On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26-10 at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas Metropolis improved its report to 9-2 because it now appears to be like once more to its AFC title rematch in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals subsequent week. However earlier than we bounce into that, let’s focus on this recreation.
The Chiefs are exhibiting persistence on offense — and that’s good — however they’ll must be higher within the pink zone to beat the confrence’s elite.
Of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 27 completions, 24 went into the field rating play-by-play as “brief,” a clear-cut signal that Mahomes — and the Chiefs offense as a complete — has discovered consolation in attacking opposing protection within the intermediate space of the sphere. Within the course of, Mahomes continued to unfold the ball round, hitting 10 completely different pass-catchers on the day.
Led by depth offensive lineman Nick Allegretti — making a spot begin instead of injured left guard Joe Thuney — the Chiefs did sufficient in opposition to a formidable unit led by All-Professional defensive sort out Aaron Donald. The Rams made a degree of steadily lining Donald up in opposition to Allegretti. The reserve offensive lineman rose to the event. Mahomes, to his credit score, confirmed robust pocket consciousness, choosing the proper instances to step up and bail.
These efforts allowed for the Chiefs’ proficient pass-catchers to get open— like when tight end Travis Kelce absolutely cooked cornerback Jalen Ramsey for Kansas Metropolis’s first landing. Kelce has now recorded a landing in three straight video games and has 12 on the season.
Justin Watson was fairly the offseason discover for basic supervisor Brett Veach, as he has change into the right go-to participant for the Chiefs because the vast receiver room confronted adversity. On Sunday — already with out vast receiver Mecole Hardman — the Chiefs determined to ease JuJu Smith-Schuster again in after his concussion. Watson proved to be a dependable goal for Mahomes, ending with two catches for 26 yards. Rookie Skyy Moore (on offense*) has additionally been benefiting from his added alternative. Moore had 5 catches on Sunday. During the last two weeks, he has had 10 receptions for 99 yards.
The Chiefs are only a higher workforce when they’re intentional about working the soccer, and rookie Isiah Pacheco is clearly the perfect again for them on early downs. A sprinkling of Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones is ok, however I’m blissful to see the Chiefs lastly leaning into one, single again and giving him north of 10 carries.
There was one grand detrimental that have to be talked about, and that was the Chiefs’ struggles within the pink zone, the place they scored a landing simply as soon as of six probabilities. It labored Sunday in opposition to a lowly Rams workforce, however Kansas Metropolis received’t beat the surging Cincinnati Bengals on the highway subsequent week in the event that they fail to attain touchdowns within the pink zone.
It’s again to the drafting board for head coach Andy Reid, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and their employees. Mahomes is probably going sick about his no-look interception that will have gotten the Rams again within the recreation had it been the seasoned Matt Stafford and never third-year quarterback Bryce Perkins, who shortly delivered the ball again to Kansas Metropolis through a L’Jarius Sneed interception.
Kansas Metropolis’s entrance discovered a method of getting dwelling a number of instances in opposition to a quite elusive quarterback.
And talking of Perkins: despite the fact that he might have been making the primary begin of his profession, he appears to be like like somebody who might have a future as a starter — even when it’s not in Los Angeles.
The Chiefs knew coming into the sport that Perkins might play — and a serious a part of his recreation is his means to evade would-be tacklers. Attending to Perkins would require each consistency and relentlessness, which is one thing we noticed from the entrance all through the sport. Defensive linemen George Karlaftis and Chris Jones each registered sacks — and since it was the latter’s tenth of the season, it came with a $1.25 million incentive. I’m certain Jones loved the win, however there’s bought to be one thing awfully candy about that quantity hitting the checking account on Monday.
Rookie Byran Cook dinner did an admirable job filling in for security Juan Thornhill. He additionally joined the likes of “Sack Nation” on a play the place Perkins was juking and jiving via what appeared like each Chiefs defender. Kudos to Sneed for his choose — and to Nick Bolton for sealing the sport along with his personal interception for the second consecutive week.
That ought to be all she wrote in relation to the Skyy Moore punt-returner experiment.
Kansas Metropolis’s win did include one other detrimental: a continuation of issues on particular groups. Moore’s third muffed punt of the season noticed his benching — seemingly ending the experiment to show him right into a viable returner after he didn’t do it in school.
Watson entered the sport at returner. The sarcastic cheer from the Arrowhead devoted when he was capable of efficiently herald a good catch ought to have been every part coordinator Dave Toub wanted to listen to. Watson has to be the man — at the least till Kadarius Toney returns from his hamstring challenge.
The Chiefs additionally must be slightly extra cognizant of a fake-punt move. Dangerous particular groups value them an early-season recreation in opposition to the lowly Indianapolis Colts. Similar to changing red-zone ooportunities, a clear particular groups recreation on the highway in opposition to the Bengals in Week 12 is an absolute should.
The ultimate phrase
Sunday’s win didn’t actually include a ton of glitz or glamour; Kansas Metropolis merely did what it wanted to do with a view to win. The Chiefs trudged alongside, containing the most effective defensive gamers within the league on the best way to their fifth-straight win.
A 3rd-year quarterback ought to by no means actually have an opportunity to beat the consensus MVP, and he by no means actually did. Some Sundays don’t want the flash — and this one, particularly, didn’t name for it.
The Chiefs beat a foul Rams workforce regardless of not taking part in pretty much as good a recreation as they’re succesful — and that’s OK. However they won’t solely must be higher in opposition to the Bengals, but in addition the remainder of the best way — after which into the playoffs.
