The Chiefs flat out stunned the Cardinals in Phoenix. Perhaps they were not ready for the new look of the Chiefs offense. The Kansas City Chiefs offense is a bit different this year. Coach Andy Reid is emphasizing a much more efficient passing attack. 26 of their plays 66 plus plays on Sunday were executed out of two tight end sets. They mixed in the run game with the pass, rushing the ball 27 out of 66 plays. It is a full team effort on the offensive side of the ball, allowing most of the receivers and backs an opportunity to positively impact the game. Coach Reid is building an offense of role players, rather than superstars. He understands that teams usually win Super Bowls rather than superstars.
No Tyreek, no problem. Patrick Mahomes hit ten different receivers for over 360 yards and five touchdowns. Travis Kelce headlined the pass catchers with eight grabs for 121 yards and a touchdown. Ju Ju Smith Schuster made his presence known with six grabs for 79 yards. Unfortunately for him, he left some yards on the field with a few drops. Four different receivers caught a touchdown, to include backup tight end Jody Fortson. Going into the 3rd quarter, the score was 37 to 7 in favor of the Chiefs. Kansas City put on an impressive dominating performance to open their season.
The defense was impressive holding the high-flying Cardinal offense to just seven points going into the fourth quarter. They stifled the Cardinals running attack and limited their passing attack to less than 200 yards. One of the cool plays of the game occurred when rookie defensive end George Karlaftis tipped a pass in the air forcing a fourth down. In truth the play was important only because it forced another Cardinal’s punt. However, a cool fact about Karlaftis is the fact that he was a Greek National Water Polo player, and his experience tipping balls away from the goal came in handy during his first NFL regular season game. Overall, the Chiefs defense played very well. Coach Spagnuolo did an excellent job of protecting his young defensive backs with the various coverage packages he called throughout the game.
There are several unsung heroes in this game. First, Justin Reid came in and kicked an extra point when Harrison Butker injured his plant ankle early in the game. Further, Reid took over all the kickoff duties, booming multiple kicks out of the endzone every time Mahomes and company scored. At the end of the first half, Butker came out and hit a 54-yard field goal. He short stepped and knocked it through the uprights, gingerly walking off the field after words. He handled all the second half point after touchdown kicks with a bum plant leg. During the Cardinals first possession of the second half, Carlos Dunlap forced a punt with an eleven-yard sack. Finally, rookie Sky Moore set the Chiefs up with great field position on several occasions collecting 41 yards in punt return and a 23-yard kickoff return. Finally, four rookies saw significant time on the field on Sunday. George Karlaftis, Sky Moore, Isiah Pacheco and Jaylen Watson all had a positive impact on the game. The Chiefs continue to find great players in the draft and free agency to make their team better. The Legend of Mahomes continues. Next week the Chiefs host the Chargers who survived a late charge by the Raiders. Will the Chargers survive the Patrick Mahomes show?
