Khalil Mack is again within the AFC West, and the chips proceed to be stacked towards Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
After an NFL season stuffed with scorching scorching takes about their group, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers will get no respite through the offseason.
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To be truthful, the query is legitimate if not terribly nuanced. The latest success of the Buccanneers and Rams however, groups that “win the offseason” usually don’t win the precise season. However the arms race taking place within the AFC West, coupled with Tremendous Bowls for the Bucs and Rams touchdown the best offseason acquisition, is a troubling development that ought to not less than have the curiosity of Chiefs followers.
Of the 2 trades made this week, one in every of them immediately impacts the Chiefs and their prized face of the franchise, Patrick Mahomes. Los Angeles buying and selling for six-time Professional Bowler Khalil Mack and bringing him again to the AFC West is a direct response to the dominance the Chiefs have had over the division since Mahomes arrived 5 seasons in the past.
Since Mahomes took over as a beginning quarterback, the Chiefs have gained 4 division titles, performed in two Tremendous Bowls, and gained one in every of them.
They’ve additionally overwhelmed the Chargers in 5 of their final eight conferences, with the latest being an additional time heartbreaker that every one however ended Los Angeles’ hopes of stealing the AFC West crown.
Now as a substitute of stealing it, the Chargers are very clearly making an attempt to take it by power and have the energy on paper to do it. It’s additionally arduous to not think about the Chargers watching what the Cincinnati Bengals did to the Chiefs within the AFC Championship Sport (and earlier in an everyday season recreation) and never going oh, extra of that however solely it’s us doing it.
The groundwork has been laid for the Chargers to take over the AFC West. Final season Justin Herbert marched into Kansas Metropolis and picked up a signature win at Arrowhead Stadium. The protection has gamers who, when wholesome collectively, could possibly be among the many league’s finest models and it simply added an All-Professional cross rusher to its trenches.
Right here’s what the top-line of the Chargers protection seems like after buying Mack:
- Joey Bosa – DE
- Khalil Mack – DE
- Kenneth Murray – LB
- Derwin James – S
- Asante Samuel Jr. – CB
Take note the Chargers have the seventeenth choose within the NFL Draft this 12 months. Danny Kelly from The Ringer has Los Angeles drafting Georgia defensive deal with Devonte Wyatt, whereas ESPN’s Todd McShay has NFL mix star Jordan Davis penciled in because the choose.
All the pieces concerning the Chargers, from gamers at the moment on the roster to these being mocked as potential additions, level to a group making an attempt to do one factor: cease Patrick Mahomes. Bosa and Mack coming off the sting to chase Mahomes with stress as Murray and doubtlessly Davis or Wyatt plugging up the center whereas James and Samuel take away passing choices seems like a focused assault in each potential approach.
Now take into account the Chargers offense. Justin Herbert has Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and a bevy of plug-and-play weapons constructed to put on a group down or hold round in a shootout. Solely 5 video games final season noticed the Chargers rating fewer than three touchdowns and so they scored greater than 30 factors seven occasions. As a lot because the protection is a response to Mahomes, the offense is a mirrored image of what a group thinks it must do to beat the Chiefs — and the Chargers examine a variety of packing containers.
Pretty much as good because the Chargers look on paper, although, Kansas Metropolis remains to be a group that wants lower than 13-second and fewer than half a area to destroy a Tremendous Bowl-caliber group. Mahomes and firm are the category of the AFC West till confirmed in any other case, and the Chargers must do so much extra than simply win on paper, however for the primary time, it seems there may be official challengers to the title.
