Chiefs should remember an important lesson from last season while preparing for the Panthers
After losing their first game of the season last week, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a bounce-back win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. 2024 has been tough for the Panthers. While they didn't exactly have playoff aspirations, they at least hoped to be sitting better than 3-7. They also believed that […]
After losing their first game of the season last week, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a bounce-back win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 12.
2024 has been tough for the Panthers. While they didn't exactly have playoff aspirations, they at least hoped to be sitting better than 3-7. They also believed that 2023 first-overall pick quarterback Bryce Young would take a big step forward in his development, but that hasn't exactly happened.
Carolina has played better as of late, winners of it's last two games. They weren't flashy victories, nor did they come against good teams (the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints), but sometimes just getting a couple of wins does wonders for a team's confidence.
Chiefs fans won't soon forget about a Week 16 Christmas day game against the Las Vegas Raiders last year that went terribly sideways. Kansas City played one of it's worst games in recent memory and were upset by the Raiders 20-14. For the Chiefs' sake, hopefully they don't forget about it either as they prepare for an improved Panthers team.
Coach Andy Reid discussed what stands out to him about the Panthers while speaking to the media on Wednesday.
“So offensively, they obviously have a good running back (Chuba Hubbard) and a good quarterback (Young), he’s playing good football right now – (a) wide receiver, 17 (Xavier Legette) is a heck of a player and they have a very good offensive line," Reid said. "So, they’re moving the football the last couple of games very well. Defensively, it starts with their front. They’ve got a good defensive front. Their linebackers fly around, we know one of them from Denver– (Josey) Jewell. He knows that defense and he’s the one that’s kind of hitting things up there from that standpoint. Then, their secondary, they have two good corners and two good safeties. They just got 20 (Panthers S Jordan Fuller) back so he’s – they have a lot of trust in him and he’s a good football player.”
Linebacker Drue Tranquill also chimed in on what he sees going on in Carolina, and notes that the Chiefs will have to be sharp against them on Sunday.
"Well, they have a ton of moving pieces," Tranquill said. "And what I mean by that, it seems like their quarterback situation was fluid, and they've got a lot of young pieces, some rookies at the receiver position. They've traded away some players. And so, when you're trying to build a good team and a good culture, it takes time, and guys playing together for a long time. They've certainly played better the last two weeks, and I think they're starting to gel, starting to mesh a little bit. You're seeing those young guys get comfortable. They brought some good pieces in on the offensive line in the offseason. So, it's a good group, personnel wise. And we'll have to be on our X's and O's."
The Panthers are entering this game fresh off of their bye week and will be fired up after getting a taste of success over their last two games. They'll also have home field advantage, and are getting a boost offensively with wide receiver Adam Thielen and running back Jonathon Brooks returning from injury.
All of that only goes so far in the NFL, but it can be affective if a team is taken lightly. We'll see if the Chiefs take a lesson from last year's fateful Christmas day, as well as getting humbled by the Buffalo Bills last week.
Chiefs’ injury situation showing considerable signs of improvement in the first injury report for Week 12 vs. Panthers
The first injury reports of the week for the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
