Three KC Chiefs players with the most to prove in NFL playoffs

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 26: Benny Snell #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball while Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 26: Benny Snell #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball while Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 08: Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 08: Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

Frank Clark

You can’t make a list of players with something to prove in the playoffs without mentioning Frank Clark. It’s an annual theme with him. In all seriousness, Clark appears to have made it off a lot of Chiefs fans’ hate list because he had a nice stretch in the middle of the season after missing the first four games due to lower-body injuries in what was considered a make-or-break year for the defensive end.

Looking back at the entirety of the season, though, the issues fans had with Clark never really got fully resolved. He missed a handful of games and was ineffective due to injury for some of them and he didn’t produce up to his price tag. Despite what many would call a bounce-back season for him, Clark actually posted a career-low 4.5 sacks with the Chiefs despite a longer year.

Nevertheless, we’re always told to wait for the playoffs with Clark because that’s supposedly where he makes his money. Well, we’re here. It was always a pseudo contract year for Clark given his rising cap hit, so unless he wants to come back for a greatly reduced number and/or can once again explode in the playoffs, he’ll find himself elsewhere next season.

Even if Clark is likely to go elsewhere at the end of the day, he needs to put out some good tape for his next team and just play well in general, as the Chiefs will need him to if they want to reach the Super Bowl once more and maximize the pass rush.