Chiefs-Lions scouting report (in London, 8:30 a.m. start)

When the Chiefs run

EDGE >> CHIEFS

Charcandrick West is coming off a solid game vs. the Steelers, and he'll try to keep it going this week against a Lions defense that is not as stout as it used to be up the middle without Ndamukong Suh. Suh fled to Miami in March for an outrageous sum of money, and while his tenure there has been a disappointment, he provided Detroit with a physicality and attitude up the middle. His replacement, nose tackle Haloti Ngata (6-4, 345) is a physical player who, at 31, is not quite what he used to be. The player next to him, defensive tackle Caraun Reid (6-2, 298), is a second-year pro who is starting due to injury. He is coming off a strong game against the Vikings. Inside linebacker Stephen Tulloch (5-11, 246) is limited in coverage but he's a very strong run defense. Strong safety James Ihedigbo (6-2, 214) is a physical defender vs. the run. West needs to protect the football this weekend; the Lions have forced five fumbles, the third-most in the league.

When the Chiefs pass

EDGE >> LIONS

The Chiefs have surrendered the second-most sacks in the league (26) and the eighth-most quarterback hits (43). That's not a great sign against a Lions defense that ranks ninth in the league in sacks with 17, especially with starting left guard Ben Grubbs sitting out with a neck injury. However, the Lions have allowed opposing quarterbacks to combine for a league-high 111.6 rating in seven games, so there's plenty of room to attack. A good place to start is with tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Jeremy Maclin; Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said both have been featured more since Charles got hurt. With star linebacker DeAndre Levy sitting out due to an injury, defensive end Ziggy Ansah (6-5, 279) might be their best defensive player. He is athletic, strong and adept at getting to the quarterback (21 1/2 sacks in 37 career games). He was taken four picks after the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher No. 1 overall in 2013. Their matchup Sunday will be a fun storyline. Safety Glover Quin (6-0, 207) is instinctive; he has become one of the league's better safeties. He led the league in interceptions last season and is also a sufficient tackler. The Lions' top corner is Darius Slay (6-0, 190), a long, athletic second-round pick in 2013 with solid cover skills. His running mate, 35-year-old Rashean Mathis, is still an effective corner. Still, there's a chance to hit on some big plays; the Lions have surrendered 31 passing plays over 20 yards or more, the second-most in the league.

When the Lions run

EDGE >> CHIEFS

The Lions' running game has been anemic. Their run-yards-per-game average is 17 yards worse than the next-closest team. They have trouble punching it into the end zone, too, with only two rushing touchdowns. But their leading rusher, rookie Ameer Abdullah (5-9, 203), flashes plenty of talent. He has quickness, burst and the ability to make people miss in space, but he needs to do a better job taking care of the football (four fumbles). Joique Bell (5-11, 231) is the inside runner, while Theo Riddick (5-9, 201) is a quick, shifty receiving back who is second on the team with 36 catches. The run blocking up front has been bad. Center Travis Swanson (6-5, 307) is underpowered and could have a difficult time blocking nose tackle Jaye Howard, who has been a revelation this season. Same goes for rookie left guard Laken Tomlinson (6-3, 322), a gifted first-rounder who needs to add strength. He struggled mightily against the Vikings last week and could end up facing two powerful interior linemen in Howard and Allen Bailey.

When the Lions pass

EDGE >> LIONS

Quarterback Matthew Stafford (6-3, 226) has elite arm talent; the former No. 1 overall pick can make all the throws. But it's been a steady decline for him since 2011, when he threw for 41 touchdowns over 5,000 yards. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired this week, in part due to Stafford's general ineffectiveness — he was even benched two weeks ago in favor of Dan Orlovsky. Some of his struggles definitely have to do with the offensive line; the Lions are 19th in the league in sacks allowed (16) but second-to-last in quarterback hits (53). Their inability to protect Stafford, who has thrown nine interceptions — the second-most in the league — led to the firings of offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan earlier this week. That could spell trouble against a Chiefs defense that features pass rushers inside and outside and is tied for 15th in sacks with 15. It does not help that right tackle LaAdrian Waddle (6-6, 328) is hurt; he has struggled in pass protection and is questionable for the game with an injury. If he does play, he'll be matched up against Justin Houston. But for all the Lions' struggles, Stafford can really sling it when he gets hot. He's got some weapons, too. Golden Tate (5-10, 198) hasn't seen the ball enough, but he's an elusive, dependable receiver who can be a tough cover. The same, of course, can be said for Calvin Johnson (6-5, 237), who quietly turned 30 in September but remains a significant red zone threat. The Chiefs' starting corners match up fairly well with them, but both Tate and Johnson can stretch the field, and Stafford can really push it vertically. That happens to be the best way to stress the Chiefs' defense, which has surrendered 15 touchdowns through the air — the second-most in the league.

Special teams

EDGE >> CHIEFS

Detroit kicker Matt Prater is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals, while the Chiefs' Cairo Santos is 15 of 19. Prater has had an extra point blocked, however, unlike Santos, who also boasts a superior touchback percentage. Dustin Colquitt and Sam Martin are among the league leaders in punts downed inside the 20. The Lions have a better kick return average, while the Chiefs have a better punt return average. The Lions have fared better on kickoff coverage, the Chiefs have fared better on punt coverage. Neither team has scored or surrendered a touchdown on returns. So it's close, but Santos and Colquitt give the Chiefs the edge.

Coaching

EDGE >> CHIEFS

Like Andy Reid, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell has made one Super Bowl in his career, which he lost. During his five years as an NFL head coach, he has a career winning percentage of .543, which is slightly worse than Reid's mark of .564. Caldwell's new offensive coordinator is Jim Bob Cooter, who was just elevated from quarterbacks coach. He's never called plays before. The Lions' defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is a respected defensive mind who enjoys bringing pressure in all sorts of ways in his 4-3 front.

X-factor

EDGE >> LIONS

It's never a good thing when a team cans three assistants in the middle of the season. It's a surefire sign that things are going poorly, obviously, and it's really difficult to turn things around in this league under those circumstances. But the still, Lions get the edge in this category, since they played in London last year and already familar with the surface — which might not be great — and the atmosphere.

Bottom line: Chiefs 23-20

Both these teams have failed to meet expectations, but the Chiefs have the better team on paper and should be in a better mental state than the Lions, who are dealing with the drama surrounding coach firings. Unless Stafford gets hot — and yes, that's a possibility — the Chiefs should win this game.

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 12:15 AM with the headline "Chiefs-Lions scouting report (in London, 8:30 a.m. start)."