Self-inflicted issues prevented the Kansas City Chiefs from making it three straight wins in Week 5, resulting in a 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. With a 2-3 record and a letdown from their usually reliable defense under Steve Spagnuolo last week, the Chiefs need a much better effort collectively in a clash with the 4-1 Detroit Lions on Sunday night.
As daunting as the task seems against a Lions team that possesses the best offense in the league (34.8 points per game), the Lions appear to be banged-up heading into Sunday night's tilt.
According to the latest injury report for both teams, the Chiefs look to be in the clear despite some injury concerns with wide receiver Xavier Worthy on Thursday. The Lions, on the other hand, have several notable defenders battling injuries, including cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), defensive back Brian Branch (ankle) and safety Kerby Joseph (knee), creating a big hole in the secondary for quarterback Patrick Mahomes to exploit.
Chiefs Have Zero Excuses Not to Win in Week 6
Despite the challenge the Lions offense will present to the Chiefs with quarterback Jared Goff's efficiency (75.2%), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's reliability (407 yards, six TDs) and the running back tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs (325 yards, four TDs) and David Montgomery (310 yards, four TDs), the Chiefs have to like their chances against a secondary that could be without multiple starters.
With Arnold sidelined again and Branch and Joseph questionable for Sunday night's game, there is no reason for Mahomes not to have a field day. The three-time Super Bowl champion just completed 29 of his 41 passes for 318 yards and a TD in the air, plus a team-high 60 rush yards and a TD. He did throw a brutal pick-six in the game, but he can't dwell on that. The recent explosiveness from the offense is what has been lacking this season, and something that should continue against the decimated Lions defense.
The Chiefs have scored on 13 of their last 22 drives, 10 of which have resulted in TDs. That speaks to an offense that seems to be finding itself since Worthy's return from injury, and the potential for that to continue with backups Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox, who only have one interception between the three of them this season, forced to cover Kansas City's speedy receivers in light of the recent injuries.
It has not been a good start to the season by any means for the Chiefs, but the recent uptick in performance on offense and the banged-up Lions' secondary point to some points being scored on Sunday night. It's an excellent opportunity for Kansas City to avenge a season-opening loss to the Lions the last time the teams squared off in 2024.