At first glance, Indianapolis Colts fans might feel like a trip to Arrowhead Stadium is the last thing they need to bounce back after a tough loss in the opener. Patrick Mahomes is always a threat, and Andy Reid's team is fresh off putting up 31 points.
However, as impressive as that number was, especially against one of the top-ranked defenses from last season, the Kansas City Chiefs' offense wasn't as sharp as the score showed. If anything, the Denver Broncos shot themselves in the foot multiple times.
Upon further review, the tape shows that the 31 points are quite misleading. And even though Mahomes is still Mahomes, Lou Anarumo's defense should be in for a bounce-back performance on the road.
The Indianapolis Colts' defense can keep the Chiefs in check
Kenneth Walker III set a new mark for the most yards by a reigning Super Bowl MVP in Week 1, which isn't encouraging after Derrick Henry put on a show in the opener. That said, his numbers benefited from a 60-yard explosion.
The Broncos missed a whopping 28 tackles in the opener, the most by any team in the past eight games, including several on that play. That was also the case in Mahomes' longest completion of the evening, a 59-yard catch-and-run that Travis Kelce nearly punched in for six.
Other than that, it was checkdown city for Mahomes in his first game back from injury. He completed just 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Nearly one-third of his production came thanks to Kelce's ability to make Broncos' defenders miss in a day they'll want to forget.
Chiefs' wide receivers combined for a grand total of five receptions for 37 yards, with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy as the only players in that room to record a single catch. Mahomes was understandably out of rhythm, and while that game may have helped him shake off the rust, the Chiefs' wide receiver corps is far from impressive.
Perhaps this might sound crazy, but the Colts' best hope here is to let Mahomes do most of the heavy lifting. If they can contain Walker's explosive runs, the Chiefs' quarterback will have to scramble and pick up yards himself, as none of his pass-catchers can create any sort of separation.
Also, undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson held his own pretty well at left tackle, but with a full game's worth of tape, he won't sneak up on anybody. He's a right tackle with little to no experience on the other side of the line, and the Chiefs had to turn to him in the wake of Josh Simmons' injury. Anyone can have a strong game, but can he string together solid performances?
The Colts' defense has plenty of work to do after a disappointing opener, and the Chiefs are always the last team you want to come across when you're struggling on that side of the field. This time, however, their big numbers look like fool's gold.
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