(Photo: Action Network)
AFC Game Of The Week
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
Chiefs (2-2):
Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens was the best I’ve seen the Chiefs look in quite some time — I’d say since the Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, to be exact. Patrick Mahomes was locked in, the offensive line held its own up front, and defensively, they were active and all over the field. The biggest win for them was getting Xavier Worthy back. Truthfully, who knows where they’d be if he hadn’t gotten hurt? Even in just his second year, you can see how much of a difference-maker he is when he’s on the field compared to when he’s not. He’s their “Tyreek Hill replacement,” bringing that dimension of speed and versatility to the offense. The 37 points they scored in Week 4 were the most they’ve scored since September 24th, 2023 — and that says a lot. There were several things I noticed about the Chiefs on Sunday, starting with their play in the trenches. They allowed only one sack. Defensively, Steve Spagnuolo switched up the game plan and brought a lot of pressure with blitzes to throw off Lamar Jackson — and it worked. Chris Jones made the kind of impact we all know he’s capable of. When he’s playing like that, the Chiefs are nearly unbeatable. What a difference it is being at .500. If they were sitting at 1-3, every media outlet and social media post would be focused on their struggles. This Monday night, they’ll head to Duval County to face one of the most surprising teams in the league so far.
Jaguars (3-1):
Traveling coast to coast isn’t easy — whether it’s East Coast teams heading west or vice versa. I don’t think many gave the Jaguars a chance to be competitive this year, let alone in their Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers — and look what they did. I saw a group that pushed around a physical football team and asserted themselves. They left Santa Clara with an impressive road win. Liam Coen, in his lone season as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, revived the Buccaneers’ rushing attack — they were the fourth-best rushing team in the league — and he’s doing the same thing in Jacksonville in his rookie season as head coach. The Jaguars are averaging 144 rushing yards per game. It’s about time Travis Etienne is being used correctly. Coaching truly does make all the difference. What’s really impressed me, though, has been their defense and how active they are in forcing takeaways. They’ve already forced 13 turnovers this season. Who would’ve thought the Texans — preseason favorites to win the division — would be sitting at the bottom of the AFC South, while the Colts and Jaguars are at the top? This is the National Football League — where the unpredictable always happens. Jacksonville will now welcome the defending AFC champs to town.
Chiefs X-Factor: Xavier Worthy
As I mentioned earlier, you can see the difference he makes. When he’s on the field, things flow more smoothly. Most importantly, Patrick Mahomes has a key weapon — and Xavier can attack a defense in so many ways: short passes, jet sweeps, or stretching the field deep. His presence alone alters how a defense plays. Worthy’s speed and ability to stretch the field will change how the Jaguars approach defending the Chiefs offense on Monday night.
Jaguars X-Factor: Devin Lloyd
I loved his game at Utah, and he’s been quietly very good in the NFL. By now, you should know the rule: if you’ve got two first names, you better have game — and he does. Devin has the versatility at linebacker to keep up with Travis Kelce. He’s one of the few linebackers who can actually defend tight ends in coverage. He also brings a sideline-to-sideline presence, which could help limit Xavier Worthy’s impact. If Lloyd has a big night, it bodes well for Jacksonville.
Final Thoughts:
These two teams have faced off quite a bit since Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, and this Monday night, they’ll close out Week 5. The Chiefs are coming off their best performance of the season, while the Jaguars — led by a rookie head coach — are sitting atop the AFC South at 3-1. For Kansas City, it’s key to get both Kelce and Worthy involved early and often. A deep shot to Worthy will force Jacksonville’s safeties to stay honest, which in turn will open things up for Kelce underneath. The offensive line also needs to keep Mahomes protected — this Jaguars pass rush will bring the heat. For Jacksonville: the key is to pressure Mahomes without over-pursuing or over-blitzing. Josh Allen and Travon Walker must win their battles up front. Offensively, they need to keep feeding Etienne, who’s been the focal point of their offense, and do everything possible to contain Kelce. The Chiefs have historically had the Jaguars’ number. The last time Jacksonville beat Kansas City was way back in 2009. What a statement win this would be over the defending AFC champs. But after what I saw last week, I think the Chiefs got their swagger back — and they’ll keep that momentum going.
Prediction:
