Five Chiefs offensive players who must step up in Super Bowl LVII
2. Orlando Brown Jr./Andrew Wylie, Offensive Tackle
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best pass-protecting offensive lines in the NFL but their tackles have been hit-and-miss so far this season. Orlando Brown Jr. had a rough start to the year but has come on strong over the past couple of months. Patrick Mahomes needs to have his blindside protected the entire game, especially given his ankle injury.
Andrew Wylie has been average for the majority of the season. He hasn’t been awful but he’s been lit up when he faced off against elite pass rushers. With the Eagles’ vaunted pass rush on the horizon, and likely Haason Reddick as his adversary, Wylie needs to have one of the best games of his entire career if they want to keep Mahomes upright.
There are few concerns about the interior of the Chiefs’ offensive line but the tackles need to be great. Andy Reid will likely scheme up ways to assist both of them but they have to play well when asked to block without help. If both Brown and Wylie have great games, the Chiefs are likely hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. If not, the team will need Patrick Mahomes to make similar magic to what he did in Super Bowl LIV.
3. Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver
After being acquired from the Giants in late October, some expected Toney to not have a significant role this season, but that has not been the case. He did miss several weeks in November and December due to a hamstring injury but he was productive when he was on the field. He also left the AFC Championship Game due to a lower-body injury but he is expected to be ready to go for the game on Sunday.
After the loss of Tyreek Hill last offseason, the Chiefs seemed to have been missing explosiveness at the wide receiver position. It appears that Toney is partially filling that role. He had his moments during his brief action in the AFC Championship Game but we never got to know what he would have done in that game since he left.
Outside of Mahomes and Kelce, Toney has the best potential to be a game-wrecker and it’s been reported by James Palmer that he’s expected to have a key role in the offensive game plan against the Eagles. If he can be the game-wrecker that many believe that he is, then the Chiefs may be impossible to stop on Sunday.