As former NFL medical staff and injury enthusiasts, The Predictors team has made it their mission to not only show that health matters but to prove it and our creation of the Banged-Up Score has done that predicting 7 of the last 8 super bowl winners and predicting 10 out of 13 playoff winners this year with the health B.U.S alone. This off season we wanted to look back at team health trends and how that will translate to the NFL Draft. Make sure to check back every week for new teams and new team health and draft review. Only at thepredictors.com. We start this week with The Kansas City Chiefs.
The AFC West was filled with mismatches last season and perhaps none bigger than health. The Raiders balanced in the middle while the Broncos and Chargers suffered all season and the Chiefs managed to stay healthy overall. The 2022-2023 NFL Superbowl Champions made it through last season with the 2nd lowest average health rank position of 3.6 out of 32 over 18 weeks according to thepredictors.com Banged Up Score (B.U.S). Kansas City also had the heathiest Banged Up Score throughout the playoffs each week giving them the health advantage every game they played in the post season.
As we look back this season The Chiefs overall health trended down over the course of the regular season as expected. In a sport like football there is no way around injuries over an 18-week regular season and then playoffs tacked on the end. With that being the case what’s important is that Kansas City was able to stay above the league average BUS ranking and get healthier over the 1st round bye week and every week into the playoffs. This being much different than their Super Bowl LV push in which they lost star lineman Eric Fisher, had an injured Patrick Mahomes turf toe issue, and ultimately lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This season KC stayed healthy as a whole and more importantly was the minimal injuries to star players. This allowed them to run their schemes and execute on plays leading them to the #1 offensive ranking in points and yards this season. Their defense though not as strong of a statement as offense was able to finish just outside of the top ten in overall yards per game allowed and middle of the pack in points allowed per game. With the offense healthy and firing though it didn’t matter as good health and a lot of talent helped them overcome most adversity, they faced this year.
Ultimately healthy, they did have a few injuries that Chiefs fans could have done without. The first and most public of course coming in the divisional round match-up against the Jaguars when QB 1 Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain. An injury that would normally cause a 2-3 game absence to heal. Mahomes was able to grit through and play effectively giving his team multiple victories while re-aggravating the injured ankle a few times.
"Returning from this injury, there is a 25-30 percent decrease in production, mostly in the run game. I would expect about 10-20 percent down in rushing yards.” @sportsdocmatt analyzes the @Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and how ready he will be in the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/Yvp6iS3Z0V
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 12, 2023
Through the season, soft tissue injuries to Kadarius Toney (Hamstring), Mecole Hardman (groin/abdomen) and Trent McDuffie (Hamstring) caused multiple missed games. Soft tissue injuries are some of the toughest to rehabilitate back from considering the likelihood of re-injury. Having depth and trust in their back-ups allowed The Chiefs to get their players healthy and back on the field for the end of season push.
As we look forward to next season and the draft this April, talent will most likely play more of a role for Kansas City than health. With them being so healthy this past year they are going to want to work on depth and weaknesses. Possibly more protection for Mahomes or another weapon for him. The Chiefs also may want to look for an outside edge rusher to pressure opposing QBs. Tomorrow The Predictors will tell you what we feel is the most likely picks and why as we start our team draft analysis.
Health continues to play a big role in team performance and The Chiefs showed that this year. From being one of the healthiest teams all year to Super Bowl Champion. It isn’t a coincidence.
