Sean Smith

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) runs after an interception during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

(Tony Gutierrez)

No playoff team closed out the regular season as beat up as the New England Patriots, who fielded nearly unrecognizable starting units in Weeks 16 and 17.

The Pats rested players, had the benefit of the bye, and should have mostly everyone -- including Julian Edelman -- ready for Saturday's playoff game against Kansas City.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, might be more limited due to injuries than the Patriots. Here's a quick scouting report on Kansas City:

OFFENSE

**If the Chiefs don't have Jeremy Maclin, it'll hurt big-time. Travis Kelce makes big plays, but Maclin is Alex Smith's go-to guy. He's often the recipient of quick timing throws over the middle. The chemistry between Smith and Maclin is obvious.

Just a side note: His injury is as sketchy as any I've seen. He was being tested for knee ligament damage on the field versus Houston. He definitely knows the feeling, having torn his ACL twice. And then reports come out that he has an ACL injury, but not necessarily a tear. And then the MRI reveals a high ankle sprain? Strange.

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**Kansas City's offense is predicated on short throws, giving runners the opportunity to get yards after the catch. Smith throws wide receiver screens to Maclin and Albert Wilson. He'll hit Charcandrick West on flat routes. In almost every game, the Chiefs will run a few "jet sweep" or end-around plays. De'Anthony Thomas was the recipient of these plays before he was moved to injured reserve. Since, Maclin and Wilson have been involved. And, like a college offense, the Chiefs will show end-around to make defenders stay at home on running plays up the middle.

**Each week Bill Belichick talks about the opposing quarterback's ability to run. Sometimes it's legit. Sometimes it's not. This week, the Pats are actually facing a mobile quarterback in Smith. The Chiefs don't design many runs for Smith, the former No. 1 pick in 2005, but he'll take off on any given play. Even at 31 years old, he has the wheels to rip off some long gains, as evidenced by a 29-yard run against Cleveland and a 22-yarder against Oakland. In a game where points will be at a premium, it'll be imperative for the Pats defense to keep track of Smith at all times.

**If Maclin is out, rookie receiver Chris Conley could be more involved. He's 6-foot-2, ran a 4.35 40 and had a 45-inch vertical leap. Kansas City will take vertical shots with Conley; in Week 16 versus the Browns he drew a 40-yard pass interference flag.

**Both Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West will play running back for the Chiefs. At 5-foot-10, 227 pounds, Ware is a punishing downhill runner. Just ask Houston defensive back Quintin Demps.

DEFENSE

**Watch Justin Houston in Week 10 against the Broncos. Denver may as well have taken right tackle Michael Schofield off the field and just gone with four linemen. Houston was toying with the Broncos O-Line. He had 7.5 sacks through nine games. He is one of the league's premier pass rushers.

And after missing five games with a knee injury, Houston returned in the Wild Card round against the Texans. Watch him in Week 10 vs. last week. Not the same player. Gotta hand it to CSNNE's Mike Giardi for making this point Monday.

Houston lacked the explosion off the edge, and appeared to re-aggravate his knee in the first quarter.

He primarily plays left end, going against the right tackle (Marcus Cannon), but has moved around a bit.

**Tamba Hali, the Chiefs' other edge rusher, played only 15 snaps against the Texans. He has been dealing with a broken thumb.

The good news for Kansas City: Its third edge rusher, Dee Ford, is pretty damn good. A first round pick in 2014, Ford had four sacks in the season's final four games. He's a capable fill-in if either Houston or Hali is limited.

**The Chiefs have forced 31 turnovers since Week 5. On some, they'll drop additional players into zone coverage. On a 3rd-and-2 against Oakland in Week 17, Kansas City rushed three and dropped eight, forcing David Carr into an interception. They also rushed three and dropped eight on a goal line interception of Brian Hoyer this past weekend. And, on a 3rd-and-3 against Detroit in the middle of the field, the Chiefs showed four down linemen, but Justin Houston retreated into coverage. Tamba Hali beat his man and generated pressure, and Matthew Stafford got rid of the ball quickly, sending it into the arms of Kansas City corner Sean Smith.

This is when KC's defense is at its best, when its edge rushers are winning one-on-one matchups and ball-hawking secondary players have a chance to make a play.