Three-time Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and former national champion Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Josh Simmons will have their hands full on Friday in Brazil.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker/EDGE rusher Khalil Mack has a mismatch and a chance to “stress” Mahomes along with the rest of the team’s front during their Week 1 matchup in São Paulo, Brazil.
“The Chiefs thought they landed the draft’s most talented tackle when Simmons fell to them at 32, and they might be right. The knee injury he suffered at Ohio State has been a non-factor, and the Week 1 starter has since ‘overperformed in a way no one saw coming,’ per our Chiefs beat reporter, Jesse Newell,” the Athletic’s Jacob Robinson and Ted Nguyen wrote.
“Advantage: Chargers. The 22-year-old gets his first NFL test against Mack, an 11-year veteran who remains one of the league’s best edge rushers. Mack tends to start strong, with 4.5 sacks across his last five Week 1 games. The Super Bowl showed the world four-man pressure can stress Patrick Mahomes.”
Mack knows he’ll likely face a hostile crowd at the Corinthians Arena. The former Buffalo Bulls star doesn’t care.
“I don't think it matters, man. We got here to play football and enjoy the game and come out here and try to dominate and play winning football. The crowd is the crowd, but all in all, man, we’re just coming out here to have fun and put on the show for you guys,” Mack said at a Thursday presser.
The Chiefs and Chargers kick off at 8 P.M. ET/7 P.M. CT on YouTube Friday night.