Chiefs Offensive Line is Out of Excuses and Must Protect Patrick Mahomes at Full Strength
By Mark Powell
The Chiefs season hasn't gone as planned thus far, but through ten games KC still leads the AFC West and is in prime position to make the playoffs yet again.
Keep in mind this is all without a solidified front offensively, which has come back to bite the Chiefs in the form of an injury to Patrick Mahomes that kept him out several weeks this season. But now, with the return of Eric Fisher and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Kansas City has no excuse but to protect their star signal-caller, even against a formidable foe in the LA Chargers in Estadio Azteca.
First time since Week 2 that the Chiefs will start a game with the starting five up front if Fisher, Duvernay-Tardif return to starting lineup, as expected. Fisher returns after missing eight games.
— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) November 18, 2019
The Chargers' pass defense ranks fourth-best in the entire NFL, giving up just 207 yards-per-game entering Week 11. Despite playing in a foreign environment, the Chargers secondary travels well, and is a threat to turn over even the best of quarterbacks.
Still, Mahomes has all the tools to put up big numbers this week, including Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman. The Mexico City altitude won't do the Chargers any favors, either.
Patrick Mahomes is ready to launch it in the Mexico City altitude ☄️ pic.twitter.com/mX1ioQjofQ
— ESPN (@espn) November 19, 2019
The return of Fisher especially, paired with the recent play of Damien Williams out of the backfield against a Chargers rush defense that ranks just 20th in all of football are weapons Mahomes has at his disposal. But as always, it'll be the arm of the Texas Tech product which leads the Chiefs to victory.