The Chiefs came out of their 35-12 win over the Jets with a lot more than a box score victory to think about. The scoreboard looked clean enough, but the tape still showed problems in all three phases, and a trip to Atlanta is next on the schedule. That means a few familiar names need to tighten things up fast.
Creed Humphrey sits at the center of one of the biggest headaches. Kansas City made him the highest-paid center at his position just two seasons ago, and he’s still the same standout blocker the Chiefs trust up front.
But the snapping has become a real issue. Humphrey has seven fumbles from bad snaps, which is tied with Justin Herbert and Deshaun Watson for the second-most in the league by any player.
Against the Jets, the problems showed up again. He had a low snap on first down that wiped out the play on a drive that ended two snaps later, and he also mishandled another snap under center on the QB sneak Andy Reid called.
Officially, Humphrey is charged with one fumble in the game, but the total felt like two. That gave him his first two-fumble game since Week 1 against Denver, eight weeks ago, and both games happened to come in blowout wins where Kansas City scored 30-plus points.
J.J. Watt pointed out on the CBS broadcast that Humphrey is still snapping the ball from the tip instead of laying it on its side.
That technique, Watt said, is likely behind the shotgun issues that have produced nearly one fumble per game this season. Humphrey’s blocking reputation isn’t the problem.
The ball handling is, and it’s something he has to clean up before it turns into points for the other side or worse.
Harrison Butker’s situation feels even more straightforward. The misses have piled up all season and carried over from last year, and the latest pair was hard to ignore: a miss from 56 yards, then another miss from five yards closer in the same manner. Chiefs fans booed loudly as the half ended.
He did make all five extra points, but that’s not enough to cover for how shaky things have become from distance. Butker is two-for-eight from beyond 50 yards, while he’s 10-for-11 on field goals under 50.
At this point, every long attempt feels like a problem waiting to happen. If he’s still on the roster for Atlanta, the margin for error is gone, especially with the Falcons playing in a dome.
Special teams as a whole also had another rough day, and Dave Toub’s group was once again the most penalized unit on the team. The biggest example came on a day when Nikko Remigio finally delivered a return worth noticing. On the Chiefs’ second kickoff return, Jake Briningstool was flagged for holding after Remigio had already worked the ball out to the 35-yard line, and Kansas City was pushed back to the 28.
Then came the return that should have changed the mood. Remigio ripped off a 69-yard runback to the Jets’ three-yard line, setting up Kansas City for a chance to go up 35-12 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
But the moment was wiped away by a holding call on Jadon Canady, and the Chiefs were sent all the way back to their 18. The net loss was 79 yards, even though the penalty was listed as a 10-yard setback.
That kind of swing is exactly why Toub’s unit keeps landing in the spotlight. The Chiefs have 10 accepted penalties on special teams, which ranks seventh-highest in the league behind Indianapolis with 19, Cincinnati with 15 and Philadelphia with 14. So the unit may not be as bad as it feels, but it still has to be better, especially with Atlanta coming next.
Canady’s day wasn’t just about the flag, either. He was the only member of the secondary to allow three receptions, though Drue Tranquill allowed four over the middle.
When Canady was targeted, the Jets only managed 12 yards, with 19 yards after the catch. That’s the kind of number Spagnuolo and Reid can live with.
The penalty, not so much.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
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If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]