Chiefs headlines for Wednesday, November 20
The latest
NFL’s 4 biggest Super Bowl favorites right now, ranked | SB Nation
No. 3: Kansas City Chiefs
The door is definitely still open for a chance at a three-peat, but you’re lying to yourself if you think this is the best iteration of the Chiefs we’ve seen in recent years. A lack of weapons has finally caught up to Kansas City, and that’s led to the least-effective version we’ve seen of Patrick Mahomes in years.
Make no mistake: Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL, but the step back on offense has led to him trying to force far too many plays this season and he’s on pace for a career-high in interceptions as a result. Those kind of errors get magnified in the playoffs where one turnover against a top opponent can spell the end to an entire playoff run.
Pair a less-effective Mahomes, with a defense that’s taken a noticeable step back from a year ago and it’s difficult to be as bullish about the Chiefs in 2024 than in years past. It’s still hilarious that as much as we doubt them they’re still No. 3, and that’s a testament to just how good this team is.
Other notable rookies
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a performance short of flawless. He sailed a few passes to Rome Odunze and put the ball in harm’s way a few times, but he was getting the ball out quicker and taking what Green Bay was giving him underneath. Williams was quicker to run when the opportunities presented themselves. He finished with nine rushes for 70 yards, as well as 231 passing yards. The offensive changes made this week clearly had a positive impact on-field.
Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy probably would have made the list if he had found a way to get his feet down inbounds on a deep ball down the right side.
Hits and Misses on 2024 NFL WR Draft Class Grades After Halfway Point of Season | Bleacher Report
Hit: Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Pre-draft Grade: 7.4
Overall Ranking: 50thThe same muttering could be heard all around NFL circles after the Kansas City Chiefs chose Xavier Worthy with this year’s 28th overall draft pick: “How could the other 31 teams allows the Chiefs of all teams to select the fastest player in combine history?”
In truth, his field-tilting speed must always be taken into account after running a record 4.21-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. But he is far from a complete target for all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as noted prior to the draft:
“In the NFL, Worthy will be an auxiliary pass-catcher used to stretch the field and stress defenses horizontally at the line of scrimmage. However, given Worthy’s lack of size and overall inconsistency (especially with his hands), he has a high-risk, high-reward profile that may not be for everyone.”
Even on a squad screaming for anyone to step up as its top threat, Worthy has specific packages in which he contributes. He’s far from a complete option. He’s managed more than three catches and 50 receiving yards in only two games so far.
To understand the Chiefs’ situation, he is tied for the lead among the team’s wide receivers with 24 catches. Rashee Rice also has 24 receptions despite playing in only four games before suffering a season-ending surgery to repair his LCL and hamstring.
Mahomes is simply more comfortable targeting Travis Kelce, of course, the running backs out of the backfield and now DeAndre Hopkins.
NFL Week 11 Under Review | The Ringer
Take the points? The Bills didn’t, and it helped them beat the Chiefs.
You see, the Bills faced a crucial fourth-and-2 at the Kansas City 26-yard line with 2:17 left in a game they were leading 23-21. Head coach Sean McDermott could have sent Tyler Bass out for a field goal attempt. Had Bass made it, the Bills would have gone up 26-21 and forced the Chiefs to drive the length of the field for a touchdown in a short amount of time. But that decision would have put the game in Patrick Mahomes’s hands, which, as the Bills know better than anyone, is never a good idea. So McDermott decided to go for it, putting the ball in the hands of his best player, Josh Allen. The initial play call didn’t work, but Allen went into creation mode when the play broke down and scored on an epic 26-yard touchdown run. His score put the Bills up 30-21 and ended any hope the Chiefs had for a comeback.
You know what the discourse would have been had that fourth-down decision not worked out, don’t you? McDermott blew it! Why’d he outsmart himself? Kick the field goal and put the pressure on the Chiefs! TAKE THE POINTS! But when the aggressive decision works out, we largely ignore it. When the aggressive decision fails, we rip the coach and blame analytics. Here’s the thing: coaches know this. And while they want to win games, they also don’t want to get slammed by the media and their fans and maybe even the team’s owner or the front office. So they often go with the traditional “low-risk” decision. McDermott, however, didn’t do that in a huge moment. He went for the win, and it paid off. But even if it didn’t pay off, it still would have been the correct decision.
Five Quick Facts About the Chiefs’ Week 11 Loss to Buffalo | Upon Further Review | The Mothership
2. Tight end Noah Gray recorded the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
Gray hauled in a pair of touchdowns on Sunday in what marked one of the best games of his career. His first touchdown grab – which took place on third down – took the lead for Kansas City late in the second quarter, and his second score pulled the Chiefs within two points late in the game.
The veteran tight end rarely gets the credit he deserves as a valuable player who does a little bit of everything, so his two-touchdown performance on Sunday is worthy of some well-earned praise.
Gray now has 23 catches for 249 yards on the season, which means he’s already approaching his career bests (28 catches and 305 receiving yards) with seven games left to play.
NFL Week 11 Winners and Losers: Chargers May Finally Be a Clutch Team | SI
But the Bills shouldn’t fear poking the bear. Allen probably wants to face the Chiefs in the playoffs and doesn’t want any excuses of them having a sluggish offense if it gets to that point. The Bills gained plenty of confidence by beating the team that has given them plenty of heartbreak over the years. That has to count for a lot moving forward.
Around the NFL
Jets fire GM Joe Douglas amid woeful season, tab Savage interim | ESPN
The New York Jets’ disappointing season claimed another casualty Tuesday, as owner Woody Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas.
Phil Savage, a senior football adviser for the Jets, was named the team’s interim general manager. Savage is a former GM of the Cleveland Browns (2005-08).
“Today, I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as the General Manager of the New York Jets. I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the last six years and wish him and his family the best moving forward,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson added that the Jets “will begin the process to identify a new General Manager immediately.”
Arlington says Cowboys’ stadium safe after metal falls from roof | ESPN
The metal sheet that fell to the surface of AT&T Stadium before Monday night’s Dallas Cowboys–Houston Texans game was a covering lid to a cable tray, and crews determined there were no structural issues, a city of Arlington spokeswoman told ESPN on Tuesday.
Communications coordinator Susan Schrock said the city, which owns the stadium, considered the matter closed and “no further inspection was needed.”
There were no injuries when the piece of metal fell. The Cowboys said in a statement a wind gust blew off the cable tray lid while the roof was opening over two hours before kickoff.
“Our building inspector and our deputy fire marshal did talk to AT&T Stadium crews today and determined that there weren’t any structural issues with the venue or the roof,” Schrock said. “And that this was in fact just a piece of metal that was a covering lid to one of these cable trays that was blown off by a gust of wind.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Playoff Picture Week 12: Losing hurt, but team still in charge
How the Chiefs can get a first-round bye
Kansas City still controls its destiny. The team can clinch the AFC’s top seed simply by winning the next seven games, which would give it a 16-1 record. That would be the best regular-season record in franchise history.
The team could also win the No. 1 seed by winning the next six matchups — as long as the Bills collect at least one loss against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Lions , New England Patriots or New York Jets. That would allow Kansas City to take it easy in Week 18 against the Broncos.
The Chiefs could also be unconcerned about the Christmas Day game against Pittsburgh, but that would require both the Bills and Steelers to lose two games before then. It’s not hard to imagine the Bills losing to the 49ers and Lions. The Steelers have four AFC North games (including matchups against the Bengals and Ravens) before then — plus the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.
Social media to make you think
Everyone needs a hype man like @DTranquill pic.twitter.com/XWAVD4GXaK
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 19, 2024
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