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The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t horrible this past week at home versus the Buffalo Bills. But the team fall short of beating the Bills losing 24-20 with now falling 0-2 in two straight regular-season games at home to the Bills. We will see them again in the postseason but we have to dominate at home.
There were players that stood out, especially with the snaps played and the significance of that their reps. I will list the winners and losers of Week 6 for the Chiefs.
Winner: Travis Kelce, Tight End
The Goat of tight ends, Travis Kelce is once again putting on a great season. The future Hall of Famer finished the game with eight catches out of 10 targets for 108 yards despite not having a touchdown. He has been the Chiefs’ most consistent receiver, finding ways to get open for MVPat when he needed a play. There was one back shoulder play that could have been a touchdown that was broken up at the last second. Kelce is already looking like a lock for first-team All-Pro but if he continues this way could he be an offensive player of the year candidate? His season is like watching Cooper Kupp from last season lined up at tight end.
Loser: Andrew Wylie, Right Tackle
Seriously when is Lucas Niang coming back? I like Andrew Wylie and what he has done for the Chiefs. The 2018 Mack Lee Hill award winner. Chiefs’ top rookie) hasn’t looked the same since his promising 2018 season. This past Sunday had to be the final nail in the coffin of potentially being the main guy at the right tackle going forward. Buffalo’s #1 designated pass rusher, Von Miller terrorized the Chiefs’ tackles Orlando Brown and Wylie all day, forcing a field goal, punt, and an interception with his two-sack, multiple-pressure game. In the next few weeks, we’ll see if the Chiefs will go a different route like bring back Niang or look for options via trade.
Winner: JuJu Smith Schuster and Mecole Hardman, Wide Receivers
If the Chiefs were to explore a trade, they don’t need a wide receiver unless a major injury happens. Mecole Hardman’s name had popped up in the trade rumors from my last article. That has all changed in the last two weeks for Hardman. Hardman has gotten his second consecutive 70+ yard game including his first TD of 2022. Just like Mecole, Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster was due for a big game. He had his best performance so far in 2022 finishing up with all five of his targets for 113 yards with his 42-yard score, breaking tackles, and finally giving him his first touchdown as a Chief. JuJu brought back the old JuJu we love and despite that bad taunting call on him, JuJu needs to keep this consistency through these next 11 games.
Winner: Nick Bolton, Linebacker
Once again the Chiefs’ defense struggled with tackling, however, Nick Bolton continues to channel his inner Ray Lewis. His 13 tackles led the team including two tackles for loss. He had difficulty in coverage, but that’s to be expected when you have a talented receiver group like the Bills. All in All, Bolton has consistently shown more that he’s the leader of this defense. Now with Willie Gay returning and the encouraging play of Darius Harris, the Chiefs led by Bolton should be my scary to these opposing offenses.
Loser: Special Teams
I’m sorry but in 3 out of the last four games, the Chiefs’ special teams unit has cost the Chiefs games including last week’s game vs. the Raiders. It was great to see the Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker back on the field. He rewarded the Kingdom with a big return by nailing a team-record 62-yard field goal. Of course, he followed that up with a miss from 51 yards but, that’s not on him. Also, let’s talk about these decisions. One, why in the hell is Skyy Moore returning kicks and he’s more of a pass catcher than something he’s not. Of course, Mecole is taking the Tyreek role but that should also involve returning kicks. Mecole is an All-Pro returner from his rookie season in 2019 and you mean to tell me you’d instead put a rookie with no experience than your most experienced? C’mon Unc! Stop it! Get real and make the right call! No time for experimenting. Also, our kickoff team has played horrific letting up big returns by the opposing team the second week in a role that has set up the opposing quarterback to have great field position. Not good.
Loser: Offensive play calling in the 4th quarter
I’m starting to get sick of the fact that we have the best NFL team. Best QB in the NFL. Despite Mahomes two turnovers. I felt Mahomes wasn’t comfortable because not only because of the O-line play but the terrible playcalling by Eric Bienemy. I’m sick of him not knowing how to utilize the starters at their full strengths Marquez Valdes Scantling is not supposed to play a D-Rob role just watch his 2020 and 2021 tapes and you’ll see what I mean. Clyde Edwards Helaire isn’t a bad player but he’s not consistently showing he’s an every-down running back. I don’t know if EB sees himself in CEH but whatever it is, he needs to make adjustments that will work like utilizing the speed of Pacheco on those short runs or even activating Ronald Jones. Jones’ patient running style, toughness, and speed would’ve already by now been a difference-maker for this offense but it’s almost like Jones is being devalued because of EB’s ego. We have to make changes because despite the Defense and their efforts they did enough after that Chris Jones tripping sack on Josh Allen to give that offense an opportunity to score and they blew it.
