Bucky Brooks' Scouting Report: Week 8 vs. Chiefs

Oct 24, 2024 at 12:33 PM

Bucky Brooks

NFL.com Analyst

Who is the Guy?

Despite entering Week 8 with a subpar stat sheet for a perennial MVP candidate, Patrick Mahomes is the scariest quarterback to defend based on his extraordinary arm talent and playmaking ability. The three-time All-Pro is a rare passer who can make every throw in the book while displaying the discipline and patience to work the underneath areas with a "dink-and-dunk" approach. Mahomes' willingness to take the checkdown forces opponents to defend every blade of grass from sideline to sideline and end line to end line.

Know His Name…

Chris Jones might be the best defensive player in the league with the "take over the game" potential offensive coaches fear from a defensive tackle. The All-Pro can wreck the running game with his strength, power and explosiveness while flashing rare instincts and hand skills as a pass rusher. Jones' whereabouts must accounted for at all times or the veteran will find a way to make a game-changing play that swings the momentum in the Chiefs' favor.

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Don't Sleep On…

Trent McDuffie has become one of the elite cover corners in the game, exhibiting rare instincts and ball skills for the position. Though he earned All-Pro accolades for his work as a slot defender, the veteran has seamlessly transitioned to the traditional corner spot for the Chiefs this season. Given Steve Spagnuolo's penchant for dialing up pressure on crucial downs with defensive backs exposed to one-on-one coverage without safety help, McDuffie's ability to blanket the Raiders' No. 1 receiver could make life miserable for Gardner Minshew.

Under Pressure

Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia have shared duties at left tackle based on production, performance and availability (health or injury). The duo faces a tough challenge protecting the edges against the Raiders' skilled, high-motor pass rushers. With the Chiefs intent on getting Mahomes into a groove early in the game, the pressure will be on Morris or Suamataia to hold up on the edges to give the two-time MVP sufficient time within the pocket.

Matchup to Watch

Nick Bolton vs. Alexander Mattison

The Chiefs' "MIKE" linebacker is a tackling machine with outstanding range and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. After Mattison emerged with a strong outing against the Rams, the Chiefs' designated playmaker will hunt the Raiders' top runner from snap to whistle for 60 minutes.

Offensive Strategy

Andy Reid is the most creative play designer in football, but he knows how to balance his wizardry with effective management to put the Chiefs in the best position to win. With the Chiefs lacking a WR1 in his prime, he must "scheme it up" a little to help JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins find room on the perimeter. If the Raiders pay extra attention to the greybeards on the outside, he could repeatedly hand the ball to Kareem Hunt to soften the defense and create big-play opportunities for Xavier Worthy on play passes and run-action screens. Given his expansive playbook, the Raiders will need to be on their assignments to slow down a Chiefs offense that is looking to find its rhythm nearing the season's midpoint.

Defensive Strategy

Steve Spagnuolo is known to give opposing quarterbacks and play-callers sleepless nights with his exotic pressure schemes. The blitz-happy guru will craft a few unique Cover 0 (all-out blitz) pressures to challenge quarterbacks to make pinpoint throws and sound decisions under duress. With a talented defensive backfield and a couple of energetic pass rushers at his disposal, Spagnuolo will turn up the heat on the Raiders to see if their quarterback can handle the pressure.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.