Welcome to Arrowhead Pride’s weekly snap-count analysis!
So let’s see what we can figure out about the Kansas City Chiefs when taking a closer look at playing time during the 24-10 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. The starting lineups are courtesy of NFL Game Stats and Information, and the snap-count data comes from Pro Football Focus’ premium stats.
Starters (offensive): LT Kahlil Benson, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jaylon Moore, QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Tyquan Thornton,
RB Kenneth Walker, TE Travis Kelce, TE Noah Gray and TE Jake Briningstool.
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Khyiris Tonga, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Jack Cochrane, CB Mansoor Delane, CB L’Jarius Sneed, S Alohi Gilman and S Jaden Hicks
Did not play: CB Kristian Fulton, QB Justin Fields
Inactive: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier (Emergency third QB), S Chamarri Conner (Knee), DE Jack Pyburn, DE Tyreke Smith, OT Diego Pounds, LT Josh Simmons (Back)
The big takeaway: L’Jarius Sneed’s playmaking utilized
The Chiefs’ main trio of cornerbacks in Miami featured rookie Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams and L’Jarius Sneed. 33 of Sneed’s 53 snaps were aligned in the slot. On seven plays, Sneed was sent after the quarterback as a blitzer, according to Pro Football Focus.
NFL Next Gen Stats credited Sneed with five quarterback pressures, a career-high mark for the seventh-year defensive back.
He also caused a turnover that was pivotal in the Chiefs securing victory on Sunday in Miami. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wants Sneed on the field for a reason, and it mostly has to do with his playmaking around the ball.
The Offensive takeaway: (Some of) The Auxiliary receivers step up
Tight end Noah Gray played the fewest offensive snaps (33) he has in any game this season against the Dolphins, but he saw the second-most catches (3) on the team, including a 24-yard reception on the sideline that put the Chiefs in the red zone late in the contest.
His young teammate at the position, second-year tight end Jake Briningstool, earned his first career start by taking the field on the first play of the game. Kansas City presented a 13-personnel set that featured Kelce, Gray and Briningstool on the field at the same time, setting up a play-action pass to Kelce. He played six snaps.
Second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals made his season debut last week against the Indianapolis Colts and played two more snaps than he did in Miami (10), but Royals recorded a catch for 11 yards that moved the chains for the Chiefs in the second half. It was good to see the offense get impactful plays from the pass catchers below quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ top shelf of playmakers.
However, rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen recorded one snap; he has played just five snaps for Kansas City’s offense this season.
The Defensive takeaway: Peter Woods outsnaps Khyiris Tonga
Up front on defense, the Chiefs’ youth movement is taking over more and more with each game.
Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (30 snaps) started on Sunday, but rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods out-snapped the veteran by five. On 23 of Woods’ 35 plays on the field, the Dolphins ran a pass play; on one of those snaps, Woods dropped into coverage.
Edge rusher R Mason Thomas also wasn’t the “starter”; fourth-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah began the game on the field, but the rookie from Oklahoma played 41 snaps compared to Anudike-Uzomah’s 31.
Rookie defensive tackle Bryson Eason also made his Chiefs debut in Miami, playing seven snaps.
Offensive Snaps
Defensive Snaps
Special teams snaps
