Chiefs-Seahawks: 5 things to watch on Christmas Eve

With three weeks to go within the 2022 NFL common season, the 11-3 Kansas City Chiefs are combating for home-field benefit within the AFC playoffs and face a 7-7 Seattle Seahawks group with much more motivation than that. The Chiefs host the vital matchup in Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, kicking off at midday on Christmas Eve.

As of Friday morning, the Chiefs had been listed as a 10-point favorite by DraftKings SportsBook. That enormous unfold doesn’t respect the desperation that Seattle can be enjoying with, combating for the seventh spot within the NFC postseason. It additionally could not weigh the impression of the frigid temperatures, which might naturally slender the variations between two groups.

It ought to be a well-earned win by whichever aspect emerges victorious. I’ve 5 issues to observe whilst you cheer the Chiefs on:

1. Persevering with to gear up the run recreation

For all of the issues to nitpick in regards to the Chiefs in latest weeks, there’s no denying the exponential enchancment of the speeding assault. Since Week 10, rookie working again Isiah Pacheco is second among NFL running backs in rushing yards, with a 5.1-yard average; veteran Jerick McKinnon has success on the bottom in his personal approach — averaging 5.2 yards per attempt during last week’s win.

Pacheco’s run model is starting to reside as much as the best way it was marketed main into the season. He’s beginning to run by arm tackles at a better charge, angling his runs higher to keep away from straight-on contact. On the identical time, McKinnon has superior expertise working zone repeatedly throughout his seven NFL seasons; that comes by in his imaginative and prescient, which units up and maximizes the blocks of the offensive linemen.

The entrance 5 have been studs, and the teaching workers is starting to make the most of them additional: they’re experimenting with middle Creed Humphrey pulling to steer block in house. On the identical time, proper guard Trey Smith is placing his physicality and expertise collectively to play in addition to he ever has.

All of it provides as much as the group’s skill to depend on and lean on the speeding assault, particularly towards a Seattle protection that has allowed an average of 200 yards on the ground per game in their last five.

2. Rookie cornerbacks on D.Okay. Metcalf

With Seattle’s second vast receiver Tyler Lockett missing the game due to injury, the cross recreation can be funneled by star wideout D.Okay. Metcalf as a lot as potential.

The excellent news: Chiefs rookie cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams have proven numerous constructive traits this 12 months — particularly with stopping separation. That can be vital towards Metcalf, who can run away from a defender when he will get a head of steam.

On the identical time, Metcalf doesn’t want separation to catch passes — particularly with Seahawks’ quarterback Geno Smith enjoying with nice timing and accuracy. It can take a good additional effort from the Chiefs’ outdoors cornerbacks to not solely stick on Metcalf however knock passes away and deny contested catches.

3. A record-breaking begin to the sport

Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes accomplished the ultimate 20 passes he tried within the Week 15 win over the Houston Texans. With that in thoughts, a great begin to Saturday’s recreation may land him with one other all-time report.

Solely three quarterbacks have ever accomplished 25 consecutive cross makes an attempt — which is the NFL report. It was final accomplished by former Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles in 2018; he tied marks by Phillip Rivers and Ryan Tannehill.

So if the opening script can produce six completions with none hiccups in between, it may grow to be a record-breaking recreation rapidly. It additionally can be good; the Chiefs’ offense has sputtered within the first quarter in every of its final two video games.

They haven’t scored a first-quarter landing since Week 12 towards the Los Angeles Rams, an uncharacteristic stat for the Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid.

4. Attending to Geno Smith

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

The Seahawks’ offense has been one of many NFL’s finest this 12 months; they rank seventh in scoring and fourth in yards per play this season. The important thing to their success has been the impressively environment friendly play of beginning quarterback Geno Smith.

He has been nice at getting the ball out in time and in rhythm, which might typically negate pressures his offensive line allowed. Their entrance 5 is bookended by two spectacular rookies: left deal with Charles Cross and proper deal with Abraham Lucas. The primary-year gamers have earned their beginning spots — however veteran edge rushers like Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap want to make use of the expertise benefit and discover methods to win on a number of true cross units.

Rookie offensive tackles will also be exploited by inventive blitz packages, one thing defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo ought to be ok with unleashing this week. Disrupting the cross offense’s timing has been the one solution to get Seattle off its recreation this 12 months.

5. A very good take a look at for the Chiefs’ linebackers

Los Angeles Chargers v Kansas City Chiefs

As thrilling because the younger duo of linebackers Nick Bolton and Willie Homosexual Jr. could be, their play down the stretch of the season has left quite a bit to be desired.

It’s confirmed by opponents’ success over the center of the sphere. Whether or not it’s by working into the second degree of the protection or discovering success with in-breaking patterns, it doesn’t appear the linebackers are exhibiting as much as make performs as a lot as they did prior to now. Final 12 months, it didn’t appear to be any NFL linebacker was impacting extra passing lanes over the center than Homosexual.

Towards Seattle, they’ll be examined with an offense that doesn’t thoughts pounding the rock persistently — however they are going to weaponize play motion and attempt to manipulate the motion of linebackers and safeties. It might be an encouraging signal to see the younger linebackers embrace the problem and step as much as shut off the center of the sphere extra.

Source link