Week 10: Winners and Losers
The Kansas City Chiefs continue on their win streak by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-17. The team played team ball and despite some bad missed calls, played an overall great game. The Chiefs now have a 7-2 record and with the Bills losing again this time to the Vikings, are officially in the top spot of the AFC.
There were players that stood out especially with the snaps played and the significance of their reps. I will list my winners and losers of week 10 for the Chiefs.
Week 10 Winners
1. Of course, Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes once again put on a clinic. He finished the day, completing 26 of his 35 passing attempts for 331 yards with 4 TDs and 1 interception while rushing the ball 7 times for 39 yards.
He didn’t make many mistakes, and he drove the Chiefs down the field with ease all game. Along with the win, Mahomes obtained another a milestone in the victory, something that has become a mainstay during his time in the league. Mahomes passed Hall-of-Fame QB Dan Marino for most touchdowns in a player’s first 75 starts. Marino had the record at 173, Mahomes finished the game 176.
He broke the record near the end of the 3rd quarter when he found Travis Kelce on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Mahomes currently leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns and seems to at the forefront of the MVP conversation. MVPat Strikes Again.
2. Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver/H-Back/Return Specialist
The Chiefs were missing Mecole Hardman but when the “Next Man Up” mentality came into play for the receiving group, Chiefs newly acquired wide receiver Kadarius Toney answered that call on Sunday.
Toney had a breakout game on catching 4 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, in addition to rushing the ball two times for 33 yards. He looked very sharp and he seems to be building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes. He also added three broken tackles after the catch and is already has become the Chiefs’ most dynamic offensive weapon.
Andy Reid bringing back the Toney from the Florida days might be scary for the rest of the defensive coordinators throughout the AFC.
He also returned two punts for 11 yards. Playing in his second game with the Chiefs, Toney enjoyed a significant boost in involvement that was partly the result of JuJu Smith-Schuster’s early exit due to that head shot by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. The second-year wideout’s increase in involvement is encouraging under any circumstance and could lead to even more production than it did Sunday if Smith-Schuster is forced to miss the Week 11 Sunday night road showdown against the Chargers.
3. The Defense
This is Steve Spagnuolo’s best season as a Defensive coordinator. He’s doing a great job of putting his players in the best position to win in the most pivotal moments. Sack Nation once again dominated, sacking Lawrence 5 times.
Congratulations to Carlos Dunlap on getting career sack number 100. Khalen Saunders looked amazing playing alongside Chris Jones and Willie Gay getting after the QB. Nick Bolton continues to shine as the quarterback of the defense.
The biggest two takeaways is that our run defense played great football for the last 6 quarters allowing only 98 yards (Henry with 23 in the 2nd half last week and held Jags’ to 75) and the cornerback duo of Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams is going to be great.
According to PFF, Williams was targeted 4 times and allowed only 3 catches for 23 yards, while McDuffie was targeted 8 times and let up only 6 catches for 59 yards (only three first downs). This duo will only improve as their careers further.
Week 10 Losers
1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Running back
Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn’t been consistent this season. Despite a hot start, these past few weeks have been less than ideal for the running back.
He’s coming off a poor game in Week 9 in primetime vs. the Titans. The cold streak continued as CEH finished with no touches and a very limited snap count.
Isiah Pacheco led the Chiefs backfield with 16 carries for 82 yards averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Jerick McKinnon and Michael Burton even got carries in the win. McKinnon also got a ton of work in the passing game with 6 catches for 56 yards.
This could mean CEH is taking a back seat to Pacheco on the ground and McKinnon in the passing game with Ronald Jones waiting in the wing in case of an injury.
2. Special Teams
Last week, I listed the Special teams unit as winners because of the way the used Mecole Hardman but I’m starting to regret that decision after two weeks of inconsistency from kicker Harrison Butker. Not to mention, the terrible game plan this week against the Jaguars special teams unit.
We are in the stretch run (November/December before the playoffs) where every game counts. As the conditions get colder and more critical, the special-teams unit can’t allow certain situations that could be very important in January. For example, like the unexpected onside kick to start the game.
Dave Toub can’t allow his unit to look like this. However, I trust him to get this young core right back into shape.
Back to Harrison Butker, its unacceptable that every week there is something new. Extra-point attempts are something that should about be a give-me. I understand this is some lag from his injury. However, he should have things figured out by now.
3. The NFL Officiating
There was plenty of controversy during the Chiefs’ win over the Jaguars. Jags safety Andre Cisco was at the center of several questionable plays, including that dirty hit on Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster that knocked him out of the game with a concussion.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was not happy about the play. Mahomes told reporters after the game, “We want to get that out of the league as much as possible.” Though officials ultimately decided it was a legal hit, it was very obvious that a flag should have been thrown.
Referee Brad Rogers who was the main official in that game said after the contest Cisco’s hit was deemed clean since he led with his shoulder, but there was clear helmet-to-helmet contact as well. The NFL has a huge problem especially with this now after another situation that happened with Tua earlier this season.
