It feels almost surreal to write that both the Cheifs and Washington Football team are heading into their Week 6 matchup with not only the same record (2-3), but under .500 as well. And yet, after underwhelming months from two teams with notably higher expectations from 2021, here we are. These are the three matchups to watch for this weekend in Washington, D.C.:
Patrick Mahomes vs. Landon Collins & Bobby McCain
Washington's secondary is pretty weak: they rank 29th in pass defense DVOA by Football Outsider, and their two starting safeties -- Landon Collins and Bobby McCain -- are ranked 77th and 66th, respectively, out of 84 eligible safeties according to Pro Football Focus. WFT's opponents are averaging 293.4 passing yards per game against them this season, so if Mahomes and the Chiefs' passing offense was ever going to have a get-right game, it's this one.
Creed Humphrey vs. Jon Allen
Things have gone pretty disastrously across the board for most of the Chiefs' offense, but the play of rookie center Creed Humphrey has actually been a pleasant surprise. Humphrey is the top-ranked center in football, according to PFF, as he's only allowed one sack and two pressures in 350 snaps through the first five games. Allen's had the best 2021 of anyone on a Washington front that includes Chase Young, Daron Payne, and Montez Sweat -- PFF ranks him 3rd out of 116 defensive lineman. The two should see plenty of one another on Sunday afternoon.
The Chiefs CBs vs. Terry McLaurin
Not only is McLaurin good, but Washington's offense runs almost exclusively through him. The Chiefs' secondary has been exposed on more than one occasion this year, and McLaurin's the type of receiver that can make for long days. If the secondary can find a way to limit how often he has the ball in his hands, the Chiefs probably have a good chance of coming out of D.C. with a win.