The Kansas City Chiefs will look to win their third game in a row on Monday night in a prime-time clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here are five things to keep in mind heading into game day.
1. Here's a look at the final injury report for both teams.
The Chiefs listed cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (shoulder) as "Questionable" ahead of Monday's game. Fulton, who played just two snaps in Week 2 before injuring his ankle, is seeking to avoid missing his third-straight game.
Norman-Lott, meanwhile, injured his shoulder during Friday's practice, and according to Head Coach Andy Reid, they'll "just see how he does over the next few days."
As for the Jaguars, the major injury status to watch is that of defensive end Travon Walker, who underwent surgery on his wrist earlier this week. Walker, who ranks second on the Jaguars in pressures with 14, is listed as "Questionable" for the game.
2. The Chiefs will aim to replicate last week's complete performance in all three phases.
Kansas City put together its most complete game of the season last week, winning by its largest margin (17 points) since defeating the Miami Dolphins by 19 points during the 2023 playoffs. The Chiefs' 37 points also marked their most in a single game since Week 3 of the 2023 campaign.
It was just an excellent team effort across the board, and in regard to the offense specifically, quarterback Patrick Mahomes discussed how the Chiefs can build on Sunday's performance moving forward.
"The execution, I think, was the biggest thing," Mahomes said. "Obviously, the guys made plays, and we were able to score a lot of points, but I'm always big on the execution – executing on the plays that are called and everybody being on the same page. I think that was something we did at a very high level this last game, and something that we can hopefully continue to do as the season goes on."
3. The Jaguars lead the NFL in takeaways so far this season.
Jacksonville is 3-1 this season due in large part to its league-most 13 takeaways, which is particularly impressive considering the Jaguars forced a league-low nine turnovers all of last season.
The Jaguars have made the most of their takeaways this season, too, logging the most possessions that began in opponent territory (9) and points following turnovers (41) of any team in the NFL. In fact, 43% of Jacksonville's points this season have taken place following giveaways.
So, while ball security is always important, it has to be the Chiefs' top priority this week. The Jaguars are allowing the ninth-most passing yards-per-game (233.5) and the fourth-highest third-down conversion rate (45.6%) of any team in the league this year, but those numbers don't mean much when possessions end in takeaways.
4. Jaguars' tailback Travis Etienne is averaging over six yards-per-carry.
On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars' offensive success this year has its roots in a renaissance from tailback Travis Etienne.
A first-round pick in 2021 and a 1,000-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons from 2022 through 2023, Etienne's usage was cut in half last season as he shared the backfield with fellow tailback Tank Bigsby. Etienne averaged just 3.7 yards-per-carry as part of that tandem, trailing Bigsby in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
That all changed this season, however, as Bigsby was traded to Philadelphia and Etienne is once again the Jaguars' workhorse at tailback. He's made the most of his opportunity, too, rushing for the third-most yards (394) of any player in the NFL. For context, Etienne has already amassed 71% of his rushing total from all of last season.
The 26-year-old Etienne is averaging 6.1 yards-per-carry through four games, and if the Chiefs are to slow down Jacksonville's offense, containing Etienne will be the place to start.
5. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has the second-fastest average time to throw in the NFL.
A hallmark of Trevor Lawrence's career thus far has been his quick release, and through four games, this season is no different. Lawrence's average time-to-throw this season takes just 2.57 seconds, which ranks as the second-fastest of any quarterback in the league behind only the Steelers' Aaron Rodgers (2.48).
That quick release explains a few other aspects of the Jaguars' offense, too. Lawrence is the least-sacked quarterback in the NFL this year (3) due in part to his tendency to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible. Additionally, Lawrence has just 11 passing attempts (and 1 completion) of 20 or more yards through the air this season, which ranks 20th in the NFL. Conversely, Lawrence leads the NFL in passing attempts of between 10 and 19 yards through the air with 36.
So, with all of that in mind, a major key for the Chiefs' defense on Monday will be covering Lawrence's first read on any given play. That's because Lawrence's passing "grade" according to Pro Football Focus' metrics drops by 20 points when he holds onto the ball for longer than 2.5 seconds.
Lawrence is certainly capable of making plays happen if the initial scheme breaks down, but Jacksonville's offense revolves around timing. The Chiefs' ability to disrupt that rhythm on Monday would go a long way toward a third-straight victory, and for the first time in 2025, a winning record.
