The Chiefs pulled out another squeaker thanks to a great defense and another shaky showing for the offense. The likely season-ending injury to Rashee Rice leaves another huge hole for Andy Reid and Matt Nagy to fill. As we always hear, “Next man up”. We’ll see how that works out.
My expectation is the Chiefs will elevate either Nikko Remigio or Justyn Ross to the active roster to take Rice’s place, for the interim. It’s possible that Brett Veach will initiate some sort of action to fill the hole left by Rice’s absence by either a trade or grab someone sitting unsigned. Michael Thomas and Hunter Renfrow are really the only UFA’s that could compliment this offense in the short term. I’m not sure if the thinking or money is there to make a splash trade so I would expect a look at either an underperforming, currently signed wideout that could use a new home or stick with a practice squad player the Chiefs already know.
Taking a look at this game, the Chiefs have a lot of work to do on the offense. As usual, getting buried in a hole right out of the gate seems to be a defensive trait for this year’s version of the Chiefs and the offense tries to overcompensate early. The offense got shakier especially after a Carson Steele fumble on the first drive and another Patrick Mahomes pick stalled any degree of offensive output. The Chiefs were put in a 10-0 hole after the first quarter. Steve Spagnuolo’s crew seems to have to take one or two drives to get on their game before they exert their will. The defense kept the Chargers from any scoring for the rest of the game.
Going -2 in turnover differential usually means you lose the game. Fortunately, the offense was able to do enough to win the game. Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine filled in aptly with Hunt rushing for 69 yards on 14 carries and added another 16 yards on two catches. Perine was able to accumulate 14 yards and a score. I believe that Kareem Hunt will perform quite well while Isaiah Pacheco rehabs. Carson Steele was showing his rookie-itis on a missed pass play with the ball going right through his hands on a catchable toss. He did not see much action after that play for the rest of the game.
Travis Kelce, on the other hand, showed out as I expected. He caught 7 passes for 89 yards including an awesome sideline grab that went for 38 yards. I see him being the passing emphasis for the foreseeable future. Last season much? The Chiefs, once again, are beginning to look a lot like they did last year. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Andy Reid can walk the walk. This team and this offense have won the last two Super Bowls. Is it an air show? Apparently not for the time being but Mahomes is nowhere near done with his spectacular ability.
We have to give them time to figure things out. Xavier Worthy’s 54-yard touchdown catch was a vintage Mahomes toss that also happened to be the longest toss of his career going around 62 air yards right into the waiting arms of Worthy in the endzone. I’ve watched that play several times and Worthy’s speed was the difference on that play. He simply out ran the defender and caught the ball right in the middle of the paint for a score.
We are seeing flashes every game from this offense. They just need to establish consistency. Mahomes can’t turn over the ball. Ball carriers have to hold onto the ball. Receivers have to catch the ball. No rocket science here.
Let’s take a look a Spag’s defense. Chris Jones was monster after the first drive. He was able to get to Chargers QB Justin Herbert twice and dumping him. Drue Tranquill had monster game against his old team with 10 combined tackles and getting pressure on Herbert throughout the game. The blitzing packages the Spagnuolo dialed up kept the Los Angeles offense off its game and provided ample opportunity for the Kansas City defense to perform its magic. Herbert was hit no less the 10 times and had 4 passes defended. That was enough for the Chargers to not find the end zone for the last three quarters of the game.
The Chiefs made an outstanding fourth down stop early in the fourth quarter on a 4th and 1 at the KC 3- yard line by bringing stout pressure and forcing Herbert into another incomplete pass attempt and a turnover on downs. LA left points on the board by trying to get the touchdown rather than a field goal. A questionable tactic seeing that the Chiefs offense wasn’t exactly prolific and LA could’ve possibly held the advantage but that’s what Jim Harbaugh does. His calculus on low percentage plays is a risk/reward call. If he thinks he can get it done, he’ll pull the trigger. He did this at Michigan and the 49’ers. Go big or go home.
A couple of things to take away from this game are this. Xavier Worthy moving into the WR1 role. I think Matt Nagy and wide receivers coach Connor Embree and passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will be working extra hard to coach him up and try to get Mahomes to be more comfortable. Even Tyreek Hill was not the go to his first season but because of circumstances, this could force the issue for Worthy. He is pretty confident and he’s smart so that may play into the value-added discussion.
Kareem Hunt was a beast. For his first game action in some time, he has the grind and I think when he get’s the opportunity, we’ll see the wheels. Carson Steele is not a lost cause, he’s still green. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is eligible to return but he may be used as a trade piece in any possible discussions. I believe the run game is in good hands until Pacheco’s return.
The defense needs to get on the same page at the beginning of the game. The leakiness it shows on first and second drives is maddening from the observation standpoint so it has to be from the coaching standpoint. Their run stopping was excellent in that keeping J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Quentin Johnson to 55 yards rushing total kept the Chargers one-dimensional. The Chiefs were able to keep LA under 170 yards passing and under 225 yards total. As the season progresses, I expect Steve Spagnuolo and his coaches will gain a clearer understanding of what they can do and how early they can do it.
Rest assured, Chiefs Kingdom, the quest for excellence is not quick nor easy but a sum total of effort and ability. This Chiefs team, I still believe, will be hoisting the Lombardi in New Orleans in 2025.
