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How the Kansas City Chiefs have sustained their success | ESPN
Everything changed for the Kansas City Chiefs on April 27, 2017. That day, via trade with the Buffalo Bills, they moved up 17 spots to draft quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the 10th pick.
But selecting the Texas Tech star was just half the story.
Days prior, coach Andy Reid told then-starting quarterback Alex Smith — a Pro Bowler the previous season — the Chiefs had spent a considerable amount of time before the draft identifying and targeting
a specific quarterback. The surprise for Smith was just how much the Chiefs moved up to get Mahomes. The Chiefs’ effort to get him made it clear to Smith that the 2017 season would likely be his last in Kansas City.
But what Smith did once Mahomes became a Chief, according to many in the organization, is the moment the franchise’s dynastic run began. That day, Smith, who was drafted No. 1 in 2005, made a conscious choice: Instead of keeping his younger understudy at a distance, or actively sabotaging his early days with the team — as he had seen in other locker rooms in the past — he would help mentor and nurture Mahomes as much as he could, despite the rookie’s growth ultimately spelling the end of Smith’s time in K.C.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ rushing attack has left a lot to be desired to begin the 2025 season.
Starting running back Isiah Pacheco has accumulated just 127 rushing yards through the first four games, and backup Kareem Hunt is a short-yardage situational RB at this stage of his career. Rookie Brashard Smith possesses an exciting skillset, but the Chiefs are taking things slowly with him.
Kansas City is gearing up to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football, and the Jags have made an eyebrow-raising roster move just hours before the game by releasing RB Cody Schrader.
Chiefs say Kingsley Suamataia was ‘on fire.’ It’s one of K.C.’s best developments | The Athletic
After rising to his feet, Kansas City Chiefs left guard Kingsley Suamataia took three steps, then violently pumped his fists downward while screaming in satisfaction.
This was early in the second half of a Week 4 home win over the Baltimore Ravens, and Suamataia and teammate Travis Kelce had done more than complete their pulling assignments on a 12-yard Isiah Pacheco run.
They also had put two Ravens defenders on the ground.
“I got the D-end, Trav got the linebacker, and we both pancaked the guys at the same time,” Suamataia said with a smile. “So it was a great feeling.”
So just how good — and confident — was Suamatatia playing during this stretch against the Ravens?
Consider this: Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who typically isn’t over the top during news conferences, singled out Suamataia’s second and third quarters against the Ravens, saying he “was really on fire there.”
“He was very aggressive,” Reid said.
It was just part of the best day of Suamataia’s young career as the second-year player also had a standout effort with pass protection.
Around the NFL
Bengals’ Zac Taylor evaluating options at QB after third loss under Jake Browning | NFL.com
The Cincinnati Bengals’ three-game losing streak has prompted questions regarding their current starting quarterback.
Head coach Zac Taylor isn’t ruling out considering alternatives to backup Jake Browning, telling reporters on Monday that the team will evaluate its options at the position ahead of their Week 6 game at the Green Bay Packers.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Taylor said. “Like all personnel decisions, we’ve got to evaluate it. Jake’s been very accountable for how the game went for him. I’ve got to be accountable for how the game went for me, as well. So we’ll continue to progress here through the days.”downs than Rodgers.
Patriots running back Antonio Gibson has a torn ACL from the knee injury he sustained Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and is out for the season, NFL Network reports.
Gibson suffered the injury while returning a kickoff. He took a direct hit to his right knee that knocked him up in the air and forced a fumble. He immediately grabbed his knee in pain and remained down on the field for several minutes while receiving treatment from trainers.
John Harbaugh remains optimistic despite Ravens’ 1-4 start | ESPN
A day later, Ravens coach John Harbaugh insisted his team has what it takes to bounce back from one of the franchise’s lowest points.
“You can’t sit there and say all is lost. We just don’t,” Harbaugh said Monday. “And we’ve done it before — other teams have done it before — so we’re going to go to work and try to make that happen.”
The Ravens are still the betting favorite to win the AFC North, according to ESPN Bet, even though they trail the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) by 2 1/2 games. Under the current divisional format (since 2002), seven teams that have started 1-4 or worse were able to rebound to win their division, including the 2024 Los Angeles Rams.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Let’s Argue: Trent McDuffie should be traded
While this won’t be a popular take in Chiefs Kingdom, it has some merit.
You can make the case for trading the team’s All-Pro cornerback. After all, Kansas City could get a big return — and given general manager Brett Veach’s track record, it’s easy to imagine he can draft another talented defensive back.
We’re already seeing this kind of success with rookie Nohl Williams. As Mr. Brownstone noted, going into Week 4, Williams was PFF’s highest-graded NFL cornerback. The sample size is small, but it’s certainly a good indicator for where he’s headed in his career.
Still, I’d be surprised if Veach doesn’t lock up McDuffie in a long-term contract. Despite his unique ability to draft the position well — and with future Hall of Famer Chris Jones continuing to age — Kansas City needs McDuffie to be the face of the defense for the back half of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ tenure..
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