The Chiefs escaped Detroit with a 34-30 win against the Lions in a game that was filled with turnovers and drama.
Here are five takeaways from the victory:
Chris Jones is going to get paid this offseason
It’s games like this that are going to make Jones one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL as he looks for a contract extension this offseason. Jones was dominant in getting his two tackles for loss and a sack that forced the Lions to punt. If it weren’t for Jones, the Chiefs could have left Detroit with a loss. He was basically a one-man wrecking crew against the Lions.
It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs bring back Jones considering the team just paid Frank Clark. And with Patrick Mahomes’ next contract being projected at around $200 million, they may not have enough cap space to keep Jones around. Jones has been one of the best defensive players in the NFL the past two seasons, so it would be a mistake for the Chiefs to just let him walk and not try to sign him to a contract extension if he keeps up this kind of play.
Unless the Chiefs move some money around or franchise-tag him, Jones might be in a different jersey next season, but for right now the Chiefs have one of the best players in the NFL at defensive tackle.
Continue …
The run defense needs to be fixed
The unit struggled again this week as the Chiefs gave up 186 yards rushing. This is the second week in a row that the Chiefs gave up big yards on the ground after allowing over 200 yards to the Ravens. This is an issue that the Chiefs will need to find an answer to as we get further into the season.
The best way to beat the Chiefs is to keep Mahomes off the field by extending drives, and one of the main ways to do that is running the ball.
It would be in the Chiefs’ best interest to focus on stopping the run in practice the next couple weeks. Linebackers need to step up and play with better gap discipline. Defensive linemen need to work on getting off blocks more quickly. In the long run, it could be the difference between an extra possession or two for Mahomes and the offense.
Continue …
Travis Kelce is Mr. Reliable
If Darrel Williams is Mr. Consistent, then Kelce is Mr. Reliable. Kelce has had a quiet but very productive season, and he was one of the Chiefs’ best players against the Lions, recording seven receptions for 85 yards. His improvised hook-and-ladder to LeSean McCoy gave the Chiefs a much-needed boost on offense late in the game, putting them in scoring position. Kelce seemed to be the only reliable option for Mahomes this week as all the wide receivers struggled.
Kelce has 284 yards and one touchdown through a quarter of the season — that could be considered a down year for him so far, but he still is second on the team in receptions. If the Chiefs are struggling on offense, they know they can count on Kelce.
Continue …
The special teams had another bad day
The Chiefs have prided themselves for having good special teams the past couple of seasons, but so far this season it hasn’t gone that way, especially against the Lions. Harrison Butker missed a 36-yard field goal on the Chiefs’ first offensive drive. It was a high snap, but those are the ones you have to be able to make in this league.
Another instance was Mecole Hardman fumbling the kickoff to begin the second half, which set up great field position for the Lions. Byron Pringle had taken a kickoff out of the end zone that he had no business taking out, which prompted the switch at kick returner that led to the fumble.
The Chiefs will need to clean this up if the goal is to play complementary football. A missed field goal there and a fumble on a kickoff can be all the difference between winning and losing a game. Just ask the 2018 Bears about those missed field goals.
I have faith that Dave Toub and the Chiefs will tighten things up as the season goes on, and luckily against the Lions it wasn’t enough to lose the game.
Continue …
Defensive backs can’t make a play on the ball
The Kansas City defensive backs weren’t terrible this week, but they allowed too many big plays. The cornerbacks were in the right position at the right time but just weren’t able to make a play on the ball. Chiefs fans can take that as a positive, but part of the position is making plays on the ball, and they have failed at that so far this season.
Morris Claiborne will be eligible to play next week after finishing his four-game suspension, so maybe a new face will help the secondary make some plays. If the Chiefs don’t improve in this area in the next few weeks, general manager Brett Veach will need to consider trading for someone who makes plays, possibly Jalen Ramsey if he is still available.
Continue …
Bonus: The Chiefs need Tyreek Hill
Before the game this week there were whispers among Chiefs fans of possibly wanting to trade Hill to help the defense, but after today it is obvious that Hill is a crucial component to the offense. None of the Chiefs’ wideouts had a great game against the Lions.
It seemed as if there was just a lot of miscommunication and a lack of experience that caused the wide receivers to struggle. Mahomes finished the game 0-for-9 on deep passes, and that’s something Hill can help with. He stretches the field and he’s the team’s best offensive weapon. He has great chemistry with Mahomes, which has even improved from just a season ago. Hopefully, we see Hill return in the next few weeks — he looked healthy running routes with the Chiefs before the game.
Go back …
