The latest
Momentum swing for Kansas City?
After weeks of disjointed showings, the Chiefs finally looked a lot like their old selves last week against the Ravens. The return of speedy receiver Xavier Worthy helped reignite a sputtering offense on multiple fronts, and Kansas City exceeded its scoring average for the season by 17 points.
Now the Chiefs will try to extend their win streak to three games and also
reel in the Los Angeles Chargers, who lead the AFC West with a 3-1 record. To do so, Patrick Mahomes and company will have to deliver another effective performance and ensure ball security remains a priority as they face the Jaguars, who boast a ball-hawking defense that has recorded at least three takeaways in each of its four contests this season.
With Worthy back on the field for the first time since his Week 1 injury in a collision with Travis Kelce, the Chiefs regained a big-play threat last week. The second-year pro made five catches for 83 yards and also ripped off a 35-yard run. He also helped open up things underneath for fellow pass catchers Kelce (five catches for 48 yards), JuJu Smith-Schuster (four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown) and Hollywood Brown (three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs’ offense had its most productive day in terms of points, yards and first downs, and Mahomes posted his best passer rating (124.8) of the season and didn’t turn the ball over for the first time since Week 1.
The Jaguars also enter this game on a two-game win streak after beating the Texans in Week 3 and the 49ers in Week 4. This will serve as a good measuring stick game for Liam Coen’s young team, and also help them keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts (also 3-1 in the AFC South), who host the Las Vegas Raiders this week. (Chiefs at Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, ESPN)
Tyquan Thornton, Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+400)
The Kansas City Chiefs’ receiver core was hammered with injuries to start the year. That led to Tyquan Thornton being thrown into the mix, and he built a rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Through the first month, Thornton is first on the team in receiving touchdowns (3), along with 10 catches for 182 receiving yards. The Baylor product has scored a touchdown in three straight games. The model is projecting 24 points for the Chiefs on Monday, it likes the value of taking Thornton anytime touchdown odds at +400
Travis Kelce turned 36 on Sunday
Around the NFL
Stefon Diggs balls out in return to Buffalo
One of the key storylines in this game was the return of Diggs. The wideout was playing his first game back at Highmark Stadium since being traded by the Bills during the 2024 offseason. This homecoming resulted in Diggs’ best game as a New England Patriot, logging a season-high 146 yards on 10 catches (12 targets). He was the catalyst for a number of scoring drives, including New England’s final touchdown of the night as he brought the offense down to the 4-yard line.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen becomes fastest player in NFL history to 1,000 receptions | NFL.com
Allen recorded his 1,000th career reception in the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss Sunday against the Washington Commanders, reaching the mark in his 159th contest.
With 998 receptions coming into Sunday, Allen hauled in landmark No. 1,000 on a Justin Herbert pass in the second quarter for a 4-yard gain. The catch propelled him past Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who had hit 1,000 catches in 167 career games, for the fastest to ever hit the mark. Allen finished Sunday with five receptions for 58 yards, bringing his career total to 1,003, which is 15th overall, having surpasses Hines Ward.
John Harbaugh says spiraling Ravens must ‘stick together’ | ESPN
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he’s sticking with defensive coordinator Zach Orr following Sunday’s 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans, the latest defensive meltdown in a season that continues to spiral for Baltimore.
“I do not think that that’s the answer,” Harbaugh said when asked if he will consider changes with Orr and the defensive staff. “We have to go to work, is what we need to do. We need to stick together, is what we need to do. We need to find ourselves. And that has to do with coaches and players [working] together.”
The Ravens fell to 1-4 for the second time in the franchise’s 30-year history because they couldn’t stop quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense. The 44 points are the most allowed by the Ravens in a home game in Harbaugh’s 18 seasons as coach. It was a low point for the Baltimore defense, which allowed five touchdowns to a Texans team that had scored only six touchdowns this season.
Tennessee Titans’ Tyler Lockett scores bizarre TD vs. Arizona Cardinals | SB Nation
With Tennessee facing a 3rd-and-2 situation just inside the Cardinals’ red zone, rookie quarterback Cam Ward was flushed out of the pocket and to his left. He attempted a throw late in the play that was deflected and intercepted by Arizona safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson.
After securing the interception, Taylor-Demerson tumbled to the turf, but was not touched down. That’s when he lost the football, and a scramble ensued.
At the end of the scramble, the ball was in the end zone, and it was Tennessee wide receiver Tyler Lockett who had recovered the football, for perhaps the most bizarre touchdown you will see this season:
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Roster: Coaching staff has plenty of respect for the Jaguars
“There are no easy games in this league,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told reporters on Friday. “There is no easy offense to defend.”
Spagnuolo knows what he is talking about. The Jaguars — now 3-1 — are riding a two-game winning streak. Under the leadership of new head coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville is clicking in all three phases.
“They’re really good,” declared special teams coordinator Dave Toub during his Friday media availability. “I mean, they had a touchdown last week. [Parker] Washington — the punt returner? He’s got an unbelievable burst. His get-up to full speed is really impressive when you watch tape.”
Toub is also impressed with two rookie running backs who are getting work in the return game: LeQuint Allen Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten. The latter clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at last spring’s NFL Scouting Combine.
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