Michael McQuaid of Pro Football Ireland looks at some of the key storylines ahead of the eighth week of the 2024 NFL season, which gets underway tonight (1.15am Irish time) with the visit of the Minnesota Vikings to the Los Angeles Rams.
Kansas City are fully loaded
While the Chiefs have not played their best football offensively through seven weeks, they are the only undefeated team in the NFL. Looking to cement their place in the history books by becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, they have started in the best possible fashion. The offence has not played well - Patrick Mahomes is statistically having the worst season of his career, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. Travis Kelce is not getting any younger. How do they fix that?
Enter DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans wide receiver was traded to Kansas City on Wednesday in a move that shocked the league. The Chiefs are not only getting an offensive weapon, but a player with considerable experience in the NFL. Throughout his time in the league, Hopkins has played both out wide and in the slot (closer to the offensive line in centre of the field), which means he can offer versatility for Andy Reid and the Chiefs offence. With many teams double marking Travis Kelce and trying to stop him, Hopkins could find himself open on various occasions during a game.
It’s much more than that, however. For the Chiefs, it’s a chance to return to normality under Mahomes, who has yet to score 30 points in a game this season. For Hopkins, it’s the opportunity to do what other great receivers such as Julio Jones could not - get over the hump and win a Super Bowl. It almost feels inevitable now that the Chiefs will be in New Orleans for the big game in February.
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Patrick Mahomes
Travis Kelce
Julio Jones
Andy Reid