The Kansas City Chiefs came out of the gate hot, starting the season 5-0 and looking like one of the league's best teams to start the year. But in a Sunday night matchup with the Seahawks last week, Kansas City came up short and struggled against the defending Super Bowl champions. Now, the Chiefs will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season against a very familiar opponent.
This week, the Chiefs will get their second look at the Denver Broncos, whom they faced in Week 1 on Monday Night Football. Denver has won three straight and four of their last five games since their opening loss to Kansas City. The Broncos are just a half-game away from the AFC West lead, and a win will be essential for Kansas City this weekend.
So what do the Chiefs need to do to win, and how should their game plan differ from Week One?
Go after Riley Moss
A plan that will follow the Broncos all year, targeting Riley Moss, should be near the top of the Chiefs' offensive game plan as they head to Denver this weekend. With superstar corner Pat Surtain II returning, the Chiefs know they need to focus on the other side of the field. Moss struggled in coverage in Week 1 and has also committed a slew of penalties. The Chiefs will want to go after him as often as possible, especially with a struggling WR room.
Lean on zone run game and force Denver’s LBs to make plays
Seattle contained the Chiefs' run game last weekend, but the Chiefs cannot afford to get away from the run game in Denver. The Broncos' linebackers have struggled with tackling in space this season, especially. If the Chiefs can open up their zone-run scheme and force Denver's linebackers to tackle Kenneth Walker in the gaps, they could find early success. This will also open up the pass game as the linebackers creep forward.
Be aggressive on fourth down
The Chiefs' offense was nowhere to be found, and Andy Reid needs to instill confidence in his unit going forward. The Chiefs converted a big fourth down against Denver in Week 1 that led to a 50-plus-yard touchdown. The Chiefs need to keep the ball moving and show some offensive aggressiveness. If the Chiefs stick with the run game, Kansas City needs to be aggressive as they set up third-and-short or fourth-and-short.
Isolate Ben Powers on the interior
As I said in Week 1, the Broncos have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, but their weakest spot is at left guard. Powers struggled in the opening game against the Chiefs, especially when he faced Peter Woods or Chris Jones. The Chiefs have also ramped up their use of stunts lately and could use them to put their pass rushers in favorable positions against Powers on the interior.
Get early pressure on Bo Nix
Bo Nix has faced heavy criticism from fans across the NFL community after a rocky start to the season. Nix has struggled most when pressured and against the blitz, something the Chiefs need to exploit. Kansas City struggled to get to Sam Darnold last weekend and will need a better game plan to force Bo Nix to get the ball out quickly.
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