Chiefs host Jets without Mansoor Delane as Kansas City tries to stop a two-game skid

The Kansas City Chiefs come home Sunday to face the New York Jets after two straight road losses, and they will do it short a starting cornerback. Andy Reid said Friday that rookie Mansoor Delane will not play because of his shoulder injury, according to ESPN, citing Nate Taylor. Delane joins L'Jarius Sneed, who went on injured reserve with a knee injury on Oct. 31, on the sideline.

The loss of Delane matters more because the defense is already under pressure. In a pregame exchange published by SB Nation, the Arrowhead Pride writer argued that the problems go beyond who the Chiefs have played. Kansas City has nine sacks through seven games and failed to record one at Seattle, where the Seahawks converted 11 of 16 third downs and held the ball for nearly 36 minutes. Denver went 2-for-2 on fourth down a week later. The writer called the missing pass rush "a legitimate concern that must be corrected." With both corners out, Christian Roland-Wallace and fourth-round rookie Jadon Canady should take on more of the work in the secondary.

The offense has its own gap. Tyquan Thornton has been on injured reserve with an ankle injury since mid-October, and without his speed downfield, defenses have crowded the box against Kenneth Walker. Walker still has 770 rushing yards, more than any Kansas City runner managed in either of the past two full seasons. Rookie Emmett Johnson added another option in Denver, with 128 receiving yards, a touchdown and 143 yards from scrimmage.

The Jets have injury problems of their own. National Football Post reported that Garrett Wilson, New York's leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, is out with a concussion. That leaves Adonai Mitchell and rookie Omar Cooper Jr. as the top receivers for a 2-6 team on its second three-game losing streak. A second SB Nation preview, written from the Jets' side, pointed out that New York has given up 30.6 points per game during the current losing streak. It also noted that opposing lead backs have topped 100 scrimmage yards against Kansas City in three of the last four weeks, which makes Braelon Allen and Breece Hall a matchup to watch.

What it means for Sunday

Kansas City opened 5-0 but is 5-2 after losing 28-24 in Denver and 20-3 in Seattle. The Chiefs averaged about 28 points during the five-game winning streak and have scored 27 combined in the two losses since. A home game against a struggling Jets defense is a chance to get that offense going again before a trip to Atlanta on Nov. 15.

The board has the Chiefs as clear favorites across 12 venues. Kansas City is favored at -426 on the moneyline at Novig, which has the Jets at +413. The best Jets price anywhere is +425 at Hard Rock Bet. The spread varies more: Novig has Kansas City at -8.5 (-104), while DraftKings offers the Jets at +9.5 (-105), a full point apart. Novig sets the total at 47.5, and DraftKings has 48.5. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 3.8% to 5.5%.

With Wilson out, the Jets' running backs are the most likely way for New York to keep this close. The Chiefs need a pass rush that finishes drives and a secondary that holds up without Delane and Sneed.