Rating the Chiefs’ potential AFC playoff opponents

Now that the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are having fun with their well-earned (and much-needed) bye week, let’s rank their potential AFC opponents by the postseason.

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The Steelers are coming into the playoffs on the heels of 4 straight losses — and appear to have no solutions on both facet of the ball.

On offense, the group’s lack of passing range has caught as much as them. When Russell Wilson was throwing Go routes to George Pickens, he may get explosive performs that gave his group a combating probability. Now that groups have seen that on tape, these have dried up. And since Wilson is not a fantastic athlete who can create performs out of construction, Pittsburgh can not generate sufficient passing offense to place factors on the board.

On protection, the Steelers’ points are usually the identical yearly: the line of defense is superior, however outdoors of Joey Porter, the secondary has too many weaknesses to use; groups can assault their cornerbacks, linebackers and safeties one-on-one. For any good offensive play-caller, there are sufficient strain factors to negate Pittsburgh’s line of defense.

I don’t count on the Steelers to place up a lot resistance in Baltimore.

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Quarterback C.J. Stroud deserves our respect — however in any other case, Houston’s offense is as damaged as Pittsburgh’s. In each run blocking and cross safety, the offensive line is arguably the league’s worst. Whereas operating again Joe Mixon can nonetheless make some explosive performs, the road misses so many blocks that it’s unattainable to have an environment friendly down-to-down operating recreation. Stroud can nonetheless make some wonderful throws, too — however enjoying behind this line, the variety of third-and-longs he faces has naturally made him much less efficient.

Whereas Houston’s protection can overwhelm lesser opponents with their velocity and physicality, a great offensive scheme can discover the suitable matchups in opposition to man protection and gash it for large good points — simply as Kansas Metropolis did in its Week 16 victory. In Demeco Ryan’s second season, the Texans have taken a great step defensively — however they aren’t but elite.

So long as Houston’s offensive line stays a problem, it’s exhausting to think about the group profitable a playoff recreation.

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This may shock you, however I feel the Broncos have an honest shot to maintain Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments shut.

On offense, head coach Sean Payton can lastly run his offense with Bo Nix. Whereas the quarterback doesn’t have any elite traits, he has sufficient good ones (and the suitable expertise) to run Payton’s offense. With Courtland Sutton and a great offensive line — and now with the emergence of Marvin Mims — Payton can run all of his offense, which he couldn’t do with Wilson.

Whereas Denver’s protection has been worse in opposition to higher competitors in latest video games, I nonetheless respect what it could do. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II can shut down any large receiver — and the group’s robust cross rush provides the Broncos what they want in opposition to most opponents.

I feel Denver can transfer the ball in opposition to Buffalo’s leaky protection. Payton will use performs that pressure the Payments’ safeties to sort out one-on-one — the place they are usually weaker. With Josh Allen, Buffalo may also be capable of transfer the ball — however Denver’s protection is sweet sufficient to make the Payments sweat.

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Though the Chargers’ expertise doesn’t recommend they’ll do effectively within the postseason, issues are going effectively for them.

On offense, Justin Herbert can succeed in opposition to most defenses. He’s been on a heater for many of the season, enhancing his downfield aggression and making extra high-level throws. The remainder of the offense has limitations in scheme, run blocking and large receiving choices — however with Herbert on the sector, Los Angeles can rating factors.

On protection, coordinator Jesse Minter’s planning capability lifts a gaggle with expertise deficiencies. He can establish an opponent’s offensive tendencies and craft a recreation plan tailor-made to restrict them. Whereas offenses can assault a few of the less-talented gamers, Minter can usually get the suitable calls into key conditions — permitting his unit to play above its expertise.

I belief head coach Jim Harbaugh’s capability to organize his group mentally. With that protection (and Herbert), I may see Los Angeles being harder than many count on.

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The Payments are the one group that has overwhelmed Kansas Metropolis’s starters. For years, quarterback Josh Allen has been the scariest quarterback the Chiefs have confronted. In 2024, he’s enjoying MVP-level soccer.

However past Allen, I’ve some questions.

Not a lot of them are on offense, which may run the ball behind a great offensive line — and has weapons that may resolve many matchup issues. Amari Cooper can win in opposition to man protection on the skin. Khalil Shakir can use his really feel for area (and reference to Allen) to win in opposition to zone protection. Dalton Kincaid can outrun second-level protection. Even rookie Keon Coleman has discovered a task: making contested catches.

However as famous, the Buffalo protection leaks from a number of factors. It has undersized defensive tackles who can wrestle when offenses run proper at them. The linebackers are smaller, too; they’ll’t get off blocks very effectively. At security, each Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin are inconsistent tacklers who can permit enormous chunks.

Allen is sweet sufficient to provide his group a shot to win any recreation — however the Payments’ protection has sufficient points {that a} group like Kansas Metropolis or Baltimore can beat them.

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The Ravens look extra full than they’ve all season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is by some means enjoying higher than he did final yr. Reducing weight has helped him change into a extra devastating runner — and his continued improvement as a passer makes him extra well-rounded than ever.

But it surely’s operating again Derrick Henry who makes this group scary. He’s an enormous playoff weapon. Even after absorbing 30 carries, he can nonetheless make a game-breaking run to place a stake into the guts of any protection. Henry is the participant who makes Baltimore higher than it was a yr in the past.

The Ravens’ run protection is sweet — and since transferring Kyle Hamilton to deep security, the cross protection has been sounder, permitting fewer explosive performs. Whereas it’s nonetheless less than 2023’s defensive requirements, it’s come a good distance from 2024’s disastrous begin.

I nonetheless don’t belief Baltimore’s large receivers sufficient to assume it may beat Kansas Metropolis, however I do assume it could play higher than did in 2023’s postseason. In the event that they face the Chiefs within the AFC Championship, I feel it will likely be one of many best-played video games we’ve seen in a very long time.