Chiefs run defense will show true colors in season’s first quarter
By Scott Loring
Game 1: Chiefs @ Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot to prove in 2019. They will open the season at home with a shiny “new” (and very expensive) quarterback in Nick Foles, and are anticipating their Week 1 match with the Chiefs as a golden opportunity to make an early statement. Jacksonville still boasts a quality and pride-filled defense, and third-year RB Leonard Fournette will be playing with a chip on his shoulder in 2019.
The bruising 6’0″ 230-pound Fournette may have returned too early from an injury last season, and it ended up derailing his entire campaign. Watch closely how the Jags try to control the game with Fournette. The team has a new offensive coordinator (John DeFilippo), a new quarterback, and question marks along the offensive line, so they will most certainly depend on Fournette early and often.
Game 2: Chiefs @ Raiders
In their two victories over the Oakland Raiders in 2018, the Chiefs averaged 37.5 points per game. If Jon Gruden and the Raiders want to turn things around against the three-time-defending AFC West Champs, they will have to move the sticks. We all know Gruden has a world of respect for Mahomes. The question is whether he’ll try to keep pace with his own quarterback Derek Carr, or if he will choose to try to shorten the game with bright young first-rounder Josh Jacobs from Alabama.
The 5’10” 220-pound Jacobs plays a lot like Frank Gore and packs quite a punch. The Raiders offensive line is less than stellar, so the Chiefs will hold a leg up in the trenches, but minimizing yards after contact will be important against Jacobs. If WR Antonio Brown (feet) is healthy enough to play, he will command a lot of safety help, so it will be up to the front seven to keep the run at bay.