2023-12-04 18:53:00
The Kansas City Chiefs also lose to the Green Bay Packers. A major failure in squad planning compared to the competition puts the season’s goals in acute danger – a comment.
von Daniel Kugler
Next setback for the Kansas City Chiefs! The 19:27 loss against the Green Bay Packers in the Sunday Night Game in Week 13 resulted in the reigning Super Bowl champion’s third defeat in the last five games (8-4 record).
The place in the sun in the AFC is long gone. The team is no longer in control of securing home advantage in the playoff rounds and a bye in the Wild Card Round – a dangerous trend with five games left to play.
Superstar Patrick Mahomes was annoyed and self-critical after the game. The Chiefs are currently not where they want to be.
An honest statement after another disappointing performance. However, the criticism can certainly be formulated in a much more drastic manner.
The mixed performances and setbacks of the past few weeks are no longer a surprise.
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The Chiefs’ receiver weakness is a recurring theme throughout the season
What had already been indicated in the previous weeks became clear once again against the Packers: The passing offense threatens to break the Chiefs’ neck in the hot phase of the season.
Against Green Bay, Mahomes could only rely on tight end Travis Kelce (four catches, 84 yards) and rookie receiver Rashee Rice (eight catches for 64 yards). Six other players also caught balls, but only Marquez Valdes-Scantling was able to boast over 20 receiving yards alongside the two mentioned.
Noah Gray scored the only passing touchdown of the evening with his only catch from two yards. Overall, the balance is clearly not enough for the defending champion, who wants to reach for the crown again in 2023.
Although the sometimes absurd receiver drop rates continued through the Chiefs’ first half of the season, the franchise decided not to sign an experienced pass receiver at the deadline.
A blatant misjudgment that the franchise around head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who followed Eric Bieniemy, who moved to the Washington Commanders, will probably regret.
The Packers once again impressively demonstrated that Mahomes’ favorite weapon Kelce is not a panacea and can be successfully contained – even despite the presence of girlfriend Taylor Swift.
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AFC competition outpaces Chiefs offense
While the passing offense was often the Chiefs’ showpiece in the past, it has now degenerated into a gray mouse compared to the top teams in the AFC.
Since this match day, the Miami Dolphins (9-3), who have one of the most explosive receiver duos in the league with former chief Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, have been at the top. And as if that wasn’t enough, the franchise recently secured Chase Claypool from the Chicago Bears, who can now be integrated at their leisure.
And the Baltimore Ravens (9-3), who lost their place in the sun to Miami due to their bye week, are now clearly ahead of the Chiefs in terms of the receiving corps. In the offseason, management gave its star quarterback Lamar Jackson two much-needed new offensive weapons in veteran Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers – one of the discoveries of the season.
The result is known: Jackson and Co. are much more variable, the ex-MVP is far less dependent on his running game and the long-term absences of running back JK Dobbins and tight end Mark Andrews can also be absorbed by the team without falling into a hole .
Finally, there’s the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) – the third team ahead of Kansas City in the AFC in Week 13. Playmaker Trevor Lawrence was given another high-profile weapon ahead of the season. Receiver Calvin Ridley came from the Atlanta Falcons via trade and has already made one or two big plays. In addition, Brenton Strange, a promising tight end for the future, was signed in the second round of the draft.
While the competition cheerfully upgraded, the Chiefs missed the trend or simply didn’t recognize the urgency to upgrade the position group with reliable hands.
A failure for which the team will pay in the fight for the Super Bowl this year. There is currently not much left of the dominance and self-evidence of days gone by.
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