ATLANTA — Generally, when a staff hasn’t performed effectively in any of its video games, when its quarterback is down on his personal play, when the staff permits two red-zone drives within the ultimate 5 minutes, that staff is struggling towards a shedding document.
Then there are the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who’re struggling via all of that … and are nonetheless 3-0, certainly one of 5 remaining undefeated groups within the league.
The 2-time defending world champions performed juuuust effectively sufficient to win on Sunday evening, beating the Atlanta Falcons 22-17in a sport that was doubtful till the ultimate 56 seconds. Missing its star operating again, dealing with a Falcons staff that alternated between deadly and self-destructive, Kansas Metropolis leaned exhausting on its expertise to flee Atlanta with a win that will have eluded most groups.
“Yeah, we obtained a ton of issues to work on,” head coach Andy Reid stated after the sport, with out elaborating.
He praised the work of his protection, which pressured Atlanta into two turnovers on downs contained in the Chiefs’ 13-yard line and inside the sport’s ultimate minutes. However he left Kansas Metropolis’s struggles unsaid, just like the persevering with difficulties in getting the ball to Travis Kelce, or miscues like a three-and-out late within the fourth with the sport on the road. Reid certainly famous them, however he’s not about to tip his hand on KC’s weaknesses in a public discussion board.
Patrick Mahomes, alternatively, doesn’t maintain again.
“We haven’t performed good, I imply, actually, all three video games,” he stated after Sunday evening’s sport. “We’ve been capable of win, [and] that speaks to the character of the staff, the grit, how we’ve been in these conditions earlier than. However I’ll communicate — particularly offensively and me, myself, I really feel like I haven’t performed very effectively.”
Mahomes completed with 217 yards passing on 26 of 39 makes an attempt, with two touchdowns and an interception. He had little hassle shifting the ball in bite-sized chunks; Kansas Metropolis doubled up Atlanta on time of possession for a lot of the sport, and completed with almost a 10-minute benefit, 34:57 to 25:03.
However Mahomes struggled to hit the lengthy passes. His longest was a 27-yarder to Rashee Rice. He floated an unsightly interception ultimately zone to perpetual nemesis Justin Simmons on Kansas Metropolis’s first drive. The Chiefs leaned exhausting on Harrison Butker’s toe, kicking three area targets throughout 4 possessions within the second and third quarters. Mahomes had little hassle discovering the open man, however he had a really un-Mahomes-ian vibe to his sport.
He is aware of that “vibes” don’t present up within the field rating, and even in superior metrics. However he is aware of one thing is off.
“That’s not a stats factor,” Mahomes stated of his frustrations. “I simply really feel like I am lacking alternatives at any time when they’re on the market and never throwing the ball within the precise spot I need it to be at.”
“He is the best quarterback I’ve ever performed with,” Rice stated. “So, , at any time when he looks like he hasn’t had a fantastic sport, I really feel the identical method.” (For the document, Rice led all receivers with 12 catches for 110 yards and a landing.)
The protection held up its finish of the deal, halting the Falcons on cost after cost. Linebacker Nick Bolton made the cease of the sport, catching Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson within the backfield on fourth-and-1 with lower than a minute remaining to snuff out the Falcons’ ultimate hopes. Afterward, he put all of the credit score on the Chiefs’ weekly preparation.
“Two minutes, 4 minutes, no matter we’ve, man, go on the market and execute,” Bolton stated. “Simply belief the work.”
The Chiefs have received three video games by a complete of 13 factors. However the important thing factor in that sentence isn’t “13,” it’s “received.” The NFL proper now’s in chaos. Groups predicted to be Tremendous Bowl contenders are 1-2. Groups predicted to wrestle are undefeated. However the Chiefs, and Mahomes, stay the fixed, the usual, the goal.
The Chiefs have two of 2024’s most unpredictable groups — the Chargers (2-1) and Saints (2-1) — on the docket earlier than their bye week, after which comes a Tremendous Bowl rematch with San Francisco. Taking part in like they’ve to date may value all of them three video games, or may win all of them three video games … however they most likely received’t put up any blowouts anytime quickly with this type of good-enough-is-good-enough ball.
“Fortunately for me, I am not enjoying my finest soccer and we’re nonetheless getting wins,” Mahomes stated. “I gotta get higher to make the offense higher.”
The truth that Kansas Metropolis is, by its star’s personal admission, struggling — and but nonetheless profitable — must be a hell of a warning signal to the remainder of the league. If the Chiefs endure via this tough stretch and nonetheless win video games, effectively, a three-peat may be the least of the league’s issues with Kansas Metropolis.
