Many good things have come out of Kansas City, dating back to the early 1900s with the great Henry Perry. Perry once served slow-cooked BBQ Ribs on pages of newsprint for .25 cents a slab, feeding jazz enthusiasts and day laborers in nearby neighborhoods.
Amongst my many travels in various airports, planes, buses, etc., I often see the presence of Chiefs fans repping their team all decked out in red and white jerseys with yellow trim. The once abundance of smiles and calm hanging over Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium have recently turned into frowns and looks of heavy concern.
There are certainly legitimate concerns brewing for the Chiefs, despite winning the AFC West for the 8th consecutive year. Let’s start with the fact that the Chief’s receivers have butter fingers, as they can’t seem to catch the ball on a regular basis despite the brilliance of Mahomes accurately getting it to them. Kansas City leads the league in dropped passes with 39, a staggering amount for an Andy Reid coached team that previously were known for making crucial catches and big plays when it counted most. The guiltiest culprit behind the drops is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who’s had ten drops, none more impactful than the one in the end zone vs the Eagles which more than likely wins the game for K.C. Justin Watson, Noah Gray, and Travis Kelce have also put the ball on the ground at various times this season.
Patrick Mahomes still can make plays on the fly and accurately deliver a deep ball under duress, but there’s never been a quarterback in NFL history who has the capability to throw a pass to himself and catch it regularly. When I evaluate the state of the Chiefs, it’s not only about the dropped passes when it comes to my concerns. Let’s also look at the offensive line, as Mahomes doesn’t have the time to sit in the pocket, as he’s been sacked 27 times. Even when Mahomes isn’t getting sacked, he’s under an intense amount of pressure.
The departure of both tackles leaving Kansas City via free agency at the beginning of the season seemed to be overlooked with the new acquisitions of Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor, but that hasn’t lived up to the Chief’s level of
expectations. The running game of Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn’t been as dominant as years past, and part of that equation is due to poor offensive line play.
It appears to me that the departure of former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy (who’s now in Washington with the Commanders) has hurt the Chiefs offense more than what many anticipated. Bienemy was the guiding force behind the Chiefs offensive success since 2018 prior to departing this season, helping them win two Superbowl titles. Heading into the postseason won’t be an easy road for the Chiefs. They will host one home playoff game on Wildcard Weekend, and after that, assuming they win, they’ll be hitting the road. We also must give credit in the AFC to some up-and-coming teams that are more of a threat than in years past, such as the Texans, Colts, Browns, and Jaguars.
Matt Nagy has since returned to Kansas City replacing Bienemy, but this is just year one of some much-needed chemistry and foundational changes that need to blossom. There isn’t that same level of resolve in Kansas City or even home-field dominance that they once had. The Chiefs home record this year is just 5-4, and the frustration of poor play has boiled over at times on the sidelines of the Chiefs during various moments of the season. Despite the up-and-down play of K.C., we can’t ever count out the Chiefs as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center.
Only time will tell how good the BBQ will taste over the next few weeks in Kansas City, as the NFL Playoffs will be unveiled with some interesting matchups and a few surprises. I wouldn’t rule out another trip to the Superbowl for the Chiefs, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they stumble and get eliminated in the Divisional or Championship round either. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.