A combination of early thoughts on the Chiefs after going over our notes from the first matchup this season and watching the coaches film of their victory over the Colts in the divisional round...
- The old adage is you're never as good as your best game, and you're never as bad as your worst game. That would seem to apply to the Patriots and the Chiefs here, both of whom are coming off dominating home victories in divisional round over the Chargers and Colts, respectively.
- The Patriots got their blowout because they executed as well as they have all season in all three phases, while the Chargers, who also had personnel issues, did not.
- The question for New England: Can they repeat that performance? The Patriots had put up that sort of performance against the Jets (Week 17), Minnesota (Week 13) and Miami (Week 4) all year, let alone in back-to-back games. Can they manage to string together two straight for the first time all season -- and on the road, where the Patriots have obviously struggled mightily?
- The Chiefs, on the other hand, blew out the Colts (who didn't score offensively until there was 5:45 left in the game) because Indianapolis just completely failed to show up, for whatever reason.
- The Patriots' domination of the Chargers was much more impressive than what the Chiefs did.
- Andrew Luck was absolutely atrocious in this game until the two-minute drill before halftime when the Chiefs went to a softer zone coverage to make the Colts burn clock. There were plenty of plays there for him to make, but some reason (choking?) he just didn't make them. He played scared.
- With that as the backdrop, it's really hard to say how well the Chiefs' defense played in this game. Bob Sutton, the former Rex Ryan lieutenant, is the coordinator. He's solid but not as creative as Ryan and Mike Pettine.
- One thing I do know, LOLB Dee Ford (sack, five total pressures) played like he was shot out of a cannon. He looked like he was on a different surface than everyone else.
- ROLB Justin Houston (two sacks) wasn't that impressive, but at least he's playing against the Patriots in this matchup. He has to be accounted for, but his best days are behind him.
- I love DT Chris Jones -- he's one of the best players in the league. Rookie NT Derrick Nnadi isn't a full-time player, but he's very impressive when he gets the chance. He's built like a refrigerator and tough to move.
- The inside linebackers are ying and yang. Anthony Hitchens can run and cover. Reggie Ragland can defend the run but comes off against the pass. He's good to target with the pass if you can get him isolated against someone.
- The cornerbacks — Charvarius Ward (left), Kendall Fuller (slot), Steven Nelson (right) and Orlando Scandrick (dime) — are all solid and can play man coverage.
- Jordan Lucas and Eric Murray are the deep safeties in passing situations. Daniel Sorensen has been starting for Eric Berry (even if he can play, he's not his old self).
- Sorensen is one of my least favorite players to watch on film in the league. He's fine at carrying out his assignment; he's just not that good. He's just there. He reminds me of a similar player in the same spot and system, Jets safety Eric Smith. They're just not good ballplayers and they are always the No. 1 player to isolate and target. Big plays waiting to happen.
- The most impressive player on the Chiefs offense was not QB Patrick Mahomes, it was ... RB Damien Williams. The former Dolphins undrafted free agent is extremely shifty, fast and powerful — he's basically what you hope Sony Michel will be with more experience. He had some very impressive runs in this game and most of his negative runs came due to blocking and schemes. Good in pass pro. Had one drop.
- As for Mahomes ... I would have graded him about a 3 out of 5. He certainly makes some plays that you can't coach and not many QBs can pull off. But he did not throw the ball well in this game, fumbled and took an unnecessary sack.
- In what might sound familiar to Patriots fans: many of the Chiefs' big plays came with the run and because of scheme.
- The bigger issue for as it relates to the Patriots is Mahomes struggled with his decision-making once the Colts went to more man coverage as the score dictated. (Imagine that, Chargers? Think Gus Bradley was watching?)
- The good thing for the Chiefs — and one of the key gameplan issues for the Patriots — is not many teams play man coverage against them because of Tyreek Hill's speed and the athletic ability of Mahomes.
- You can do it, if you do it smartly, and I think the Patriots will do that with some spy tagged on it, and a safety over the top of Hill.
- The Chiefs' offensive line is good, but I wouldn't say it's great. Certainly a step up from the Chargers. LG Cam Erving is a huge liability, just like Rob Feeney was in the same spot with the Chargers.
- Travis Kelce is more dangerous on Mahomes' unscripted plays. Kelce has a good feel for space and finding it. Still can't block.
- 2nd TE Demetrius Harris is just not good.
- The receivers outside of Hill are just ordinary.
- If you thought Rob Gronkowski put on a blocking display against the Chargers, he was even more impressive — 12 pass blocks, including seven against Ford! — in October.
- Outside of his mindless sack/fumble, Brady had no issues with the Chiefs in the first matchup.
- Michel left a lot of yards on the field in that game, and he's improved.
- The Patriots started force-feeding Josh Gordon in that game. They're better with Phillip Dorsett.
- The Patriots allowed pressure on 24.4 percent of snaps (minimal), with Marcus Cannon the main culprit.
- New England run-blocked the crap out of the Chiefs.
- The defense only got pressure on 18.4 percent of snaps. Adrian Clayborn was the pressure leader.
- Patriots were great against the run, and Elandon Roberts was a key reason why.
- The secondary was terrible in that game, but they've completely changed how they play since then (maybe as a result after the bye wee). Mahomes and this offense will be the ultimate test of that.