Chiefs Won't Be A Gimme Victory When Lions Travel To London
By Danny Cox
The Detroit Lions broke their winless streak last week, but now they are hoping that another one hasn't been started. Some changes have already been made with the coaching staff as the team prepares to head to London and take on the Kansas City Chiefs, who aren't having much more success this year.
Injuries, especially the one to Jamaal Charles, have hurt the Chiefs' season in huge ways. They are not in a total wash yet for the year, but things are going that way. This could be a big chance for the Lions to pick up their second victory, but they've got to make every play count.
Season Record
Kansas City has a 2-5 record almost midway through the season, but they're still not in the cellar of the AFC West. That spot belongs to the San Diego Chargers who have the same record, but fall below the Chiefs in the standings. The Denver Broncos are 6-0 and already pulling away from the division. With two other AFC teams at 6-0 (Patriots and Bengals), the Chiefs aren't even close to a possible playoff spot at this time.
Kansas City Chiefs on Offense
Charles' injury pretty much took away the entire running game for the Chiefs, which means the Lions will need to focus on stopping the passing attack. Alex Smith has shown flashes of brilliance at times this season, but he's been more inconsistent than anything.
As of Monday, Chiefs top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was out of the NFL's concussion protocol, but still didn't play this past weekend. Coach Andy Reid said he still "wasn't right;" and if Maclin misses another game, it could really hurt the Chiefs on offense.
Kansas City Chiefs on Defense
Kansas City will need to rely on their defense to have any chance against the Lions, but they've got to get more going. Matthew Stafford should be able to take advantage of a defense that doesn't rack up many sacks (15) and hardly causes any turnovers as they only have nine this season (six interceptions and three fumbles).
Calvin Johnson and the Lions should be able to open up the passing game, but Joique Bell or Ameer Abdullah will need to get the running game going to expose the Chiefs' secondary even more.
Kansas City Chiefs' Players to Watch
If Maclin is able to travel with the team to London and play, he will be who the Lions need to keep their eyes on. Travis Kelce has stepped up in his absence, but Maclin is a dangerous target at all times and already heading toward a 1,000+ season.
Defensively, linebacker Derrick Johnson leads the team in tackles and has become a leader on the field for the whole squad. The Lions need to really watch out for defensive end Allen Bailey though as he has 4.5 sacks on the year and is one strong pass rusher.
Outlook
This may be one of the best chances the Detroit Lions have of getting a victory right now and making it an impressive one. While the Kansas City Chiefs do have talent and quality players, they've not shown much of anything in 2015 and the Lions should be able to expose their weaknesses and open it up.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
