Chiefs headlines for Thursday, January 16
The latest
Each NFL team’s most improved player in 2024 | PFF
Kansas City Chiefs: TE Noah Gray
Noah Gray has comfortably taken up the position as the Chiefs’ second tight end behind Travis Kelce for the past four years, but he became a much more stable figure of the Chiefs passing attack in 2024, setting the table for a career year. Gray caught 40 of 49 targets for 437 yards and five touchdowns this season, setting career highs across the board and earning a 74.2 grade, the eighth-highest among tight ends and also a higher grade than his superstar teammate, Kelce.
The fourth-year tight end caught the majority of his passes in the short and intermediate areas of the field and between the numbers, fitting into how the Chiefs offense has been dissecting opponents in their 15-2 season, even when they haven’t been at their best. And with Kelce aging, there’s scope to believe that Gray could take on an even bigger role down the line in a potential Kelce-less offense.
Chiefs vs. Texans: Chiefs Riding Betting Dominance Into Divisional Round | The Mothership
The Chiefs have been particularly dominant against the spread the last two years.
They’re riding a six-game ATS winning streak, dating back to the AFC Championship win over the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023. And if not for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ last-minute field goal a week earlier in the Divisional Round, it would be a seven-game winning streak.
The Chiefs have covered the six games by an average of 6.7 points, covering by at least four points in five games, including two games by more than 10 points, most recently last year’s seven-point win as a 4.5-point underdog in the AFC Championship.
Can rested duo of Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt give the Chiefs a playoff spark? | The Athletic
“It was a good time to spend with your family and take care of your body,” running back Kareem Hunt said.
Although Hunt is not a projected starter, an argument can be made that he and starting running back Isiah Pacheco were the two players who most needed an extended recovery period — even more so than quarterback Patrick Mahomes (right ankle), pass rusher Chris Jones (left calf) or tight end Travis Kelce (age 35).
The Chiefs will need Hunt and Pacheco to perform at their peak level Saturday in a rematch against the Houston Texans in the AFC’s divisional round for the offense to be at its most potent. After their break, Hunt and Pacheco are expected to be as rested and healthy as they’ve been since they became a duo in late November.
“You take a beating at that position,” coach Andy Reid said last week. “I think they were smart with it. With those two, I don’t know how I’ll divvy up (the touches). I would imagine it would just end up being the same. They will both be in there battling.”
LeBron James Makes Honest NSFW Admission About NFL Dominating NBA on Christmas Day | SI
One of the funniest moments came when Jason Kelce asked James a simple question: Who owns Christmas? That stemmed, of course, from when James said after the Lakers’ Christmas Day win over the Warriors last month: “I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day.”
The NFL had three games on Christmas Day this season, including Travis Kelce’s Chiefs beating the Steelers on the road.
James had a very honest answer for the Kelce brothers:
“I saw the f—— numbers after the fact—you guys kicked our ass, OK?” James said to the delight of the Kelces. “From a viewership standpoint you all kicked our ass. The games weren’t all as great as they should have been but when you have f—— Beyonce out there…”
NFL divisional round schedule rankings: Which matchup is best game? | NBC Sports
4. No. 4 Houston Texans at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
Welcome to the divisional round, ESPN. “The Worldwide Leader” is making its divisional-round debut with two-time defending Super Bowl champions hosting a team that was a popular pick to be upset last weekend.
Even with Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud quarterbacking the two teams, the strengths of both squads were on the defensive side of the ball. The two QBs do add a star element to the game, at least. But the likelihood of a low-scoring effort is why this one simply has to be fourth on the list. Perhaps one day the Texans will emerge from leading off a playoff weekend.
Round 1 – Pick 31
Jared Ivey DE
Ole Miss • Sr • 6’6” / 285 lbsJared Ivey is the kind of jumbo defensive end whom Steve Spagnuolo loves. He can easily reduce down in obvious passing situations and rush against guards and centers. Ivey had a massive breakout campaign after consistently flashing high-end ability his first four seasons.
Around the NFL
Mike McCarthy is out as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach. And he’s not the only big name who could be leaving Jerry Jones’ team, as defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is open to all options moving forward, including starting fresh with a new club or retiring from football altogether, as NFL Media reported.
It’s not unusual for entire staffs to turn over when a head coach departs, so Zimmer’s future in Dallas was already unclear. At 68, though, it appears the longtime defensive mind was even weighing the possibility of stepping away from the game as McCarthy’s contract negotiations stalled with the Cowboys, per ESPN. He’s since told NFL Media he “really enjoys coaching,” suggesting a new job may be his next step.
Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh to have cardiac ablation, hip replacement | ESPN
Harbaugh, 61, briefly left the Chargers’ Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos after a flare-up with atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to beat at an abnormally high rate. Harbaugh wore a heart monitor for two weeks during the season.
Harbaugh went to the locker room, where paramedics treated him. He had an electrocardiogram scan and, eventually, they got his heart back to a normal rhythm. Harbaugh returned in the first quarter and coached the remainder of the game. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was the interim head coach while Harbaugh was out.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Roster: 3 biggest defensive questions in Texans playoff game
2. Can the Chiefs get their pass rush going early and often?
If you’ve watched the Texans this year, you have probably noticed how porous their offensive line is. This goes across the board. Usually, left tackle Laremy Tunsil has played at an All-Pro level, but he’s had a lousy year — to the point where there are games in which he’s an active negative.
Left guard Tytus Howard is one of the worst guards in the league. Center Jarrett Patterson isn’t big and often gets pushed back. Right guard Shaq Mason has looked slow-moving side-to-side in pass protection this year, and now he is injured. At right tackle, rookie Blake Fisher got inserted before the end of the regular season, and he regularly has rough moments.
On top of this, the protections within the scheme haven’t been as good. Stunts, blitzes and different pressures befuddle this offensive line. All year, there have been free runners at CJ Stroud. They’ve never been able to solve the leaks within their protections, which is fodder for someone like Steve Spagnuolo.
The Chiefs’ pass rush had moments where it struggled, particularly in the middle of the season, but it ended the year strong. Playoff football often comes down to getting a pass rush, and against a porous offensive line, I would love to see the Chiefs defensive line as a unit get collective pressure and shut the water off for Houston’s offense.
Social media to make you think
.@CutOnDime25 is disappointed in @EmmanuelAcho for his concerns for the Chiefs
“Mahomes is 15-3 in the playoffs, ends up in red confetti and you’re concerned?!” pic.twitter.com/j1y0qdTFYG
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) January 15, 2025
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