PLAYER NOTES
–WR Sammy Watkins is out of the protecting walking boot he wore as a precautionary measure while nursing a right foot injury. Watkins doesn’t expect to play in the Week 17 finale against Oakland, but the Chiefs remain hopeful Watkins may be able to return for the team’s postseason run.
–RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returned to practice this week, starting his three-week window to practice with the team before potentially returning from injured reserve. Duvernay-Tardif hasn’t played since Week 5 after suffering a fibula fracture and ligament damage in his ankle.
–LB Dee Ford was limited in practice Wednesday with a knee injury. Ford briefly left Sunday night’s game against Seattle with an apparent knee injury but later returned to action.
–S Eric Berry played 69 snaps Sunday night against Seattle, and appears close to returning to full duty for the team’s postseason run. It’s unclear if the Chiefs plan to play Berry for the full game during the season finale against Oakland or continuing limiting his snap count.
–CB Kendall Fuller practiced in full on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing thumb surgery earlier this month. Fuller did not play Sunday against Seattle but it was a game-time decision. Fuller expects to be available for the Week 17 finale against Oakland.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Charvarius Ward. The Chiefs acquired the undrafted rookie from Dallas at the close of the preseason in exchange for offensive lineman Parker Ehinger. Ward spent most of the season as a special teams performer, but he made his first start in Week 16 subbing in for Kendall Fuller. The Chiefs planned to use Ward as the team’s nickel back in place of Orlando Scandrick, but Ward stepped into a larger role with Fuller unable to go. Ward, a 6-foot-1, 198-pound corner from Middle Tennessee State, picked up eight total tackles with a pass broken up against Seattle in Week 16.
GAME PLAN: The Chiefs need to get off to faster start than they did last week against Seattle, and look for head coach Andy Reid to get Patrick Mahomes delivering the ball early and often to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs also hope to get Spencer Ware back involved in the run game before the playoffs begin. But the Chiefs need to get their offense firing on all cylinders, so don’t be surprised if Reid pulls out all the stops to build a big lead and not let up until the bitter end.
Defensively, the Chiefs need to find a secondary lineup before beginning their postseason run. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr stymied the Chiefs with 29-of-38 passing for 2985 yards and three touchdowns in Week 13, with tight end Jared Cook contributing seven catches for 100 yards and a score. The Chiefs need to prove they can shut down a top-flight tight end like Cook while limiting the Raiders run game, which rushed for 171 yards in Week 13. If the Chiefs can’t muster a strong defensive performance at home against the Raiders, it doesn’t bode well for the team’s playoff hopes.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Chiefs S Eric Berry vs. Raiders TE Jared Cook. The Chiefs have missed Berry’s ability to match up against opposing tight ends, and this game offers an opportunity to see how Berry’s coverage skills match up. The Chiefs all-purpose safety still expects to line up in the box as a deterrent against the Raiders run game, but Cook can hurt the Chiefs in so many ways if left open in the secondary.
–Raiders secondary vs. Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce. Kelce did all of the damage against the Raiders in Week 13, but with the Raiders relying on a trio of young cornerbacks, Hill should find opportunities hooking up deep with QB Patrick Mahomes. If the Chiefs can connect for their patented big plays early, it could be a long afternoon for Oakland.
