Chiefs QB has plenty of speed to throw to
If Super Bowl LIV is one of the first times you’ll be sitting down to watch the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ve come to the right place. The Chiefs have stormed their way through the AFC playoffs, scoring 86 points en route to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
Here’s what you need to know about the Chiefs to get ready for the big game.
THIS PATRICK MAHOMES GUY IS REALLY GOOD
No. 15 for the Chiefs is a difference maker.
Mahomes’ brilliance on the field is well documented by now, but it’s still fun to look at the numbers and note just how much better he’s been than everyone since the start of the 2018 season. Among all quarterbacks with at least 250 passing attempts, Mahomes ranks first in touchdown passes (76), first in yards per attempt (8.58), first in adjusted net yards per attempt (8.66), second in passer rating (110.0), second in touchdown percentage (7.1%), and 10th in interception percentage (1.6%).
Mahomes is indisputably off to one of the best starts in NFL history. He immediately provided elite quarterback play for the Chiefs and hasn’t backed down in the postseason. He’s averaging 8.8 yards per attempt this postseason and has thrown eight touchdowns to zero interceptions. Against Houston, he led Kansas City back from a 24-0 deficit in a single quarter and threw five touchdown passes in three quarters.
Statistics don’t tell the full story of Mahomes’ ability on the field. The manner in which he compiles those numbers is what makes him breathtaking. He can throw the ball 100 miles per hour at any arm angle, pick up chunks of yards on the ground with his legs and has pinpoint accuracy to all levels of the field. Visually, it’s a thrilling style of football to see. It’s like watching Brett Favre without the interceptions.
So far, no one has really been able to slow down Mahomes. The 49ers and their defensive line filled with first rounders might have the personnel to get it done, but we still need to see it.
THE OFFENSE IS FILLED WITH HOME RUN HITTERS
Outside of Mahomes, the Chiefs have difference makers at the other skill positions as well. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce are two of the most physically gifted players among their position groups. Kelce is a matchup nightmare for safeties and linebackers and even some cornerbacks struggle to match his athleticism in coverage.
Their entire group of wide receivers can give defenses hell with how fast they are. Just look at the 40-yard dash times of their top three leading wide receivers.
• Tyreek Hill: 4.29
• Sammy Watkins: 4.43 • Mecole Hardman: 4.33 All three of those guys are terrors with the ball in their hand. If they can get the ball with a step on the defense, they’re gone. It’s a different brand of overwhelming physical dominance.
The Chiefs aren’t here to run through defenses. They’re trying to run past them.
One thing that’s interesting about the Chiefs is that Hill was actually the more effective red zone option for them during the regular season. According to Pro Football Reference, Hill caught four of his seven red zone targets for three touchdowns. Kelce caught just seven of his 19 red zone targets for two touchdowns.
Part of that is because of the creativity that oozes out of Kansas City’s offense. Head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy are two of the best play designers and play sequencers in the NFL. Kansas City has been razing defenses for two years in a row and those two are a big reason why.
Their running backs aren’t great, but they’re good enough to get the job done. Damien Williams has been the steady hand for the Chiefs on the ground in the playoffs, rushing the ball 29 times for 92 yards and three touchdowns.
KANSAS CITY’S DEFENSE HAS PLAYMAKERS TOO
The Chiefs’ offense is the most important aspect of the team, but their defense has performed well this season, too. According to Football Outsiders, Kansas City ranks 12th in opposing points per
drive (1.85) and 10th in turnovers per drive (.135).
The top end talent on the Chiefs’ defense is strong. Defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Chris Jones form a strong duo on the Chiefs’ defensive line. The key to their defense is safety Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu can do anything that’s asked from a defensive back and allows the Chiefs to be incredibly flexible with the coverages and blitz schemes.
Need someone to lock down the slot receiver? Mathieu’s got it. Need someone to be a hammer versus bubble screens? Mathieu’s got it. Need someone to be an eraser as a free safety? Mathieu’s got it. Mathieu is a legitimate candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and the engine for the Chiefs’ defensive turnaround this year.
Their defense was horrible against the run this year, ranking 29th in opposing yards per carry (4.9), but they’ve stepped up in the playoffs allowing just 4.1 yards per carry. That improvement could be the difference for them in the Super Bowl LIV against a diverse San Francisco running game.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Kansas City has one of the better offensive tackle duos in the league as well. Eric Fisher is an above average left tackle while Mitchell Schwartz might be the best right tackle in the NFL. Those two give Mahomes the time he needs to find all those playmakers and they both function well as run blockers.
Defensive tackle Mike Pennel has been a godsend for the Chiefs since signing him in the middle of the season. The 330-pound tackle has helped Kansas City anchor down their run defense. In 10 games, he has 30 tackles and two tackles for loss.