The Chiefs are headed into a season where the opening snap of a series could look a lot different than it has in recent years.
One of the biggest takeaways from Daire Carragher’s Pro Football Focus study is that Kansas City was far more run-oriented on first down than many would expect. The Chiefs ran on 73 percent of opening plays, a number that stands out against the common image of an offense built around constant aggression through the air.
That first-play tendency fits into a broader league pattern, too. Passes on first down generally haven’t been especially efficient, with quarterbacks posting an overall QB rating well below 100.
Even the way teams line up reflects that caution. On opening snaps, quarterbacks are under center 48.8 percent of the time, compared with just 31 percent on other downs.
Kansas City, though, is a little different because it also runs more out of the shotgun on first down.
The RPO element adds another wrinkle. The Chiefs leaned on those looks more often when Mahomes was younger and more athletic, and he was able to make plays from that setup that most quarterbacks simply can’t.
That approach, at least for now, sounds like it may be on hold. Mahomes won’t be as mobile, and it would be surprising if Kansas City used RPOs at all early in the season.
There is one possible exception: a short-yardage package with Justin Fields at quarterback. Fields brings real value as a runner, and the idea would be to place him in a spot where he can make decisions and be more versatile.
Kenneth Walker III’s arrival adds another layer of uncertainty. His skill set would seem to point toward a more traditional under-center look with Mahomes behind him, but Andy Reid’s history with motion and deception means the Chiefs could also get creative with unusual variations on those concepts.
However it shakes out, Kansas City’s script is going to look different. The team has grown more predictable over the last couple of seasons, and last year made it clear that change is coming.
In Other News...
Ex Chiefs Star Makes Bold Mahomes Debate Call That Fans Will Argue Over
A familiar quarterback debate has spilled back into the Mahomes conversation, and this one comes with a former Chiefs guard in the middle of it. Geoff Schwartz pushed back on ESPN analyst Ryan Clarks assertion that Lamar Jackson is the NFLs most accomplished quarterback outside of Patrick Mahomes, making the case that Aaron Rodgers still owns that spot on the strength of a resume that includes three MVP awards, a Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP.
The argument is the kind that never really dies in NFL circles, especially when Rodgers remains a topic of weekly discussion even at this stage of his career. Colin Cowherd has also called Rodgers undervalued, and with Rodgers set for another season with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike McCarthy, the backdrop only adds another layer to a debate Chiefs fans know well: who, if anyone, is actually closest to Mahomes in the leagues quarterback hierarchy? [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Fans Will Get A Kick Out Of Clark Hunt Here
A street-side interview outside MetLife Stadium during the World Cup final turned into a little crossover moment for Kansas City fans, with a Kalshi reporter asking attendees and notable figures how much they paid to get in. The answers ran the gamut, from people who shelled out eye-popping sums to others who were invited or said they did not pay at all, giving the clip a mix of sticker shock and big-event theater.
Then came Clark Hunt, the Chiefs chairman and CEO, who was among the suited figures caught up in the scene and made clear he was enjoying the spectacle. For Chiefs fans, it is the kind of cameo that lands with a grin, a reminder that Hunt can show up in some pretty unexpected places when a major sports moment is unfolding. [Read more 🡒]