KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coordinator Matt Nagy understands how the Kansas City Chiefs offense looks to most fans — or opponents.
It’s a star-driven attack featuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes passing to tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
But the style of the Chiefs offense is different from what most fans might realize, Nagy said Thursday.
“The last several weeks, we’ve been running the ball a lot,” Nagy said. “There’s a little bit of an identity (shift) that’s being created here as we get to the middle of the season. Sometimes that identity happens instantly. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer.
“When you protect the ball and you don’t have penalties, and you score touchdowns like those three out of the last four drives we had last week, football can be fun on offense.”
In their overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chiefs did indeed score a touchdown on three of their final five drives.
Each of those scoring drives took at least 10 plays and 70 yards. Instead of a quick-strike offense, the Chiefs are the opposite, becoming masters of the long-play touchdown drive. Entering Week 10, the Chiefs lead the NFL with 11 touchdown drives with 10 or more plays, according to TruMedia.
“It just allows you to set your physical will a little bit, the grind of having a methodical drive,” right guard Trey Smith said. “When you set a physical tone and you have play after play after play, it’s demoralizing to a defense. You’re breaking them slowly but surely. That’s a testament to our coaches and every man on offense that’s working hard to get the job done. It’s been fun.”
“Run it…give him the ball.”
@PatrickMahomes knew exactly how he wanted to close it out 💪 pic.twitter.com/T4n317OhEw— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 5, 2024
The Chiefs did exactly that against the Buccaneers. When Mahomes needed to lead the Chiefs to a touchdown late in the third quarter to tie the score, he guided his teammates on a 12-play, 70-yard drive. Mahomes ended the drive scrambling out of the pocket and flicking a short pass to running back Samaje Perine for a 7-yard touchdown. The play ended with Mahomes spraining his left ankle when he planted his left foot on the slippery turf just before releasing the pass.
With 12 minutes left in regulation, Mahomes and running back Kareem Hunt led a meticulous 15-play drive in which the offense took more than eight minutes off the clock, didn’t commit a penalty and scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead. Mahomes continued his excellence on third down, finding tight end Kelce and receiver Justin Watson to keep the chains moving. Hunt gained tough yards between the tackles and converted a fourth-and-inches snap near midfield.
“That guy is a gladiator, man,” safety Justin Reid said of Hunt. “Everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the rock and they still couldn’t stop him. I know from personal experience playing him, the guy is such a hard tackle.
“I can’t believe that he was sitting at home. I cannot believe it, but we’re really fortunate that we were able to pick him up. He’s been having a hell of a season.”
Hunt pushes his way in for the @Chiefs TD!
📺: #KCvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/dbH2DvvYnU— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Much of the Chiefs’ stylistic change on offense occurred when Hunt joined the team in late September.
When starting running back Isiah Pacheco broke the fibula in his right leg in Week 2, the Chiefs reached out to Hunt, who was a free agent after spending parts of five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Two weeks later, Hunt, 29, was inserted in the starting lineup. Since then, Hunt has helped the Chiefs become one of the league’s most balanced offensive attacks.
With 118 touches, Hunt has generated remarkable production — 465 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns without a fumble. His touches and scrimmage yards are the most in the Super Bowl area for a player in his first five games after being signed after the season started.
“He works his tail off and he prepares himself for the moment,” Mahomes said of Hunt. “Wherever we get in the fourth quarter, he’s going to make those 5- to 6-yard runs and he’s going to finish. When you play that hard the entire game, it wears on the defense. Guys are proud of the way he’s playing.”
Against the Buccaneers, Hunt recorded 101 all-purpose yards after halftime, including the winning touchdown.
“It’s my mindset and my love for the game,” Hunt said of his performance, which included 27 carries for a season-high 106 yards. “Even when I was on the couch (in early September), I didn’t know when I was going to get a call — or if I was going to get a call — but I stayed positive and kept working out. I was just waiting for an opportunity to show the world what I can do. I was kind of hungry for the ball.”
WALK. OFF. WINNER‼️ pic.twitter.com/h2uxAQQ3bF
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 5, 2024
Since Hunt was not with the Chiefs in August, he missed one of the most grueling parts of the team’s training camp: the long-drive period.
“The long-drive drill is really what prepares you for that mentality,” Smith said of the Chiefs’ success on extended possessions. “It’s not easy.”
One of the most demanding elements of Andy Reid’s coaching, the “long drive” team periods come once the novelty of camp has worn off and the first preseason game is still a few days away. The projected starters can be on the field for as many as 20 repetitions in less than 15 minutes.
“I feel like it’s way harder in practice because you go through this period, that period and then you end the practice with the long-drive drill,” rookie receiver Xavier Worthy said. “You’re already gassed. So when you’re in a game, you’re already acclimated and it’s not a problem.”
In the win over the Buccaneers, the Chiefs won the overtime coin toss, giving them the ball. The Chiefs continued to capitalize on their time-of-possession advantage (40 minutes to 25 minutes) throughout overtime, punishing the Buccaneers with a 10-play drive. After his touchdown, Hunt blew a goodbye kiss to the home crowd.
“I just like touchdowns,” Andy Reid said, laughing. “I mean, as long as we can get in there. Probably for the fans, it’s the long ones — you know, the long bombs — are all good. It’s so hard to score in this league, you just want to get in the end zone whatever way is working for you.”
(Photo of Kareem Hunt: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)
