KANSAS CITY, Mo.
– It wasn’t until the final quarter of a close contest that Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid made a significant modification to the offensive line as they faced off against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders.
At the beginning of the season, the Chiefs opted to use rookie Kingsley Suamataia as the left tackle. However, after he frequently succumbed to pressures and sacks, they replaced him with second-year player Wanya Morris, who also struggled to effectively protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In the closing moments of their narrow 19-17 win on Friday — which was only secured when Las Vegas fumbled an opportunity for a game-winning field goal with just 15 seconds remaining — the Chiefs shifted All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to tackle and brought in Mike Caliendo at guard. This late adjustment highlighted the ongoing issues the team has faced throughout the season.
“That was the right thing to do at the time,” Reid remarked following the game. “It just solidified things.”
Looking ahead, the Chiefs recently brought in former Pro Bowl left tackle D.J. Humphries. Although he is a welcomed addition, he has only been on the team for a short duration and is recovering from an ACL tear that kept him out for the entire offseason.
Ideally, Humphries would be integrated into the lineup by the time the Chiefs take on the Chargers next Sunday. However, realistically, it might take a week or two before he is game-ready, potentially forcing Morris back into action or prompting Thuney to once again take over the blindside protection for Mahomes.
Reid acknowledged the impact of quarterback pressures, stating, “I would tell you it’s disruptive to any offense when the quarterback is hit and not able to get the ball off.”
Mahomes previously enjoyed a streak of 113 consecutive starts without being sacked more than four times in a game, but both Carolina and Las Vegas have managed to achieve this back-to-back in recent weeks. Compounding the issue are the penalties assessed against Morris and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, complicating the Chief’s efforts to sustain drives amid a season already marred by injuries.
“We have to make sure we clean those things up,” Reid explained. “It’s hard to go backwards in this league and win games.”
Nonetheless, the Chiefs have proven resilient, securing an NFL record of 14 straight one-possession victories, five of which were clinched on the final play this season. This remarkable performance has helped them to assemble an impressive 11-1 record, ultimately securing a bye for the playoffs.
“You’re not satisfied with where we’re at, even though we’re winning football games,” Mahomes stated. “Our goal over these last few games is to prove the team we really are going into the playoffs and play that way in the playoffs.”
In other aspects of the game, the passing offense has begun to make strides, particularly when Mahomes has sufficient time in the pocket. DeAndre Hopkins is increasingly becoming a key player in the offensive setup, exemplified by his four catches for 90 yards against the Raiders, which has also created opportunities for Travis Kelce, who accumulated seven catches for 68 yards.
Conversely, the running game was largely ineffective during the matchup with Las Vegas. Isiah Pacheco returned from an ankle injury to rush seven times for 44 yards, with 34 yards coming from a single carry. Kareem Hunt managed just 15 yards over seven attempts.
In terms of defensive performance, two-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones broke a seven-game sack drought, managing to take down Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell twice, which was a crucial development given the team’s struggles to pressure quarterbacks without blitzing.
However, the Kansas City secondary has faced significant difficulties, particularly since cornerback Jaylen Watson suffered a season-ending ankle injury. In particular, Nazeeh Johnson, Chamarri Conner, and Bryan Cook have shown inconsistencies in their coverage.
Fortunately, the Chiefs navigated their game against the Raiders without any injury concerns.
They have now secured a playoff berth for ten consecutive seasons, marking the second-longest streak in NFL history, only eclipsed by the New England Patriots, who made the playoffs for eleven consecutive years from 2009 to 2019.
With the recent Black Friday game against the Raiders, the Chiefs gain a few extra days to prepare for their matchup with the Chargers. Kansas City has a favorable history against Los Angeles, winning their last six encounters, including a 17-10 victory on September 29 in Los Angeles.
