Scouting Ahead: Cleveland Browns Week 1 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs
By Colin Damms
Scouting notes on a tough road trip against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns first opponent of the 2021 NFL season.
The Cleveland Browns kick off their 2021 season right where their 2020 season (painfully) ended: Arrowhead Stadium.
The Kansas City Chiefs come back from a disappointing end to 2020 themselves, losing their Super Bowl crown to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will be looking for a strong start on their road to redemption.
Cleveland is seeking redemption as well, hoping to start their season with a win against the team that ended their 2020 Super Bowl hopes. The stage is set for a classic season opener at Arrowhead Stadium, one in which the Browns will have their hands full in every regard.
1. Kansas City’s offense is primed and ready
There aren’t usually that many obvious takeaways from the usual Super Bowl contenders in the NFL Preseason, but the Chiefs took the opportunity this year to give their first-string offense a test run. The result was scary.
Patrick Mahomes was obviously on point, going 8-of-9 and tossing a pair of touchdowns in his allotted time on the field. In addition, the Chiefs’ retooled offensive line is looking good, a promising sign for them after the catastrophic culmination of that unit’s season-long inconsistency in the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And even a one-off performance like that one saw Mahomes manage to evade sacks in miraculous fashion.
The run game could be set to improve as well. Struggling to replace what Kareem Hunt gave them the Chiefs turned to Clyde Edwards-Helaire with their first-round pick last season, and this offseason have added veteran back Jerick McKinnon.
McKinnon’s extended injury absences in San Francisco should be worrying, but if he’s healthy he gives a solid second punch to the Chiefs backfield.
This was perhaps the most obvious note about the Chiefs anyone could make, but one worth underlining regardless given Andy Reid’s willingness to test them in the preseason, only to confirm that yes they are still elite at moving up the field and scoring points.