The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to face the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 9. These teams have only faced six times in their history with the Chiefs leading the all-time series 4-2.

To learn more about Kansas City’s opponent, we spoke with managing editor Tim Weaver over at Panthers Wire and asked him a few questions.

Chiefs Wire: Matt Rhule has the second-best record this season among newly hired NFL coaches. What’s your impression of the new head coach at the halfway point of the 2020 season?

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Tim Weaver: It’s still early to give a definitive judgment, but after eight games it’s clear at least that Rhule belongs at this level. The roster that he’s been given is extremely flawed, imbalanced and inexperienced. There was also a ton of personnel turnover. The Panthers lost far more snaps played from 2019 than any other team. Rhule didn’t get much of an offseason program or any preseason games to get everybody on the same page. And yet, they’re 3-5 and they have been competitive in every game so far. Considering their terrible luck with injuries on top of everything else, he’s done a pretty sensational job.

Chiefs Wire: Standout rookie Jeremy Chinn was the only player not to participate in practice for the Panthers to start the week. What would it mean for Carolina if he was unable to play this week?

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Tim Weaver: Disaster, most likely. Chinn has quickly become the team’s most indispensable piece on defense. He lines up at multiple spots and all three levels, and can make stops at all of them. Chinn’s range and athleticism helps cover for a lot of holes in this defense. Without him covering so much ground and wearing so many hats, this group could very well be exposed in a bad way. Even with defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s conservative game plan, it’s not hard to see them allowing 40 points to an offense like KC’s.

Chiefs Wire: It looks like the Panthers will get Christian McCaffrey back from injured reserve this week. Do you expect him to have a full workload in his return from injury?

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Tim Weaver: The Panthers were pretty conservative with McCaffrey’s recovery. They probably could have played him last Thursday against the Falcons. Under former coach Ron Rivera, they probably would have, but things are different now under Rhule. High ankle sprains are nothing to mess with. He’s been out six weeks, though which should be enough time. I think McCaffrey will be 100% physically, but his workload will likely be a bit lighter. Mike Davis proved very underrated and valuable with McCaffrey out, and I think they’ll keep finding ways to use him.

Chiefs Wire: Are there any unheralded players on the Panthers that Chiefs fans should know about before the game?

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Tim Weaver: I would have said Jeremy Chinn a few weeks ago. Obviously, the cat is out of the bag there now. If he can’t play, the Panthers will have to rely a lot more on their only other defensive playmaker: Brian Burns. He’s exploded in his second year and is now right up there with the T.J. Watts and Khalil Macks and Myles Garretts of the league. Expect Burns to be disruptive as hell. If he can get to Patrick Mahomes consistently, he’ll force at least one turnover.

Chiefs Wire: Do you think people are underestimating the Panthers heading into this game?

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Tim Weaver: Yes and no. Most analysts and a lot of fans expected this Carolina team to be one of the worst in the NFL this year. Clearly, they’re not a playoff kind of team right now, but they are far, far better than the dregs of the league like the Jets and Giants. The Panthers aren’t going to beat the Chiefs on the road. I would honestly be surprised if it’s a huge blowout, though. If Teddy Bridgewater gets into one of his rhythms, they can at least make this interesting.