Chiefs vs. Jaguars, AFC divisional round preview | KCSN Daily 1.20
Plus players to watch, KCSN podcasts, quotes, transactions and more Chiefs news.
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The Chiefs will host the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium during the AFC divisional round. It’s a battle between the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the AFC’s No. 4 seed for a chance to compete in the conference title game. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on NBC stations with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark on the call.
You can find tickets for the game down below:
KC Laboratory - Chiefs vs. Jaguars, AFC divisional round preview:
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane preview the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars AFC Divisional Round matchup on Saturday. —
Find a written preview from Kent Swanson, Craig Stout & Matt Lane here.
Players to watch in AFC divisional round:
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: In the Week 10 matchup against Jacksonville, Smith-Schuster left the field early with a concussion following a hit from Jaguars S Andre Cisco. While he seemed to dismiss the hit as anything dirty, he did say it would inspire him and his teammates to “play harder.” We’ll see if the physicality from Smith-Schuster and the rest of the receiving group changes at all.
DE Carlos Dunlap: A 13-year NFL veteran, Dunlap has never played in a playoff game during the course of his career. His excitement was palpable when speaking in the locker room this week. In their Week 10 matchup with the Jaguars earlier this season, Dunlap recorded five total tackles and a half-sack, playing increased snaps in Frank Clark’s absence. Rest assured he’ll be amped up and ready to make his postseason play count in this one.
RB Isiah Pacheco: Of the rookies in line to play significant snaps on Saturday, Pacheco is the most intriguing. During the Week 10 matchup with the Jaguars, Pacheco lost a fumble early before going on to have one of his best games of the season with 16 carries for 82 yards. He said he ran “a little angrier” following the fumble. Running the ball successfully is always magnified during the playoffs as are turnovers. Will the rookie be able to put together a turnover-free game and run angrier from the get-go this time around?
S Justin Reid: Jacksonville TE Evan Engram has quietly become one of the most consistent weapons for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. At times he’s going to be matched up against cornerbacks, but at other times Reid will see Engram in coverage. Reid has been trending upward in the second half of the season, but this will be a big test and one that could prove pivotal in the outcome of the game.
(Photo via NFL)
Remember, vote for Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Fan of the Year Nominee Dr. Amy Patel. You can vote multiple times until polls close on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Click the image above to listen to KCSN’s BJ Kissel exclusive interview with Dr. Patel.
One On One - How the Chiefs can slow down the Jaguars:
Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen and defensive lineman Mike DeVito break down the Chiefs AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Transactions:
1/20 - Elevated from practice squad - WR Marcus Kemp
1/20 - Elevated from practice squad - C Austin Reiter
Read more about the practice squad elevations here.
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel sits down with Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema to get his three key matchups in the Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional Round game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Quotable:
“It’s also good that they get along. That group is a tight group and normally it is with most teams, I think but they enjoy playing with each other and they do well – and just the familiarity, especially when you get into the games and all those things. I’m saying the twist and things that go on from a good defensive line, in which they’re going to be playing. Those two inside techniques are powerful men and the two outside guys can fly so it becomes very important.” - Andy Reid on having (mostly) the same offensive line all season long
“Yeah, man, you have so many different types of receivers that Pat (Mahomes) is dealing with. You have small guys, guys who move around, fast, slow, whatever you want to call it, he has it and he’s going to adjust and that’s the thing that he’s really, really good at. But not only that you think about the running backs that we’re using. We’re using three to four different running backs in a game, we’re using five different receivers, using three different tight ends, so for a guy like Patrick Mahomes to go in a game and know everyone’s tendency of what they have, I mean, the chemistry is there and he’s building it day in and day out and you’ll see it this Saturday.” - JuJu Smith-Schuster on how Patrick Mahomes utilizes offensive weapons
Quick Hits:
From KCI: The Jaguars have officially landed in Kansas City ahead of their AFC divisional round game with the Chiefs.
From the KC Star: Columnist Sam McDowell delivered an incredible story on Chiefs LT Orlando Brown Jr. today. It’s worth your time.
From the Chiefs: Some words from Travis Kelce, Jerick McKinnon, Justin Reid, Willie Gay Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tommy Townsend and Nick Bolton on what’s at stake in the playoffs.
From the NFL: The NFL announced that 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL draft. You can take a look at the names down below, courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
NFL’s divisional round schedule:
Saturday, Jan 21:
Chiefs vs. Jaguars at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Eagles vs. Giants at 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX
Sunday, Jan 22:
Bills vs. Bengals at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS
49ers vs. Cowboys at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX
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