When the Kansas City Chiefs decided to name Patrick Mahomes their starting quarterback for the 2018 season, so many people were questioning Andy Reid and his decision making. It turned out to be one of the best decisions he could’ve made because that year, the Chiefs were on top of the AFC. They clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs for the first time, hosted their first conference title game at Arrowhead and Patrick won league MVP and threw 50 touchdown passes that season joining Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to throw 50 touchdowns in a single season. A year later, the Chiefs win the Super Bowl over the San Francisco 49ers. Last season, the Chiefs finished with the best record in the league, but they played too loosely in my opinion. Yes, they did make it to the Super Bowl but were embarrassed at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So far in the 2021 season, they are 2-3 after their first five games. So, what exactly is the issue?
Whenever you think of Chiefs football, what comes to mind? The high-flying offense. Andy Reid is one of the best offensive minded coaches in this league. For the last three years, they’ve been able to have their way with any defense crossing their paths. They had that big play ability to create and get theirs down the field. This year, teams have made it difficult on them! I’ve noticed defenses getting a simple pass rush with only four defensive linemen to get Mahomes out of the pocket and on the move and the secondary is in the back end is playing tight cover across the board underneath with two safeties playing high at all times. The defense’s main goal is to make them earn their yards instead of getting those chunk yards we’re accustomed to seeing. Now what you’re seeing is them turning the football over they lack patience to make these drives last. When Patrick is being rushed from the pocket, he’s making horrible throws that result in turnovers. If I’m Kansas City, I’d run the ball more and if you look at it, teams don’t load the box on them because of their weapons on the perimeter.
Don’t get me started on the defense. Their efforts are too up and down for my liking. They show flashes as if they’re going to have a good game, then things come back down to reality. They struggle to stop the run and tackle anybody and whenever they play man coverage, their backs are turned most of the time which leaves spaces of the field open. In coverage, they don’t have enough to limit one guy. I feel they benefit immensely when the pass rush is getting home to the quarterback because it takes pressure off of them in the back end. Last night against Buffalo didn’t help their cause because Chris Jones was out and he’s their most impactful defensive player up front for the Chiefs. There’s no communication whatsoever on this defense. Guys put too much emphasis on one guy, and it leaves someone else wide open. Outside of Jones, they don’t rush the passer unless they blitz and that ends up hurting them.
If you look at their three losses, they fell short to Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. All teams who they’ve bullied in years past and all happen to be in first place in their divisions. I won’t count them out because they’re a battle tested team. I just need to see them come out and physically dominate a team. They need that.
