The NFL scheduling department wasn't too kind to the Indianapolis Colts when they decided that, to open the season, their first two opponents would be the Baltimore Ravens, which resulted in a blowout loss, and the Kansas City Chiefs, which could result in another blowout loss.
It wasn't an easy start for the Colts, and it would get easier when they travel to Arrowhead in hopes of avoiding a 0-2 start. The Chiefs are looking to start 2-0, and based on what they showed the global NFL on Sunday night against the Denver Broncos, the Colts could be in for a nightmare of a night.
What the Colts did against the Ravens was defensive breakdowns, missed opportunities, and a sluggish passing attack on offense. They failed to contain Baltimore's explosive players—a mistake they can't repeat against Kansas City's. In that light, for the Colts to keep up with the Chiefs, they must contend with three major problems.
The Indianapolis Colts must contain Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III, and Chiefs fans
Many believe that the Seattle Seahawks should already be missing Kenneth Walker III. Many others believe the Seahawks shouldn’t miss him at all. In any case, no one can deny that last year's Super Bowl MVP lit the league up this past weekend, leading all rushers with 173 yards on the ground. If the Seahawks don't miss him, the Chiefs surely are loving having him.
Walker likely won't run for another 170 yards in back-to-back weeks, but even if he lands somewhere between the 100- to 120-yard mark, that will be trouble for the Colts. The first big problem facing the Colts is finding out a way to slow Walker down. He's not Derrick Henry, and we all know what he did to the Colts already, so containing Walker is a must, and possibly more achievable.
The second major problem is none other than Patrick Mahomes himself, who appeared as if he didn't suffer a significant ACL injury last season. Instead, he looked just as mobile as ever against the Broncos, at least as a runner.
What better way to announce your return to the league than with a rushing touchdown, only to get called back, reset, and run it back in the end zone again, but from 15 yards farther out?
This is what Mahomes did, and he's been a sneaky, solid scrambler throughout his career. If the Colts can find a way to keep Mahomes from breaking the pocket and springing for first downs or longer on his legs, they might be able to contain his greater impact. If Mahomes has room to run, he can make defenses look bad, and this time around, it would be the Colts' defense.
As for the third biggest problem the Colts will face in Kansas City, it's Kansas City—the fans at Arrowhead. It's a toss-up as to which fanbase and stadium is the NFL's loudest and most disruptive: Lumen Field in Seattle or Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Still, any opposing team that comes into Arrowhead has to deal with the crowd noise.
It is a brutal environment to overcome, and the extreme noise disrupts playcalling. It may not be a coincidence that the Colts just switched their main defensive play-calling lead from Cam Bynum to Akeem Davis-Gaither. Having a linebacker as the main bridge of communication from the sideline is sure to be more beneficial on the field when dealing with the noise.
So there you have it—Kenneth Walker, Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs faithful. These are the three biggest problems the Colts have to figure out how best to handle. They won't be able to quiet the crowd, so slowing down Walker or Mahomes is the Colts' best option. Otherwise, another gut-wrenching defeat will befall them.
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