3 Chiefs on Thin Ice Despite Exhilarating Week 12 Win vs. Raiders
By Joe Summers
Our Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a dramatic 31-17 victory over the Raiders on Sunday and plenty of players deserved praise for their efforts.
That being said, you don't go down 14-0 without other players experiencing some struggles as well. Looking forward to this Sunday night against the Packers as the Chiefs hope to reclaim the No. 1 seed in the AFC, we'll need a more complete performance.
Let's look at three Chiefs on thin ice entering NFL Week 13.
3 Chiefs on Thin Ice Despite Win vs. Raiders
1. Willie Gay Jr. - LB
This is less about Gay Jr., who has been exceptional this season, and more about the impending return of Nick Bolton.
There are only so many spots on the field. With Drue Tranquill emerging as a defensive cornerstone for Steve Spagnuolo's unit, Gay Jr. may see his snaps decline in future weeks as Bolton gets back on the field.
Tranquill essentially plays every defensive snap and Gay Jr. didn't exceed 67% in either of the first two weeks with Bolton playing. Once the star linebacker is officially healthy, I'd guess Gay Jr. works rotationally alongside the rising Leo Chenal.
I'd love to see the Chiefs find a way to keep Gay Jr. beyond this season. He's got 40 tackles, three fumble recoveries and a sack while helping Kansas City's defense stay afloat without Bolton.
The Chiefs haven't missed a beat and Gay Jr. is a large reason why. That being said, the simple math of it likely means his snap count will decrease moving forward.
Speaking of diminishing snap counts, one player is quickly being phased out of the offense.
Before we get to that player, don't forget to claim FanDuel Sportsbook's $150 bonus if the Chiefs beat the Packers! Deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on Kansas City to win this week right now and you'll get an extra $150 in bonus bets if the Chiefs win. Sign up for FanDuel now!