Harm evaluation for the AFC Championship

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ technique on the finish of the common season — to relaxation their starters — has seemingly paid off up to now. For the second week in a row, the Chiefs will enter their postseason matchup at full well being.

They’re slated to face the Buffalo Payments for the fourth time within the postseason for the reason that 2020 season in what figures to be an epic conflict.

Whereas the Chiefs are wholesome, the Payments do have some harm questions coming into the AFC Championship.

Chiefs’ harm outlook

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The Chiefs got here out of the Divisonal spherical of the playoffs unscathed. They entered the sport on 23 days relaxation, with some questioning whether or not they can be rusty or prepared. It appears the choice to relaxation was the appropriate one.

It’s anticipated that cornerback Jaylen Watson will have the ability to contribute much more than he did within the win over the Houston Texans. In his return from a fractured fibula and tibia final week, he was capable of play in 58% of the staff’s defensive snaps. Watson missed the ultimate 11 weeks of the common season because of the harm. The Chiefs’ secondary is clearly at its finest when he’s within the lineup, and he might see near a full workload within the AFC Championship after working towards absolutely all week.

Payments’ harm outlook

The Payments’ largest harm questions come on the defensive facet of the ball. Their secondary is banged up. Cornerbacks Taron Johnson (neck/shoulder) and Christian Benford (concussion) have been restricted in follow this week. Security Taylor Rapp (again/hip) has formally been dominated out for the sport. Lastly, linebacker Matt Milano (biceps/hamstring) has been restricted this week as effectively.

Johnson and Milano have been deemed good to go, and so they enter the sport with out an harm designation.

Rapp is a major loss for the Payments’ defensive unit. In 16 video games this season (together with the postseason), he had 85 tackles, a compelled fumble, and three interceptions (together with one towards the Baltimore Ravens within the Divisional spherical). He shall be changed by rookie security Cole Bishop — seemingly a matchup benefit for the Chiefs’ offense.

If Benford can’t cross via the ultimate part of concussion protocol, the Payments shall be lacking two starters from their defensive secondary. This is able to be an enormous blow, as they face a totally wholesome Patrick Mahomes-led offense.

Picture by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Photos

The underside line

Latest historical past between these two franchises tells us that irrespective of the harm report, this recreation shall be shut. The 2 groups are as evenly matched as maybe any two groups could possibly be throughout your complete league.

Each groups can have a number of gamers obtainable who didn’t play of their Week 11 matchup because of harm. For the Chiefs, this contains operating again Isiah Pacheco, broad receiver Hollywood Brown, defensive finish Charles Omenihu, kicker Harrison Butker and Watson. For the Payments, tight finish Dalton Kincaid, offensive sort out Spencer Brown and broad receiver Keon Coleman shall be obtainable.

These reinforcements might assist to tip the scales in favor of both staff. As a result of the groups are so evenly matched, that is the epitome of a recreation by which the staff is just as sturdy as their weakest hyperlink. The staff that performs closest to mistake-free soccer is probably going going to win.

As I wrote in my harm evaluation final week, the NFL postseason typically comes down to 2 components:

Which staff is the healthiest?
Who’s taking part in their finest soccer?

Getting into the AFC Championship, the Chiefs stay wholesome, whereas the Payments have some harm questions on the defensive facet of the ball.

And who’s taking part in their finest ball? Many would say the Payments. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have some arguments to be made that they’ve essentially the most momentum.

Historical past shall be made. Legacies cemented and solid. It would all be selected Sunday.