One of the Kansas City Chiefs’ leading offensive producers on Sunday was Mecole Hardman, who has been one of the team’s most unpredictable talents this season. After being one of the main culprits in the Chiefs’ struggles with drops and turnovers through Week 9, Hardman was relegated to a minimal role on offense with his snaps reaching all-time lows. Faith in his abilities started to wane when the offense started to sputter.
But now, after a rock-solid performance against Las Vegas, Hardman seems to be back on track to become an every-down threat. He still has the speed that can hurt a defense any time he touches the ball. Hardman’s two receptions don’t point to much utility as a volume target, but the 59 yards he managed to gain in the limited opportunities he was given suggest that he could still have the goods to lay waste to opposing gameplans with regularity.
Andy Reid pointed out the progress Hardman has made that came to a head in the Chiefs’ matchup against the Raiders. He noted, in particular, the positivity he brings to his approach to the game through all the ups and downs.
“Mecole [Hardman] did a nice job all the way around,” Reid said. “He’s got a great attitude about him. He’s willing to get better and that’s what he’s doing.”
The game’s longest reception was a 44-yard pitch and catch from Patrick Mahomes to Hardman in the first quarter to put the pressure on Las Vegas early. He recounted the deep strike that helped break the matchup wide open, telling reporters that the Hardman’s creativity was the key to the play when protection broke down.
“It was actually supposed to be like a stop route,” Mahomes explained. “He was supposed to run and fake like he’s running a hitch, run deep and then stop. He faked and the corner fell down and I kind of didn’t know what he was going to do. I saw that hand go up and I was like “I just got to get it out there now” so he made a great play on it. I wish I would’ve got it further and got him a touchdown, but he made a big catch and kind of got that second drive, first touchdown drive going.”
Kansas City had no issues dispatching the Raiders in record time on Sunday due in no small part to the efforts of Hardman and the dynamic skillset he brings to the offense. While time is running out to salvage what has otherwise been a down year for the third-year receiver, his big-time performance in Week 14 should be a momentum builder for him as the playoffs loom on the horizon.
