouble for the Chiefs for the remainder of the regular season. Or does it?

Kansas City is now the winner of seven straight road games. Four of those victories have come over the teams who played in the last two Super Bowls. This franchise is arguably as competitive as it’s been since the early years of the NFL merger. At some point, the loss of a single star player (not named Alex Smith) should be a blow the Chiefs can absorb. The team clearly doesn’t have anyone capable of filling Berry’s shoes. He’s acquitted himself as one of the best safeties in the National Football League over the past seven seasons. He’s an irreplaceable cog in the wheel of one of the league’s best defenses, but Daniel Sorensen is a competent reserve and second-year man Eric Murray’s talented enough to contribute in spots.