Cleveland Browns scouting report: Kansas City Chiefs

 Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. 

Browns v. Kansas City Chiefs 
  
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., in Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO

Record: 16-3 in 2020.

Last game: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, 31-9, Feb. 7, in Tampa, FL.

Coach: Andy Reid, 98-43, ninth year; 238-145-1 overall.

Series record: Chiefs lead, 14-11-2 (counting postseason).

Last meeting: Chiefs won, 22-17, Jan. 17 in Kansas City in AFC playoffs.

League rankings: In 2020, offense was first overall (16^th rushing, first passing), defense was 16^th overall (21^st rushing, 14^th passing) and turnover differential was plus-6.

Things to watch

1. Patrick Mahomes is known for running up absurd numbers offensively. But in Super Bowl LV, the absurd number was a negative – he ran backwards or sidewise for 497 yards before attempting to throw or being sacked. He was under siege because his injury-depleted offensive line had no chance against the Buccaneers’ revved-up defensive front. So the offseason priority – the only priority, as it turned out – was to rebuild the line. GM Brett Veach kicked off the project by releasing veteran starting offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz on March 11. After the roster cutdown to 53, the Chiefs kept 10 offensive linemen; seven were not with the club in 2020.

2. The marquee additions to the offensive front were huge investments by the Chiefs. They traded four draft picks, including their 2021 No. 1, to the Ravens for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and then signed Patriots free agent left guard Joe Thuney for $80 million over five years. The rest of the starting lineup is made up of rookies – center Creed Humphrey (second round, 2021), right guard Trey Smith (sixth round, 2021) and right tackle Lucas Niang (third round, 2020 opt-out).

3. The availability of safety Tyrann Mathieu will be a big story in Kansas City this week. Mathieu has been on the COVID-reserve list since last week. He reportedly is fully vaccinated but has not passed through COVID protocols. Either he is experiencing symptoms or has not tested negative two times in a span of 24 hours. Mathieu was placed on the list on Sept. 1. If he fails to test negative because of symptoms, he conceivably can be activated after a 10-day isolation in time for the game. But that means he would not have practiced at all in that period.

4. Mathieu’s absence would be felt by the Chiefs. Besides being one of the league’s best play-makers at the safety position, Matheiu enables coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to field a three-safety dime package that includes Juan Thornhill and (Dirty) Dan Sorensen.

 Did you know … ?

1. Andy Reid ranks fifth on the NFL all-time list with 238 coaching wins. There are three teams he is undefeated against. One is the Chiefs; he was 3-0 vs. his present team while coach of the Eagles. He is 2-0 against the Eagles, his former team, as coach of the Chiefs. And he is 8-0 against the Browns, including last season’s divisional round playoff game.  

2. Reid is 7-1 on opening weekend as coach of the Chiefs. Kansas City’s six consecutive wins in Game 1 is tied for the longest streak in the NFL.

3. The Chiefs have begun the last four seasons 4-0, 4-0, 5-0 and 5-0.

4. In the month of September, Patrick Mahomes is 10-0 in his three seasons as starting quarterback. In those games he has 32 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

5. Since 2016, Travis Kelce leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (473) and receiving yards (6,144).

6. Since 2016, Tyreek Hill’s 58 touchdowns matches Green Bay’s Davante Adams for the most by an NFL receiver.

Small world: Kelce is from Cleveland Heights, defensive end Frank Clark is from Cleveland, and linebacker Anthony Hitchens is from Lorain … Outside linebackers coach Ken Flajole was Browns inside linebackers coach 2013-15.