Chiefs vs Jaguars: Writers predict Kansas City across the board

In our week 1 Arrowhead Addict writer predictions, our writers have unanimously selected the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Week 1 is finally here. On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars. After what seemed like the longest offseason due to the euphoria of having Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs quarterback, the Chiefs are finally getting ready to play their first game of the 2019 season.

Their first opponent will be the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs played the Jaguars last year and made easy work of them, beating them 30-14. Before the game last year, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey made comments about Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill as being a “return specialist.” This year, Ramsey will shadow Hill.

This year’s Jaguars team is much different than last year. For starters, their quarterback is now Nick Foles instead of Blake Bortles. Another new player for the Jaguars is former Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley, who looked good earlier in the offseason.

But this year’s Chiefs team is different than it was a year ago also. The Chiefs now have a much improved defense with defensive end Frank Clark, who the Chiefs traded draft picks for earlier this offseason, and safety Tyrann Mathieu, who the Chiefs signed to a 3-year deal in free agency.

The Chiefs also fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and hired Steve “Spags” Spagnuolo as his replacement. As a result, the defense will be switched from a 3-4 base to a 4-3 base, which should help in both pass rushing and coverage. Ultimately, just having a new scheme, the Chiefs defense should be much better than it was last year.

The Chiefs team is better than it was a year ago, and the Jaguars arguably have not improved much, if at all, from a season ago. As long as the Chiefs play like they did last season, this should be a game they win. Let’s see what our writers predicted about the game:

Drew Brooks: Chiefs 34, Jaguars 17
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense will pick up right where it left off last year and pick apart the Jaguars. Travis Kelce will start the season off as the Chiefs best receiver by leading the team in receptions and yards. The Chiefs’ defense will force multiple turnovers and we will see what Bob Sutton lacked as defensive coordinator.

Matt Conner: Chiefs 35, Jaguars 24
The Jaguars have reason for hope with a healthy Fournette behind Nick Foles on offense, but it’s going to take time to come together in a wide-open AFC South. By season’s end, the Jags will love the pass-rushing trio of Josh Allen (who needs to develop), Yannick Ngakoue (who needs to get into game shape from a holdout), and Calais Campbell. For now, some things are too new and/or rusty to be ready to beat the Chiefs—who need a strong start to stomach a difficult final month.

Jalon Dodson: Chiefs 38, Jaguars 14
Defense will overpower Nick Foles and his offense. Frank Clark will have a heck of a game—at least 3 sacks on his own. Watkins will lead Chiefs receivers, with 4 touchdowns thrown from Mahomes.

Greg Florkowski: Chiefs 35, Jaguars 31
Chiefs offense will play like it is already mid season but the newly formed defense will struggle against Nick Foles and the Jaguars. In the end Mahomes will work show us why he is the reigning MVP and will get the victory.

Lyle Graversen: Chiefs 34, Jaguars 20
The Jaguars will improved over last season and will make the Chiefs earn this win. It will be close through the first half but ultimately the Chiefs will simply have too much offensive firepower.

Jacob Harris: Chiefs 42, Jaguars 28
Game starts as a back-and-forth score-fest as both the Chiefs’ offense and defense pick up right where they left off last year. Defense makes adjustments going into the second half and the Chiefs cruise to an easy Week 1 win.

Scott Loring: Chiefs 30, Jaguars 20
The Jags will try to shorten the game by pounding the run early and often. KC’s run defense will prove to be just what we’ve been looking for – “good enough” – and Nick Foles just can’t keep pace with the MVP. LeSean McCoy will lead the team in rushing yards and Travis Kelce will score the first touchdown of the new year as KC moves to 1-0.
Bonus projection: The Jags will go on to win their division.

Jordan Mannix: Chiefs 35, Jaguars 24
Jaguars have a ton of talent on defense, a new offensive coordinator and quarterback, and a rejuvenated premier running back. It won’t be enough Sunday to counter the Chiefs ridiculous number of weapons on offense and rebuilt defense.

Ellen Mathis: Chiefs 34, Jaguars 24
The Chiefs kickoff the season against the Jaguars. Andy Reid has a history of being very good in the first game of the season and let’s be real, we have the MVP. I anticipate a few hiccups from the new defensive scheme and the fact that the Jags improved on offense from last year with the addition of Nick Foles, but nothing that can’t be overcome. The Chiefs will win this one and start the season 1-0.

Byron Smith: Chiefs 42, Jaguars 21
Before any workout, you gotta stretch. This is Kansas City’s opportunity to stretch, not using their full offensive potential, but showing just a flash of what they are capable of. Fournette is the only reason this game stays even borderline competitive, as the Chiefs D-Line dominates and puts Foles on his back 6 times, 3 times Clark, once Jones, once Okafor, and once Matheiu. Mahomes finished with 4 touchdowns and 350 yards, and Lesean McCoy leads the team in rushing.

Travis Steffen: Chiefs 33, Jaguars 17
Jaguars will struggle to run the ball consistently given their question marks along the offensive line and the Chiefs will stack the box given the lack of talent at WR. Mahomes and the offense will have some trouble but without a true experienced defender to cover Kelce he will have a big day.

Rylan Stiles: Chiefs 28, Jaguars 17
Chiefs win and start their super bowl aspiration filled season on a high note with the defense flying to the ball. The Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes connection is in line for a big day.

Farzin Vousoughian: Chiefs 31, Jaguars 21
I think the Jaguars offense will find some holes and get through Kansas City’s defense. But the Chiefs will make adjustments in the second half and pull away.

Thomas Welte: Chiefs 31, Jaguars 20
Offense is productive and steady under Mahomes but the story of the game is Kansas City’s new defense. The front 7 dominate the game with 6 sacks and Anthony Hitchens comes close to double digit tackles. The secondary surprises, but still gives up some big plays. Fournette has a big game, but doesn’t find the endzone as the Chiefs D is able to clamp down in the redzone. We get our first LeSean McCoy touchdown in red and gold on a slip screen and the days ends with the Chiefs putting up over 350 yards of offense and allowed less than 275 for Jacksonville.