We are just two days away from the first game of the 2023 NFL Season. The reigning Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs welcome in the Detroit Lions on Thursday. Patrick Mahomes and Co. look to start their quest for a repeat, while Jared Goff and his crew look to make a statement on prime time. Here are three players to watch in Chiefs vs. Lions.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs
The 2022 seventh-round pick made a statement in his debut season, leading the team in rushing. His 830 yards outgained teammates Clyde Edwards-Helaire (first-round pick in 2020) and Jerick McKinnon. Pacheco’s five touchdowns were more than those two players combined too.
Entering this season, it is still a mystery if the Chiefs will run a backfield by committee. However, Pacheco is listed as the lead back on the depth chart. If he shows out against Detroit (146.5 rushing yards allowed per game, fourth worst in 2022), then the committee idea can be scrapped. The RB1 job is his to lose.
Jared Goff, QB, Lions
Some Lions fans may have questioned the front office’s decision to draft Hendon Hooker in this past draft. However, the team has 100% faith in the former Cal quarterback, including head coach Dan Campbell.
Chiefs’ defensive tackle Chris Jones is not slated to play (contract issues). This makes things a lot easier for Goff. His favorite weapon Amon-Ra St. Brown (106 catches/ 1,161 yards/ 6 touchdowns) is healthy and ready to go. He has a new shifty running back in Jahmyr Gibbs (2023 first-rounder). The Lions quarterback is slated to have a solid game.
Also, Goff is 1-0 vs. Patrick Mahomes. Remember that Rams vs. Chiefs game in 2018? Speaking of which…
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
The MVP. Arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. Yet, he’s someone worth monitoring in this opening matchup.
Here’s the things. He proved to the world that he didn’t need Tyreek Hill to succeed. Sure, Travis Kelce (110/ 1,338/ 12) was his favorite target. But, Mahomes led this team with guys like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, and Juju Smith-Schuster at his disposal. Three guys that are at best average receivers. Kadarius Toney doesn’t count either. His hamstrings are as fragile as glass.
The point is, Mahomes pretty much as the same guys as last year at his disposal. Gone is Smith-Schuster. But, he’s replaced with rookie Rashee Rice. Skyy Moore (22/ 250/ 0) is the favorite to be the WR1 in just his second year.
But, to sum it up, there’s still so many question marks in regards to Mahomes’s weapons outside of Kelce. Can Toney stay healthy? Will Moore actually rise and be the WR1? Will it be Rice or Richie James?
In the end, Mahomes did throw for 5,250 yards last year and won a Super Bowl. I doubt he‘ll have any trouble slicing and dicing Detroit’s pass defense (third-worst pass defense, allowing 245.8 YPG in 2022).
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