The Detroit Lions are headed into Kansas City to try to improve to 5-1 on the season and continue to firmly plant their stake in the NFC North. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are finding themselves in deeply unfamiliar territory as of late - they're third in the AFC West and don't look unstoppable anymore.
A current-sizzling team in the Jacksonville Jaguars just took them down at Arrowhead Stadium, so why can't the Lions? Well, injuries have begun to once again mount for the Lions, with D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Taylor Decker, and Khalil Dorsey topping the list of players Detroit is going to likely have to do without in these big matchups. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are ridiculously healthy.
This cannot be what holds the Lions back, though, especially with players like Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery perfectly healthy right now. There are a few key ways that the Lions can take down the Chiefs despite these injury woes.
3 keys to winning against Chiefs in Week 6
Winning the special teams battle
Detroit's currently helming one of the best special teams units in the NFL, with Jack Fox and Jake Bates absolutely cooking right now. Extra points in addition to perfect ball placement on kickoffs have been the difference maker for this Lions defense, especially when they're able to bullrush the pocket when opposing offenses are starting off around their own 5-10 yard line.
On the flip side, Kansas City's special teams have succeeded and failed with Harrison Butker. If he continues to struggle, then it gives Detroit a huge advantage on the margins against a team not known for making too many errors.
Incorporating TEs into pass blocking
Detroit is going to likely be without Taylor Decker again in Week 6, especially given head coach Dan Campbell's recent comments on his availability moving forward:
“Every week, the recovery has been less and less. He’s not been able to quite catch up—we feel like there’s diminishing returns each week. Man, it’s a little, ah. We just felt like we need to give this guy a little time, and I don’t know how long. But this is so we get him back. That’s what this is. Man, let’s get this thing to calm down, let’s get some strength back in the shoulder to where he feels good.”
This should mean that Detroit focuses on how to get tight ends like Brock Wright and Sam LaPorta involved in pass blocking on that left side of the line. Giovanni Manu had a rough outing against a strong Cincinnati Bengals defensive line and pass rush.
READ MORE: Dan Campbell gave a grim update on Taylor Decker’s injury
The team just called up Dan Skipper from the practice squad as a means of likely adding insurance behind Manu if he continues to struggle, but using Wright and LaPorta as run and pass blockers in spurts could do wonders for Goff's ability to stay clean in the pocket and prevent sacks from bringing the game down.
Let the run game dictate the offense
It feels obvious, but this might be a game where the Lions have to rely heavily on both Gibbs and Montgomery if the Chiefs' secondary is completely smothering the pass game. They're allowing 123.4 rushing yards per game, which is just ten yards shy of the Lions' season average of 134.8 rushing yards per game on offense.
Goff has been on fire to begin this year, so this is no knock on his ability to continue his early success. But, Detroit might be in a pickle with a lack of pass protection if Decker is missing yet another contest. If so, focusing on run blocking with their IDL and tight ends could be the right move here.