Five reasons why KC Chiefs are different team from week 6 loss

INJURED NO MORE

Going into the Texans game in week six, the KC Chiefs trotted out a rather beat up unit. They had had a brutal start to the season in the first five games, and it had taken its toll on Chiefs players. Leigh Oleszczak of KC Kingdom highlighted how injuries most certainly factored into why the Chiefs fell in week six.

Parts of the offensive line were missing, including left tackle Eric Fisher and guard Andrew Wylie.  Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins had both been injured, but Hill did make his return for the Texans game and made his presence known with a performance featuring five catches for 80 yards. This was also during the time that Patrick Mahomes was battling a lingering ankle injury he sustained against the Jaguars back in week one, and he was clearly hampered by it.

On the defensive side, Chris “Stone Cold” Jones was injured and that was a huge blow to the Chiefs front seven. Middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens was missing as well in this game.

Now, with the sad exception of Wan Thornhill, we see a healthy Chiefs team, Mahomes is back in full form, as is all his offensive weapons. The offensive and defensive line has undergone some repairs. A couple players have had to be placed on IR, but Mahomes weapons and the defensive starters (save Thornhill) are all present and accounted for.

IMPROVEMENTS WITH RUN GAME

Look, I am not going to make some huge case that the Chiefs now have a running threat as dominant as their passing threat, but it has certainly seen improvements since the Texans last saw the Chiefs in week six.

In that game, the Chiefs only rushed for 53 yards with the lion’s share of that being picked up by LeSean McCoy, who only rushed for 44 yards. The last few games have featured more of Damien Williams, who pounded the rock for 124 yards on 12 carries against the Chargers, although full disclosure, 84 of those yards came on a touchdown run. We have also seen a lot more of Darwin Thompson.

Thompson, while not a big powerful back, and unlikely to peel off huge 50+ yard runs, is emerging as a good third down back, whenever KC needs those pesky two or three yards picked up to get that all important first down.

Against the Chargers, the Chiefs rushed for 162 yards, their best rushing performance all season. Like I said, the Chiefs rushing attack might still be considered one of the few weaknesses of an otherwise explosive offense. That being said, it has certainly seen improvements since the Texans last came to town, and thanks to some what could be called Load management, the Texans will be seeing a fresh Shady McCoy.