With their undefeated preseason officially in the books, the Kansas City Chiefs are heading into Week 1 with a ton of momentum
Their three-point win against the Vikings was made possible by the efforts of the offensive line, which opened up holes for running backs all game. Even though the stat sheet wasn’t the most impressive, for an exhibition matchup, Kansas City’s front five played admirably. Anchored by Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle, and bolstered by a slew of young starters, the unit looks ready for a big season in 2021.
The Chiefs’ commitment to finding a sustainable ground game and keeping their quarterback upright was the highest priority this offseason. Early indications are that the team has found new solutions at every position up front, a herculean feat for a team that was strapped for cap space after the Super Bowl. Some might’ve thought there would be a longer adjustment period for the new line, but strong preseason showings have Kansas City right where they intended to be headed into week one.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger delved into the improved offensive front this weekend on Twitter. He provided some high-level insight as to what has made the new line better, and where they still have room to improve. He seemed especially impressed by rookie Trey Smith, citing several of his run blocking snaps as reasons to be excited for Chiefs football this season. Baldinger, an 11-year pro and offensive lineman himself, summed up Kansas City’s game against Minnesota with his signature enthusiasm, showing everybody what really went on in the trenches in pursuit of the gritty win.
.@chiefs newly rebuilt offensive line looking awfully OFFENSIVE anchored by the @ZEUS__57 Got very high expectations for this group. #chiefskingdom #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/QuXsDZrRoF
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 29, 2021
It is a well-worn cliché to assert that the preseason is meaningless, but Baldinger does a great job of bringing the excitement back to the game, even if it doesn’t ultimately count. Kansas City would be wise to get back to the film room after cuts this week to assess their line’s performance ahead of their week one matchup against the Browns and their bevy of pass-rushing talent.
