The Chiefs head into Week 2 with momentum after a 31-10 win over the Broncos, and the matchup with the Colts brings a very different kind of test. Kansas City showed a faster defense and a more grounded offense in Monday night’s opener, and now it gets a shot at one of the league’s more productive offensive groups.
Indianapolis comes in with Daniel Jones now signed to a long-term deal and Alec Pierce also locked in for the long haul, giving the Colts a fresh tandem in the passing game. Jonathan Taylor remains the centerpiece, though, and Kansas City’s defense will have to deal with one of the league’s most dangerous backs. The Colts are also trying to bounce back after a frustrating opener against the Ravens.
Around the Arrowhead Addict staff, the confidence level is high that Kansas City moves to 2-0. The spread in the picks is mostly about how the Chiefs get there, not whether they get there.
Patrick Allen sees the Chiefs sorting out their passing game after a rough opener. He pointed to two lingering questions - "Can the receivers get open, and 2.)
Can Patrick Mahomes regain his passing form?" - but still expects the quarterback to look sharper against Indianapolis. Allen picked Chiefs 34, Colts 24.
Price Carter expects a game that resembles the Broncos matchup in some ways. He noted the Colts’ good secondary and frequent man coverage, which could keep Kansas City’s passing game from finding easy rhythm.
Even so, he believes the Chiefs can lean on the run against a less talented defensive line and that the defense should also have success. Carter chose Chiefs 27, Colts 17.
Max Cashio is forecasting another convincing offensive showing from Kansas City, with Mahomes and the passing game taking a step forward. His pick: Chiefs 35, Colts 17.
Matt Chabot has the Chiefs winning by 10 and recording five sacks on Daniel Jones. He went with Chiefs 35, Colts 21.
Matt Conner expects Indianapolis to make life a little less comfortable for Kansas City’s defense than Denver did, but he still sees Mahomes carving up the Colts’ secondary. His pick is Chiefs 25, Colts 20.
Bransen Gibson thinks the passing game will take center stage after the run game stood out in Week 1. He expects Mahomes to throw three touchdown passes, with two going to Xavier Worthy. Gibson picked Chiefs 27, Colts 21.
Lyle Graversen believes the Colts will show more fight after being beaten by Baltimore, but he still sees Kansas City winning if it keeps up the defense and run game from Week 1. He expects a tighter finish and chose Chiefs 27, Colts 20.
Braden Holocek pointed to the explosives Indianapolis allowed against the Ravens and said that makes another 30-plus-point night for Kansas City feel likely. He also expects Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice to get more involved. Holocek picked Chiefs 33, Colts 20.
Shawn O'Brate sees the Colts putting up resistance for most of the game, especially with Jonathan Taylor coming at a Chiefs defense that didn’t have to stress its run stopping much against Denver. But he expects Kansas City to control the clock late and close it out on the ground. O'Brate picked Chiefs 29, Colts 21.
Charles Robinson was even more blunt in his take, backing Kansas City’s offense, defense, and coaching to keep rolling. He wrote, "With the Chiefs being all the way back, I see no way that a cross-eyed quarterback like Daniel Jones can derail this early-season Super Bowl-bound wagon." His pick: Chiefs 29, Colts 17.
Stacy Smith also expects a second straight win, citing a sharper Mahomes, an inspired run game, and a defensive front that makes things tough on Jones. Smith picked Chiefs 27, Colts 21.
The only picks shown from Hunter Stanton and Lucas Strozinsky were not included in the source.
In Other News...
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For a team that is staring at a possible transition at tight end over the next few seasons, those little shifts matter. Wiley still has time to carve out a role, but the competition is real, Briningstool has been the more available option, and the longer Wiley stays on the sideline, the harder it becomes to make a clear case for where he fits in the Chiefs plans. [Read more 🡒]