Another Kansas City Chiefs player with serious injuries….
The Kansas City Chiefs won 25-17 over the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 17 encounter to win the AFC West for the sixth time in a row. The victory, nevertheless, does not erase the lingering worries that surround the club. Even with the victory and the defensive mastery in the second half, there are still concerns that need to be addressed by the Chiefs.
After a season full of difficulties, the Kansas City Chiefs had to overcome another obstacle to win. Even though they prevailed, the victory was not without difficulties. In the last minutes of the game, the defense showed off its strength by putting pressure on the Bengals. Notably, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver helped the offense reach a significant milestone. This season, that is an accomplishment that has never been achieved before. While the Chiefs’ victory in Week 17 guarantees them a 10-6 record and the third seed in the AFC playoffs, it is necessary to examine the ongoing issues in spite of the victory.
Here, the Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals after a difficult first half. Eventually, Andy Reid’s team settled into a groove and completed the task at hand. As a result, the Chiefs are currently the AFC’s third seed. Their tenth victory guaranteed them a postseason spot. The victory in Week 17 was maintained by a combination of timely defensive plays, adequate contributions from the offense, and strong special teams play. The Los Angeles Chargers in the regular-season finale is the next obstacle.
Despite their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, we will examine the Kansas City Chiefs’ main worries in this article.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling was up against another difficult match. This prolonged his challenging season filled with lost chances. Valdes-Scantling’s current performance was below par, even after his stellar effort against the Bengals just a year ago. He was unable to get a hold of a deep pass from Mahomes and missed a critical wide-open crosser. They had to make do with a paltry 3-yard fast screen catch instead. The Chiefs have consistently given opportunities, but the results have been consistently disappointing. This highlights a worrying pattern that the wide receiver has had all season.
All in all, though, the Chiefs offense has struggled all season long with a turnover problem at wide receiver. Different players have taken turns becoming stronger and becoming weaker. Of course, the difficulties have been exacerbated by suspensions and injuries. As the year went on, requests surfaced for Kansas City to simplify their strategy.
Here, Rashee Rice was one bright spot. With 42 snaps, he is still the wide receiver group leader. Valdes-Scantling came in right behind at 38. Furthermore, Richie James (12) and Justin Watson (24), both received double-digit reps. Mecole Hardman, five, and Justyn Ross, seven, trailed behind the group. Despite this, there were still six wideout cycles during the game. Further difficulty is added by Kadarius Toney’s recovery from his hip injury and Hardman’s possible increased involvement. This packed situation does not seem promising. Clearly, MVS is not WR1 material. As a matter of fact, it appears that nobody is.
In relation to receivers, Mecole Hardman’s comeback from a thumb injury did not have the expected effect. He only saw five offensive snaps, was not targeted, and did not record any special teams yards. Undoubtedly, there were hopes that Hardman’s quickness would give the Kansas City offense a fresh perspective. Nevertheless, it appears that any prospective advantages might not materialize for at least a week, if at all.
That person could be Travis Kelce, but he was not in Week 17. The All-Pro tight end for the Chiefs was held below 100 yards receiving for the eighth straight game. He was limited under 50 yards for the third game in a row and under 30 yards for the second time in three weeks due to his recent performance. Kelce still faces a lot of obstacles. He is now only 16 yards away from recording another 1,000-yard campaign. It is still unclear if he will suit up for the Week 18 championship game against the Chargers, which may end his incredible run.
Wanya Morris, a rookie left tackle, is finding it more difficult to play each game. Morris was a force in the run game, but he struggled in pass protection. Trey Hendrickson’s hit on him led to a strip-sack against Mahomes. Yes, his run-blocking is still quite good. For Morris to have a long-term spot on the Kansas City offensive line, he must improve his pass protection abilities.
Gazing Forward
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Bengals in Week 17 to win the AFC West, there are still a few unanswered questions. Among these are Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s difficulties seizing chances and Wanya Morris’s difficulties with pass protection. Mecole Hardman’s underwhelming return and Travis Kelce’s declining output are two more issues. All things considered, these provide the squad a complicated image as the playoffs get near. Yes, the Chiefs’ outstanding season has been enhanced by this victory. But in order to successfully defend their title, they must deal with these problems. To guarantee the Chiefs continue to be strong candidates for a title, the path ahead necessitates a thorough assessment of individual performances and group tactics.
