KC Chiefs: Five pass rushing units Patrick Mahomes should fear in 2019
By Cullen Jekel
Week 16: Chicago Bears
Mere days before Christmas, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Chicago to take on the Bears and the team’s vaunted pass rush. Led by former Oakland Raider Khalil Mack, the Bears tied with the Vikings last season for third in the league with 50 sacks while hitting the quarterback 100 times.
It wasn’t just Mack, though he led the Bears in sacks (12.5) and quarterback hits (18) while finishing second in tackles for loss (10). The Bears had 15 players who finished 2018 with at least one sack, including eight guys who had at least three sacks.
The next man up after Mack was Akiem Hicks, who returns to Chicago for his fourth season there. Hicks, the former Saint, totaled 7.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits last year. Though he’ll be 30 when this match-up takes place, and though the Chiefs won’t game plan for Hicks as much as they do for Mack, make certain Mahomes, Reid, and the Chiefs offensive line pays attention to him.
Outside of those two, the Bears return at least six more players that will attempt to wreak havoc in the pass rush: second-year linebacker Roquan Smith, former ninth overall pick Leonard Floyd, third-year pro Roy Robertson-Harris, outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, second-year defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, and five-year veteran defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.
It would be ideal if the KC Chiefs had things essentially wrapped up when they make this trip. Last year, it was nice not playing Mack twice as the Raiders dealt him before the season began. In eight career games against the Chiefs, Mack has collected 5.5 sacks, his second-most against any one team, while making eight tackles for loss and hitting the quarterback nine times.
The thing of it is, Mack is the biggest threat, but there’s seven other guys right behind him who’ll be gunning for Mahomes. This contest happening so late in the season and on the road could really throw a wrench in the Chiefs’ postseason plans.
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.