Jacksonville @ Kansas City preview
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2016 ) Jacksonville 14, Kansas City 19
Two teams trying to shake up the status quo in the AFC tangle Sunday, when the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs host the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs are the only remaining unbeaten team in the AFC, while the Jaguars already have an impressive win over New England to their credit and could further solidify themselves as a Super Bowl contender with a victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs have emerged as one of the league’s most exciting teams thanks to second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes without an interception to begin his first season as a starter and led a fourth-quarter comeback in Monday night's 27-23 victory at Denver. "Right now, he is playing better than any quarterback has ever played. He is an MVP quarterback," Jaguars coach Doug Marrone told reporters. "The question is what he can't do. I don't know. I don't think words can really put in perspective how great he is playing. That is really all there is to it." While Kansas City is built around an explosive offense, Jacksonville possesses the NFL’s top defense and has allowed a league-low 657 passing yards in four games. “They have a great scheme. They do a lot of things really well,” Mahomes told reporters. “They do a lot of the same stuff, but they do it at a very high, pristine (level). They have a ton of talent over there. We have to utilize our offense and our weapons and try to do what we can to attack them.”
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chiefs -3. O/U: 49
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-1): Jacksonville’s defense is nasty, holding opponents to 259.3 total yards and 14 points per game – both league-best marks. The pass defense has been especially stingy, with outspoken cornerback Jalen Ramsey anchoring a secondary that hasn’t allowed more than 220 yards through the air this season. Blake Bortles has developed into a capable quarterback, but the Jaguars have to take better care of the ball – they have committed seven turnovers in four games – to graduate to Super Bowl favorite status.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (4-0): Mahomes has stolen the spotlight, but he’s surrounded by talent on the NFL’s top-ranked offense. Kareem Hunt quietly has put together another strong start to the season while speedster Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce are producing big numbers in the passing game. The Chiefs rank last in the league in total defense and 25th in scoring defense, but they’ve improved each week on that side of the ball and are close to getting back safety Eric Berry from an Achilles injury.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring) will not play Sunday.
2. Mahomes is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards without an interception in three consecutive games.
3. Jacksonville has been penalized 35 times for 354 yards, second-most in the NFL.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 24