Chiefs: Overreactions Galore

David Bell

I am identifying what I regard as overreactions about the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the New York Jets game on Sunday Night. Maybe they are or… maybe they aren’t. I have had my version of identifying a problem and calling it… so I will list it first.

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Patrick Mahomes Had a Poor Game

It’s not often that I see PMII as being part of the problem, but he was directly responsible for two picks that caused Chiefs drives to fail. There were 3 additional plays that I judged as likely interceptions that the Jets defenders blew by dropping the football. I think Mahome’s Game Stats back up the analysis that Patrick did not play well. He was 18 for 30 (60% Comp), 1 TD, 2 INTs and a QBR of 66.2. Patrick was sacked one time in the game. As it is, the two INTs were particularly Gruesome. Here is one example: a Pass To Noah Gray… throwing into double coverage as well (0:36).

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From the same game –> Mahomes and Kelce were not on the same page. A Jets DB had a “sure pick” and dropped it. As I noted above, there were 3 such plays where an INT was dropped by a Jets DB.

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The Officials Gave Favor to the Jets

by Not Flagging Pass Interference

Seth Keysor Identifies One Such Case. On this play, they flagged Trey Smith and then turned around and picked up the flag. What should have been called was the PI on Travis Kelce’s defender (Kelce starts his route at the top of the screen). If you focus on that, you can see that the officials did not call the defender for interference, but should have done so. The end result was a first down anyway, but the PI is what I am calling attention to.

See the single snap play here (0:05):

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I watched the game for a second time and the Jet’s DBs were constantly “handsy” on almost every play. At times it was obnoxiously obvious such as the play that the broadcasters focused on, saying that HC Robert Saleh was called “Furious.” If you watch the play, there was definitely pass interference and the flag was right and proper. Saleh was then flagged for unsportsmanlike like conduct. That flag was due to his interaction with the officials after the play. So in this case, the flag negated an interception and had additional yards tacked on to boot. That sequence benefited the Chiefs. My point in showing this particular play is how the DBs committed a football felony with the interference. My complaint is that this type of infraction was a common theme of the Jets defense.

See the play, here (4:32):

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The Chiefs WRs are Not Living Up to

The Hype,

Is This Really an Overreaction?

I don’t have an answer among the WR in the receiver Corps. They are limiting the use to about 4 of the WRs. They have not used the tandem that I believe would be effective: Toney and Ross. Is this an overreaction? I now don’t think so. There is a problem that the Chiefs have not solved.

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Jon Ledyard actually makes the point observing that the Jets were in Man Press coverage for 40% of the plays and the Chiefs WRs were not getting open. This is a point that many are echoing at ArrowheadOne and across the Kingdom. My point above about the Jets DBs being handsy beyond the five-yard depth is also valid. Too often there was no flag by the officials. I did not run through the game again to see whether or not the officials gave the Chief’s DBs similar leeway but I think it was fairly equal.

Here is Ledyard’s video (0:05):

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Jon Ledyard also said:

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“Jets played man coverage around 40% of their defensive snaps, per PFF. And when they did, it was typically clamps across the board. Chiefs have a significant WR problem.”

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An analysis of the problems with the passing game was authored by Nate Christensen at Arrowhead Pride and is called, “5 statistics demonstrating the problems with the Chiefs’ wide receivers.” It’s well worth the time invested to read through it – he makes some valid observations.

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PM Runs the Ball Too Much

Puts Himself in Danger of Injury

While I agree that PMII sometimes gets “Happy Feet”, we also saw from the game, that he stuck in the pocket well beyond 3.5 Seconds frequently. Once over 7 seconds. He was sacked once during the game. Even so, if Patrick had not gained yards with his feet to move the chains, the Chiefs would not have been in a position to seal the game. The Chiefs were facing a 3rd and 8 on this play.

Mahomes gets the first down, called a dagger in the heart, here (0:11):

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PM II is now 3rd among QBs running the football. Our own Author, Phillip Maxwell verbalized his concern about Mahomes running the ball too much about a week ago. Jeff Fetodin has a good article called, “The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Is Running More Than Ever” in which he says:

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“Mahomes has the second most rushing yards by any NFL quarterback in 2023. Only the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the New York Giants’ Daniel Jones have more rushing yards than Mahomes’ 154.”

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Prior to the 3rd & 8 play, Mahomes and Co. faced a 3rd and 22. Mahomes stuck to the pocket and then ran for the first down (0:16).

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Adam Hunger/AP Game Photo

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In observations about the game at MetLife, Adam Teicher, writing for ESPN observed:

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“The NY Jets had answers for Patrick Mahomes the passer Sunday night… (But) The Jets couldn’t solve Mahomes as a runner, which is why the Kansas City Chiefs escaped MetLife Stadium with a 23-20 victory… Mahomes rushed for 51 yards — including 32 on the game’s final drive, which saw the Chiefs kill the last 7½ minutes of the game clock.”

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PMII had 7 Rushes during the game.

I cannot view what he is doing as being outside of expectations but it is noticeable. Is this an Overreaction? I also thought that PMII’s passes were errant off and on during the game, especially after the first quarter. At the same time, I think that the Chiefs receivers were constantly harrassed with contact beyond the 5-yard limit. Is that an overreaction?

First off, I admit that I am disappointed in the Chief’s offensive play thus far this season and at the same time, I am quite critical of NFL Officials and their unbridled focus on Jawaan Taylor. It appears to me to be completely biased? I don’t believe this is an overreaction. I also think there is an NFL bias against teams that are the front runners for an extended number of seasons–and right now, that is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots long labored against a similar problem. Despite the opening-day loss to the Lions on a pass that bounced off the hands of a WR, the Chiefs now lead the AFC West.

Laddie Morse covered the topic, in an article on Tuesday called, “Chiefs Already Ruling the AFC West“… check it out.

From an O-1 Start to the division-leading 3-1 record, in spite of committing costly errors in each game, KC has emerged on top. The offense has let the team down with its own errors and that proved costly to the defense in the game vs. the Jets. Still, the defense has only given up 13.3 PPG through Week Three. In the game vs. the Jets, they gave up 20(here, unexpectedly, I must give a lot of credit to the Jets’ QB Zach Wilson).

Recall that I set the magic number at 20 about three years ago. Formerly, I had it at 17. That is just what the Chiefs defense accomplished Sunday Night. My take is that it is up to the offense to score more than 20. That was barely accomplished in the 23-20 victory. The offense failed to score more than 20 in week One vs. the Lions, losing 20-21. Still, the SNF Game is another win in the book and that is the number that matters most — notching up wins.

His 25-yard run on third-and-22 was the big play of the drive. He also had a 9-yard run on third-and-8 with 2 minutes remaining and could have scored, but he went down intentionally at the Jets’ 2-yard line so the Chiefs could maintain possession and run out the clock.”

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Added Benefit: Pacheco Came Through Big

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#10 in Heavy Traffic – Chiefs Photo(Mikayla Schmidt)

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Isiah Pacheco had the best game of his career to date: 1 TD on 20 rushes, 115 yards (5.8 YPC). He also had 3 receptions(No drops) for 43 yards. Tip O’ the Hat to Isiah. Just the fact that he had 20 attempts is a milestone and an earmark of a franchise RB. Prior to this, he had 38 TTL carries in the preceding three games.

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Offense Struggles Are a Huge Problem

As fans, we have expectations of a Chief’s Offense scoring Over 30 PPG. I don’t think that is an unreasonable outlook. On the other side of that question, reality sets in. I think that the offense has been disappointing in 3 of the 4 games. The truth of the matter is that the scoring related to PPG is an “average”, so my view is skewed by expectations. I view my expectation as an overreaction though from what I read around the Kingdom is that I am in the same boat as many authors and fans writing about the Chiefs. So yes, I think it’s a problem but how big is it and how jaundiced is my view?

These thoughts ran through my mind after I watched the game for a second time.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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