One reason the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense has failed to click on all cylinders in recent seasons is the lack of deep completions, throws of 20 or more yards in the air. It was hard to diagnose the main issue, but it seems quarterback Patrick Mahomes has found his groove in 2026 regardless.
He is tied for the third-most “big-time throws” on deep passes this year despite ranking 20th in deep attempts, per Pro Football Focus.
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The latest Kansas City Chiefs news
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs have rediscovered the deep pass | ESPN
Mahomes struggled much of last season to connect with his pass catchers on deep passes. He completed only 42 of his 101 attempts in which the ball traveled at least 15 yards. His 41.6% completion percentage ranked 19th in the league. Mahomes also threw more interceptions (five) than he had touchdowns (two) on such throws.
The Chiefs’ deep-passing attack should be tested in Sunday’s game against the Raiders, who have created a league-high nine takeaways, including four interceptions.
Jerry Jeudy has disappeared from Browns offense: Five teams that could trade for WR | CBS Sports
Kansas City Chiefs
While the Chiefs did not invest in any wide receiver help in the offseason, they have the look of an offense that could benefit from another weapon out wide or in the slot. Jeudy and Rashee Rice can both move around in the formation while Xavier Worthy remains a deep threat and YAC accumulator out wide. The depth in this group is minimal, and the top two have been just as active as pass-catchers as running back Kenneth Walker III and tight end Travis Kelce, so the wait for one of them to emerge as a go-to target continues (and may never end). With this team squarely back in the Super Bowl conversation, it needs to both maximize its wide receiver output and add insurance behind the starters in order to prevent late-season regression.
Kansas City Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo dropped a grenade ahead of Week 4 vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, and fans have reason to worry | A to Z Sports
“Well, we were on a course to kind of keep Chamarri (Conner) in one spot,” Spagnuolo said. “I don’t know if we’re still there now or not. Listen, both Jaden (Hicks) and Alohi (Gilman) have done an admirable job. They would have liked to have some plays back in the Miami game. Obviously, on those deep throws, and the one that we could have caught. But Chamarri, listen, I think I’ve said this before, but it seems like every year he’s been here and we’ve done cut-ups at the end of the season, and we’re looking through the film, 27 keeps showing up, making plays. So, hopefully we can get him back there doing that.”
What Raiders players and coaches are saying about the Chiefs ahead of Sunday’s game | The Kansas City Star
Defensive end Maxx Crosby on the Chiefs
“They’re doing a really good job running the ball,” Crosby said. “They run a lot more than they have in the past, and Pat is playing really well, playing at a high level. Kelce’s been in the groove as well. They do a lot of things and they have a lot of speed on the field. You know, Xavier Worthy and those guys. So they offer a lot of different challenges. And when you have a guy like Andy Reid calling the plays and putting them in good positions, it offers a lot of challenges.
Three Different Ways Chiefs Can Work to Ensure a Win vs. Raiders on Sunday | Sports Illustrated
Opportunistic, aggressive and feisty would be three accurate terms to help describe this Las Vegas defense. Following Thursday Night Football, the Raiders still have at least a share of the league lead in forced turnovers (nine), made up of five fumble recoveries and four interceptions. According to TruMedia, Vegas is seventh in total turnover EPA with 10.73.
The Chiefs have done a very respectable job protecting the rock thus far. Their plus-three turnover differential is tied for the fourth-best figure in the sport, and they’re in the upper half of the league with just a pair of giveaways (both interceptions by quarterback Patrick Mahomes). In hostile territory, not coughing up the rock would force Las Vegas’ offense to capitalize on a higher clip of its possessions.
Around the NFL
Tony Romo, CBS Sports part ways after July OWI arrest | The Athletic
Romo, who said in a statement Friday that he is “proud” of what he accomplished at CBS Sports, worked alongside Jim Nantz since 2017. The pair called three Super Bowls together, most recently in 2024, and Nantz had said he hoped the two would become the “modern-day version” of Pat Summerall and John Madden.
“I’m going to use this time to take a break, something I’ve never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity,” Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, said in a statement released shortly after CBS’ announcement Friday. “I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans.”
QB Tyson Bagent likely to start for Bears on Sunday vs. Jets | NFL Network
“My understanding is that Tyson Bagent took the majority of the first-team reps at practice this week. While Ben Johnson has not yet named a starter, the expectation is that the backup quarterback, Tyson Bagent, is the starter on Sunday,” Rapoport said on Friday’s episode of The Insiders on NFL Network. “[Johnson] has not yet made it official. Certainly, Case Keenum would still be in the mix, especially after the heroics of last week, but it certainly seems like the direction they are going is going to be Tyson Bagent.”
NFL trade rumors: Browns would ‘welcome deal at right price’ for Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, per report | CBS Sports
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns “would probably welcome a deal at the right price” for one of their backup quarterbacks, given Watson’s early-season play.
“I could see if they get the right offer for whoever it is, I think Taylen Green they’d like to keep as a developmental, so it would probably have to be Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel,” Fowler said Thursday. “I am not saying they’re definitely trading, I am saying they have the flexibility. This is very much a value-based team. The Browns are that more than any other.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Will the Chiefs’ pass rush return to form this week against the Raiders?
This was already a relatively advantageous matchup for the Chiefs’ defensive line, and it looks like it’s getting better. Brandon Thorn of Establish The Run ranked the Chiefs’ defensive line vs. the Raiders’ offensive line as the fifth-biggest mismatch in the league this week. He has the Raiders rated as the 21st “best” offensive line in the league. The Chiefs rate as the fifth-best defensive line.
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