NFL Game of the Week: Chiefs vs. Jaguars

After just one week of play, the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs are winless coming off a disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions in the season’s first game.

Even without their centerpiece in All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, the defense as a whole did a good job halting a dangerous Lions offense.

Second-year cornerback Trent McDuffie and veteran L’Jarius Sneed set the tone in the secondary, doing a solid job against Amon-Ra St. Brown and company, while the big boys up front were also solid in both run defense and pass rush situations.

While the unit impressed, they will get an even bigger boost with Jones re-entering the starting lineup fresh off a one-year contract extension worth up to $25 million.

Speaking of starters coming back into the lineup, tight end Travis Kelce will officially be back after suffering a knee injury just days before the opening game.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense desperately need Kelce back, as a lack of reliable pass catchers was one of the biggest differences in last week’s outcome.

Last season’s trade acquisition Kadarius Toney managed three drops on the night including one that popped up in the air for a pick-six six and second-year receiver Skyy Moore wasn’t much better.

Injecting arguably the league’s best tight end back into the offense gives the Chiefs a great chance to bounce back in a big way.

On the other end, the Jacksonville Jaguars lived up to their preseason excitement in their season opener, defeating an AFC South division rival in the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 31-21.

In his third year at quarterback for Jacksonville, former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence looked poised for a leap into an MVP candidate, collecting 241 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Speaking of adding upgraded pass catchers around the quarterback, the Jaguars finally got to debut former Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley after serving his season-long suspension last year.

Right out the gate, his impact on this offense was obvious, as he reeled in eight of 11 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, making fantasy owners smile across the globe.

The Jags hope that this added firepower can help change their fortunes from last season, as they struggled to conquer the juggernaut that is the Kansas City Chiefs.

When these teams faced off in the regular season, Kansas City took care of business, winning by a score of 27-17 on the back of a four-touchdown performance by the league MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Jacksonville later got a second crack at the Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs, but suffered the same fate, falling short by just six points.

Now, in their second year under head coach Doug Pederson, the Jaguars have yet another opportunity at the champs with an opportunity for a statement victory.

Jakob Schnur is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jks6463@psu.edu