1. The pass rush's effectiveness
Coming into the year, there were tons of questions about the Chiefs pass rush. It was assumed at some point Dunlap was back and no one was sure when Chris Jones was walking in the door.
The Chiefs are not on the same pace they were at last year, when they finished second in the league with 55 sacks, but they have had some encouraging developments. So far this year they have eight sacks through three games, putting them on pace for 45, which would have finished ninth last season.
Without Dunlap, Frank Clark and without Chris Jones for one game, the Chiefs have had pass rushers step up. Mike Danna already has 2.5 sacks, which is half of the career-high he set last season. George Karlaftis has two sacks, but already an astonishing 16 total pressures on just 88 pass rush snaps, according to PFF. That type of activity leads to sacks for others.
Chris Jones is already a quarter of his way to one of his bonus benchmarks, posting 2.5 sacks through just two games. Jones, Danna, Karlaftis and even rookie Felix Anudike-Uzomah have an opportunity for a field day against the Jets with them allowing the 21st most sacks in the league already this season. If the Chiefs ever get up big in this game, these four can be set loose with the favorable matchup.
The Jets are without their left tackle Duane Brown (hip), who has been placed on IR. This has resulted in Mekhi Becton shifting from right tackle to left tackle and Alijah Vera-Tucker shifting from guard to right tackle. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could pull out the bag of tricks with Kansas City’s defensive line or blitzing linebackers to get after Zach Wilson. If that happens, I would expect the Chiefs to hold the Jets to single digits.