The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off of their week 10 bye and will travel to face the 1-8 New York Giants. The Chiefs look to improve on their 6-3 record and appear to have a very good shot at doing so. This Giants team appears to have given up on their coach, ownership and each other. Here are the week 11 Kansas City Chiefs keys to victory.
Week 11 Kansas City Chiefs Keys to Victory
Do Not Beat Yourself
There is no beating around the bush: The New York Giants are a bad football team. A very, very bad football team. There is absolutely no reason for the Chiefs to lose this game. However, the games are not played on paper in the NFL.
The easiest ways to give away games like this one are stupid and costly penalties. This means roughing the passer or defensive secondary penalties on third downs; holding calls after big runs; or unnecessary taunting penalties that hurt the team on the field. There were games early this season where Kansas City had double digit penalties and over 100 yards in penalties – and that is not something the Chiefs can afford to do in a game that they should convincingly win.
Play Chiefs Football
The Giants have the 25th ranked offense and the 31st ranked defense in the NFL. While Kansas City’s defense has not fared much better, it’s offense is light years better than the Giants offense. The Chiefs should be able move the ball at will and score on at least 90% of their possessions. The Chiefs just have to do what they are best at – run the ball and throw to Travis Kelce.
Kelce is primed for big games against a Giants defense that is ranked as the third worst passing defense in the league. Landon Collins is an exceptional player for the Giants, but the rest of the secondary just cannot get it figured out.
The Giants are just as bad at stopping the run as they are the pass – ranking as the third worst team in the league in such a category. Kareem Hunt has had a couple of down weeks before the bye week, and the favorite to win Rookie of the Year will look to get back on track against the Giants.
On defense, Kansas City needs to avoid giving up the big play. The biggest weakness of this defense has been on third down this year, and if the Chiefs are serious about a deep playoff run, they will have to to address those rates during the bye week. There are still question marks surround the Chiefs pass rush, which will be hampered this week as Tamba Hali and Dee Ford have not practiced for Kansas City yet. The Chiefs may have to generate pressure by blitzing other linebackers and safeties to force Eli Manning in to some of his trademark interceptions.
Gain Momentum Early
Many fans believe momentum is just a word that is thrown around by commentators, but having momentum as a team can go a long way. When you have momentum, you have confidence in yourself and your teammate’s ability. Kansas City needs some confidence building wins down the home stretch to carry in to the post season.
The Chiefs schedule from here through the post season is rather favorable. Based on current win/loss records, the Chiefs have the second easiest schedule remaining after playing the third toughest schedule before the bye week. Kansas City has got to get on track, wrap up the division and hope to get some help to secure a first round bye headed in to the playoffs.
Main Image:
