KC Chiefs vs. Washington Football Team: Behind enemy lines
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs are only days away from kicking off their second of four games against the NFC East this season, and the upcoming matchup is the sneakiest of them all. With some very good offensive weapons (most of whom fly under-the-radar on a national level) to go with a potentially dominant defense, the Washington Football Team has the capability of being a very tough out for any team.
In order to get a better read on just how competitive we should expect the Chiefs and WFT to be on Sunday, we reached out to our friend Jerry Trotta, editor at Riggo’s Rag and an expert on the team, to get a better read. He told us all about the job Ron Rivera is doing, some defensive thoughts, and his prediction for Week 6.
In the wake of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s injury, how do you feel about the job Taylor Heinicke has been doing?
Taylor Heinicke has been fantastic, and the fan base has really rallied behind his underdog narrative. He might not be the long-term answer at quarterback for Washington, but he’s going to leave a lasting impact for however long he’s the starter. If he keeps performing like this, Fitzpatrick will find himself in his familiar backup role once he returns from his hip injury. If not for Heinicke — he led fourth quarter comebacks against the Giants and Falcons — Washington could very well be sitting at 0-4 entering Week 5.
The front seven looked primed to be among the league’s best. How are things playing out so far in terms of front seven expectations and the actual outcome?
The defensive line might not be the world-beater fans and the media expected coming into the year, but it’s still been disruptive. Jonathan Allen is the clear standout thus far, as he’s on pace to set new career-highs in sacks, pressures, tackles for loss and QB hits. Daron Payne and Montez Sweat have had their moments, too, but the real story is Chase Young. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is yet to register a sack and has just two QB hits through four games. If Washington is going to achieve anything this season, it needs Young to start producing.