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What I’m seeing from the Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, offense adjusting to injuries

4 October 2024Last Update :
What I’m seeing from the Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, offense adjusting to injuries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On paper, the Chiefs’ place in the NFL standings isn’t surprising. With a 4-0 record after almost a quarter of the regular season, the Chiefs appear to be on the right track in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.

Yet almost everything about the Chiefs offense is far from perfect.

In Monday’s prime-time game, when the Chiefs host the New Orleans Saints, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be without his top three skill-position teammates not named Travis Kelce — veteran receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder), running back Isiah Pacheco (broken leg) and leading receiver Rashee Rice (knee).

Alongside the injuries is another growing concern: Mahomes hasn’t performed up to his standards. Mahomes has thrown almost as many interceptions (five) as touchdowns (six).

“We’re all seeing the field the same way, but now it’s about me just having that trust and giving them those shots to make plays in traffic,” Mahomes said Thursday of the Chiefs’ other pass catchers. “Like I did with (rookie receiver) Xavier (Worthy) on that deep (touchdown last week against the Chargers), there were more opportunities to throw to him later on in that game.”

Even Kelce, the future Hall of Fame tight end, hasn’t generated as much production — 15 receptions for 158 yards without a touchdown — as he has in previous Septembers.

Monday’s game puts the national spotlight back on the Chiefs offense and how the unit will adjust against a quality opponent. The two receivers expected to see increased snaps are JuJu Smith-Schuster and Justin Watson.

“There’s not another Rashee, but there’s other guys, though, that are very, very good, so we’ll be fine,” coach Andy Reid said Thursday. “We’ll take care of business. (General manager Brett) Veach has done a good job of bringing people in here, so we’ve just got to take care of business.”

Here’s what else I’m seeing from the Chiefs ahead of Monday night’s game against the Saints.

Optimism grows for Rice return

On Sunday night, after their win over the Chargers, the Chiefs feared that Rice tore his ACL, an injury that would end his season. Four days later, several people in the Chiefs organization had growing optimism that Rice will return to the field later in the regular season.

Before Thursday’s practice, Rice was seen in the Chiefs’ locker room. He was walking pretty well, considering his circumstances. But he did have swelling around his right knee.

Rice is expected to see a specialist early next week in Dallas to determine the severity of his injury and when it will be safe for him to return to the field.

“It’s just wait and see,” Reid said. “For his sake, we’re really hoping that things work out for the best. We’ll just see where it goes and leave it up to the doctors. Rashee has had a phenomenal year. Unfortunately in this league, injuries happen and life goes on.”

After Thursday’s practice, the Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the team’s next four games. He sustained his injury immediately after Mahomes’ interception in the first quarter. Rice was chasing cornerback Kristian Fulton, who was returning the ball near the Chiefs’ sideline, when his right leg was bent backward when he ran into Mahomes, who was trying to tackle Fulton with his right shoulder. Within minutes, Rice was carted to the locker room, his hands and a towel covering his face.

“When I saw the replay, I felt like s— that I hit Rashee,” Mahomes said. “I wasn’t worried about myself. I was hoping that his injury wasn’t as bad as it looked.”

If Rice’s injury is not significant, the earliest he could return is Nov. 10 for a home game against the Broncos, just five days after the NFL’s trade deadline. The Chiefs are expected to evaluate their receiver depth over the next three games as they consider trading for a veteran receiver.

As of Thursday, the Chiefs had close to $4.8 million in salary-cap space, according to Over the Cap.

Defense shedding its reputation

During the Chiefs’ championship runs, a trend has developed with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo: His unit initially struggles to defend rushing attacks. As the calendar moves closer to the postseason when the weather is colder and running the ball becomes even more important, the Chiefs run defense gets better and better.

Well, the story is different this season. Through four games, the Chiefs defense has made it difficult for opponents to run the ball.

“It’s all about building the wall and then tracking the (ball carrier’s) hip, as our coaches say,” linebacker Leo Chenal said. “It starts there.”

In fact, the player who has generated the most rushing yards against the Chiefs this season is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who gained 122 yards in the opener, most of which occurred after he scrambled out of the pocket.

No opposing running back with 12 or more rushing attempts — Derrick Henry (Ravens), Bijan Robinson (Falcons) and J.K. Dobbins (Chargers) — has gained even 50 yards against the Chiefs.

“That was something that we wanted to address (early),” defensive tackle Mike Pennel said of the Chiefs’ run defense. “Last year, when I came back (in December), the defense was playing well and I was able to add a little bit to the run (defense) in our playoff push. That was the main goal of our defense this year, not getting better (simply) at the end of the year.”

The Chiefs’ run defense is one major reason the team escaped Atlanta with another close victory.

With less than a minute remaining and trailing by five points, the Falcons faced fourth-and-inches from the Chiefs’ 13-yard line. The Falcons lined up in a condensed formation featuring two tight ends and two running backs, similar to one they used in the second quarter to score a 1-yard touchdown. Linebacker Nick Bolton was the lone defender the Falcons didn’t block. He sprinted upfield behind Chenal, who created penetration against left tackle Jake Matthews, and tackled Robinson behind the line of scrimmage for a 3-yard loss.

“That’s a team play right there and all of our guys are doing that,” Chenal said of Bolton’s highlight. “You have guys that don’t get credit for something, but one of us — a linebacker, a safety, a cornerback — is coming in and making the play. I just happened to be in that position on a really important play and Nick was going to make that play no matter what, if I set the edge or not.”

Jaylen Watson off to impressive start

Before the season, Spagnuolo thought his unit had one looming concern: Who would be the starting cornerback opposite Trent McDuffie?

In the offseason, the Chiefs traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans. But none of the Chiefs’ three-year players at the position — Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson — performed well enough in the preseason to win the position battle outright.

Against the Ravens, Spagnuolo gave the starting job to Watson, who rewarded his coach by producing a team-high 11 tackles and one critical pass breakup.

Since then, Watson has helped solidify the Chiefs defense, which is allowing just 18 points per game. Watson was the highest-graded Chiefs player, earning an 84.6, according to Pro Football Focus, in the team’s win over the Chargers, as he finished with two pass breakups and three tackles. In 160 coverage snaps, Watson has yet to surrender a touchdown.

(Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

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