Sports Report: Chiefs Playoff Preview

If there was one positive from the year 2020 it was that the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Let me take you back to the 2013-2012 season, the worst year in franchise history. Then the Chiefs made a hire that would forever change the direction of the franchise: head coach Andy Reid. Under Reid the Chiefs have been (91-37). Now they are looking to do what only seven teams in NFL history have done: win back-to-back Super Bowl tournaments.

Kansas City has quarterback Alex Smith to thank for his years of leadership, by assisting in turning the worst franchise in the league at the time, into a playoff contender. Now Alex Smith has recovered from a life-threatening knee surgery and is about to lead the Washington football team into the playoffs against Tampa Bay.

We can’t forget about the coaching staff that head coach Andy Reid and the front office have built over the years as well. I believe the Chiefs are the best coached team in the league. The Chiefs will have one, maybe two, coaches who will interview for head coaching vacancies, (Offensive Coordinator) Eric Beiniemy, and (Quarterbacks Coach) Mike Kafka. The coach we should expect to see accept a position is current offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. We may then see Kafka take his spot as Offensive Coordinator. The Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions are expected to interview Beiniemy to be their potential head coach, but for now the focus is on Chiefs football, and taking it one game at a time. Here is a quote by head coach, Andy Reid on the team’s success and approaching the post-season.
“I’m proud of the work that our team has done to this point, and they know there’s more to be done.”

Potential opponents for the Chiefs:

• 7 Indianapolis Colts @ 2 Buffalo Bills – Saturday, January 9th @ 12:05pm
• 5 Baltimore Ravens @ 4 Tennessee Titans – Sunday, January 10th @ 12:05pm
• 6 Cleveland Browns @ 3 Pittsburgh Steelers – Sunday, January 10th @ 7:15pm

The Chiefs will play the lowest remaining seed following the wild-card round.

Injuries

As far as injuries go the Chiefs starters will have an additional week off to recover and prepare
for their next opponent. Players Chiefs fans will hope to see return to the field include:

• (#25) Running back – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (rookie) – Ankle injury – Questionable
• (#71) Right tackle – Mitchell Swartz – Back injury – Injured Reserve
• (#50) Linebacker – Willie Gay (rookie) – Ankle Sprain – Questionable
• (#56) Linebacker – Ben Neiman – Hamstring injury – Questionable
• (#53) Linebacker – Anthony Hitchens – COVID-19
• (#10) Wide receiver – Tyreek Hill – Hamstring injury – Questionable
•  (#14) Wide receiver – Sammy Watkins – Calf injury – Questionable
•  (#27) Cornerback – Rashad Fenton – Ankle injury – Questionable
•  (#30) Cornerback – Deandre Baker – Leg injury – Out

On Sunday newly acquired cornerback Deandre Baker injured his leg against the Los Angeles Chargers. Baker was picked up from the New York Giants and was a first-round draft pick in 2019. He was waived by the Giants in September after facing four counts of robbery with a firearm in May. In November the charges were dropped, and the Chiefs signed Baker to the practice squad. “My heart goes out to the kid,” said head coach Andy Reid. “He busted his tail and really did a nice job for us. He’ll be able to come back from that, so that’s a positive as we go forward.”

“I’m just proud of the way he’s handled himself since he’s been here. He’s been through a tough road here, and he comes in and he really has done a nice job concentrating on playing and he was playing good football. Kind of a freak thing that happened. I know he’ll rebound from it.” Players to watch out for in the postseason are (#36 Cornerback, L’Jarius Sneed) on defense and (#31 Running-back Darrell Williams) on offense. With 3 interceptions during the season, I believe Sneed will be a lockdown corner going into the playoffs. Many predict running-back Le’Veon Bell to emerge as the Chiefs leading rusher in the playoffs, if (#25) running-back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not ready in time. I think that (#31) running-back Darrell Williams will actually be more effective for the Chiefs run game.

Looking at the injury list above fans will worry but expect the time off to benefit this team as they prepare to make more history. Most expect the Kansas City Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl Champions which is easier said than done. The national media is saying this team is heading in the wrong direction, because they have kept games too close. All that matters is that the Chiefs have found ways to win the game. As Chiefs all-time leading tackler tweeted, “Bad teams find a way to lose close games, good teams find a way to win every time.” He is not wrong, and that is why, I believe the games will be close, but the Chiefs will find a way to win.