The Kansas City Chiefs surprised against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football but were unable to come away with the win.
Veteran backup QB Matt Moore proved to be a stalwart presence in the absence of Patrick Mahomes. He rallied the team around him and players performed no matter their snap totals. There were a few injuries throughout the game that tested both the offensive and defensive units. Compounded by the six starters already ruled out of the game, many backups were on the field for Kansas City.
Here’s how the snaps came down in Week 8:
*Snap counts via NFL Game Statistics and Information System
Observations
- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif only played in 81% of the total offensive snaps. He suffered an ankle injury late in the game and was replaced by Stefen Wisniewski who played in 11 snaps. Duvernay-Tardif did not return to the game.
- Travis Kelce played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps. It could explain his lack of execution in what would be the Chiefs’ final offensive possession.
- Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins led Chiefs receivers in snap count totals. Mecole Hardman only had nine offensive snaps on the night which is rather amazing given his 2-for-2 for 55 yards and a touchdown performance.
- Damien Williams had more snaps that LeSean McCoy for the first time this season. McCoy put the football on the ground and went to the bench.
- Only Charvarius Ward and Tyrann Mathieu played 100% of the Chiefs’ 69 total defensive snaps.
- Emmanuel Ogbah and Tanoh Kpassgnon both played in over 74% of the defensive snaps. When Alex Okafor was injured they had no one of the benches to relieve them.
- Damien Wilson had more snaps than Anthony Hitchens for the first time in a game where they shared the field. Wilson frustrated the Packers when he came as a blitzer.
- In his first game with the Chiefs, nose tackle Mike Pennel played in 24 of the defensive snaps. He recorded two tackles on the day.
- Derrick Nnadi and Khalen Saunders both played 48 and 46 snaps respectively. Saunders recorded his first career sack this week.
- Mo Claiborne played in 27 snaps, mostly in relief for Bashaud Breeland when he suffered what Andy Reid described as a sternum injury.
- Rashad Fenton only played in 20 defensive snaps. That shows you how the Chiefs haven’t been playing quite as nickel subpackage as we’re used to seeing.
- Dorian O’Daniel and Jordan Lucas led the Chiefs in special teams snaps with 22.
- O’Daniel, Armani Watts, Byron Pringle, Darron Lee and Nick Allegretti all received special teams only snaps.
