Here’s how the KC Chiefs can secure a win over the Arizona Cardinals in season opener
The Chiefs kick off the 2022 regular season on the road with an intriguing matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Sunday’s matchup reunites Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Mahomes at Texas Tech.
Both teams come off playoff seasons, and the Cardinals have their own dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray, who led Arizona to an 11-6 record in 2021.
There is also a matter of streaks to consider in Week 1.
The Chiefs have won seven straight regular-season openers and are 8-1 on Kickoff Weekend since Andy Reid arrived in 2013. With a win on Sunday, the Chiefs will become the sixth team in the Super Bowl era to win eight consecutive season-opening games.
Meanwhile, Arizona has won two straight Kickoff Weekend games under Kingsbury.
Add it all together, and Sunday should provide an entertaining game.
“We, again, know they’re a good football team,” Reid said. “They started off undefeated for the first seven games, I believe, last year. So, they start fast, and they’ve got a heck of an offense and a defense, good coaches, their special teams are rock solid. We’ve got to make sure we prepare.”
Week 1 marks just the 14th time the Chiefs and Cardinals will square off, with the Chiefs holding a 9-3-1 record in the all-time series.
The last time the two teams met was in Week 10 of the 2018 season, and the Chiefs secured a 26-14 victory behind Mahomes’ two touchdown passes.
Can the Chiefs continue their winning ways over the Cardinals? Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs:
GET PASSING GAME GOING
One of the biggest questions about the Chiefs’ offense without Tyreek Hill will be addressed Sunday.
But it will come with challenges in a classic battle of strength vs. strength.
The Chiefs’ passing attack has consistently ranked as one of the NFL’s best, as expected with Mahomes under center. Without Hill, the Chiefs boast a revamped wide receiver corps and now rely on Mecole Hardman and newcomers Marquez Valdes-Scantling, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore.
There is a lot of unknown with this current group, but Mahomes offered a hint on what to expect.
“I think the biggest thing is just going to be that it’s going to be a different player every week that has the ‘big game,’” Mahomes said. “It’s not going to be just necessarily Tyreek and Travis (Kelce) every single week, where it’s like one or the other is having a big game, or both.
“It’s going to be every single week; it’s going to be someone different.”
Finding the right receiver not named Kelce needs to get around a big obstacle, though.
Under defensive coordinator Vance Johnson, the Cardinals defend the pass well. Arizona also boasts a terrific young cornerback tandem with Byron Murphy Jr. and Marco Wilson, and safety Budda Baker is among the NFL’s best at his position.
Mahomes knows it won’t be easy facing a Johnson-led defensive unit, which finished the 2021 season ranked seventh against the pass.
“He does a great job of mixing up his coverages, mixing up his blitz pressures, and we’re not going to be correct 100% of the time,” Mahomes said. “He’s going to have different coverages that get me during the game. It’s about limiting the mistakes in that game and then whenever you do get the opportunities, executing on it.”
CORRAL MURRAY
Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler in his young career, is easily one of the league’s best dual-threat signal-callers.
He’s averaging 23.3 touchdown passes over his first three years in the league, and he’s amassed an impressive 1,786 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns on 314 carries in that span.
The Chiefs have faced their share of mobile quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen in recent years, but Murray bring his own unique skill-set to the table.
“This guy gives you the same headaches that all those guys that are a threat to run,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “Not just on designed quarterback runs, but when he decides to do it, especially on a pass play.
“And he’s got a unique feel for when he — especially if you’re in man (coverage) — got a unique feel for finding that. And when he takes off and gets north and south — you guys have seen the film — that can be a problem.”
Murray can work outside the pocket, and he will look down the field for an open target before deciding to run the football.
In other words, the Chiefs’ defensive front must stay disciplined and not overextend themselves whenever in pursuit, and the defensive secondary can’t let up in coverage.
“The biggest threat is the unscripted plays when he’s running around the pocket and just starts throwing the ball 50, 60 yards down the field,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “Those are the plays we need to take away. And if we do that, we’re going to be successful.”
ACCOUNT FOR PASS CATCHERS
The Chiefs get a break Sunday because the Cardinals are without wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro selection and five-time Pro Bowler in his accomplished career.
Hopkins is a game-wrecker, but he’s currently serving a six-game suspension to start the season, so the Chiefs won’t have to worry about him.
This doesn’t mean the Chiefs’ defense can let up their guard, though.
Arizona still has a lot to throw at the Chiefs defense with wide receivers A.J. Green, Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore (hamstring), Andy Isabella and Greg Dortch. Tight end Zach Ertz (calf) is also a viable threat if he’s healthy enough to play.
While Green is no longer the game-wrecker he was early in his career, the veteran brings proven production with six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 11 seasons.
“We’re certainly not sleeping on any of those other skill guys that they have,” Spagnuolo said.
SLOW DOWN CONNER
The Cardinals’ run game finished the 2021 season ranked 10th in the league behind a two-back attack consisting of Chase Edmonds and James Conner.
Edmonds is no longer in Arizona, but the 6-foot-1, 233-pound Conner remains, and he is a load.
Connor paced Arizona’s ground attack in 2021 with a team-high 752 yards rushing on 202 carries, adding 375 yards receiving on 37 catches.
OK, not elite numbers. But where the rusher excelled surrounded his ability to get in the end zone: Conner totaled 18 touchdowns (15 rushing, three receiving) last season.
Stopping the Cardinals’ ground game, which now includes former Chiefs rusher Darrel Williams, must be a priority in Week 1.
