Can Patriots Offensive Line Match Up With Chiefs Pass Rush?
BOSTON (CBS) -- One of the big concerns for the Patriots heading into their Divisional round matchup with Kansas City is how their offensive line will stack up against a talented Chiefs' pass rush.
The Chiefs recorded 47 sacks during the regular season, fourth in the NFL, and it was spread out among a handful of defenders, led by Justin Houston (7.5) and Tamba Hali (6.5). That could spell trouble for Tom Brady, who was hit 38 times and sacked 16 times over the final six weeks of the season.
Brady is expected to have Sebastian Vollmer back protecting his blind side come Saturday night, but it's the return of receiver Julian Edelman that will help New England the most when it comes to combating that opportunistic Kansas City pass rush.
"I think Edelman coming back, [Danny] Amendola healthier and Rob Gronkowski with a few weeks to rest that knee -- that helps the offense and the offensive line especially, just letting Brady get the ball out quickly," former Patriots offensive lineman Dan Koppen told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Tuesday. "He'll be able to find his guys underneath and over the middle. Those quick passes, yards after catch, moving the chains and getting the guys on defense tired, that's what this offense is all about. That's the best case scenario: Those guys coming back and really going into what they did for the first 11 weeks."
Edelman said Monday that he is ready to go "full throttle" after being sidelined since Week 11 with a broken bone in his foot.
Koppen also touched on the Patriots' defense going against a shorthanded Chiefs offense and the return of Peyton Manning for the Broncos:
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