Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were riding high.
Just about everyone was twitterpated that the Chiefs were undefeated and “back.” Then Mahomes and Kansas City got curbstomped by the Seattle Seahawks.
Now what? How is Chiefs Kingdom feeling after the first six games of the season? And how does the Seattle game weigh into that?
Kansas City looks to get back on track this Sunday against the Denver Broncos, who get a shot at revenge from Week 1.
To get some answers, we go “behind enemy lines”
with Maurice Elston from Arrowhead Pride.
MHR: How is Chiefs Kingdom feeling after the first six games of the season? How does the game in Seattle weigh into that?
Maurice: Chiefs Kingdom gets very antsy after losses like the one we saw in Seattle. The fan base can turn quickly. Kansas City went from 5-0 and looking Super Bowl-bound to the sky falling overnight. Suddenly, every offseason decision Brett Veach made is being questioned, the coaches have failed to develop the receivers, and every weakness on the roster is supposedly fatal.
If I had to put a number on it, I would say 80% of Chiefs Kingdom panicked after that loss. The other 20% understands that it is still the NFL, where any team can lose if it comes out flat against a quality opponent. Seattle punched Kansas City in the mouth, and the Chiefs never really responded.
Sometimes a team needs a game like that to wake it up and expose the holes that might have been hidden by winning. It gives the coaches an opportunity to identify the problems and make the necessary adjustments.
Even if the Chiefs do not win Sunday, a competitive performance that shows Seattle was an outlier would reassure the fan base. However, another flat performance would turn some of the normal frustration into legitimate concern.
MHR: What is the consensus on Patrick Mahomes coming back from his knee injury? What is he doing well? Where is he struggling?
Maurice: I think Mahomes has shown that the knee is healed enough for him to play his game. He does not look afraid to move around the pocket, escape pressure, or take off when an opportunity presents itself. Through six games, he has completed 64.9% of his passes for 1,474 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions.
He has also played well from under center and within the play-action passing game Kansas City has built around Kenneth Walker III. When the protection holds up, and Mahomes trusts what is around him, he still looks capable of taking over a game.
However, I do not believe he is completely back to 100% yet. From the eye test, his full speed and explosiveness have not entirely returned. There are plays where the old Mahomes might have escaped, but he cannot quite get away now. The knee also appears to remain in the back of his mind, which is understandable after such a serious injury.
He has done a good job avoiding unnecessary hits, which is exactly what you want from your franchise quarterback. At the same time, playing behind two backup offensive tackles against Seattle made him look uncomfortable and antsy in the pocket. His recovery has progressed well, but the combination of lingering physical limitations and inconsistent protection has prevented him from completely returning to his old form.
MHR: How does Kansas City get the win on Sunday? What must the Chiefs do offensively and defensively?
Maurice: Offensively, the Chiefs need to return to what worked in Week 1: lean on Kenneth Walker III. Denver has an excellent defense overall, but it has been vulnerable against the run. The Broncos are allowing 133.3 rushing yards per game and 4.57 yards per carry. Walker ran for 173 yards against them in the season opener.
Kansas City must remain patient with the running game, even if Walker does not find immediate success. The Chiefs abandoned the run too quickly in Seattle after falling behind. They need to put Mahomes under center, make Denver respect Walker, and use play action to slow down the Broncos’ pass rush.
Defensively, the Chiefs need to stop Denver’s running game and force Bo Nix to carry the offense. I do not consider Nix an elite quarterback, but he has a knack for making significant plays at important moments. His 62-yard touchdown run against Arizona is a perfect example.
Kansas City must rush with discipline, keep Nix inside the pocket, and consider using a spy in situations where he is likely to scramble. Steve Spagnuolo should also give him disguised coverages that force him to process after the snap.
In Week 1, Kansas City pressured Nix on more than half of his dropbacks. He completed only four of 13 passes for 11 yards and an interception when pressured. If the Chiefs can contain his mobility and make him consistently beat them from the pocket, I like their chances.
MHR: What do you make of the current spread? What is your best bet for Sunday’s game?
Maurice: The Chiefs are currently 1.5-point road favorites, with the moneyline sitting around -118. I think that is a fair spread for a divisional game between two teams separated by only half a game in the AFC West.
The fact that Kansas City remains favored on the road after its performance in Seattle—and with Denver riding a three-game winning streak—shows how much confidence the market still has in Mahomes and Andy Reid responding after a loss.
My best bet is Chiefs -1.5. If you want the safer option and do not care about laying a little extra juice, I also like Kansas City on the moneyline at -118. My predicted score has the Chiefs winning by seven, so both plays fit how I expect the game to unfold.
The total is 40.5, and my score prediction lands at 41 points, so I would stay away from that number.
MHR: How does this game unfold on Sunday? What is your prediction?
Maurice: This game will be much closer than the 31-10 result we saw in Week 1. I do not expect a blowout in either direction. I think it becomes a physical divisional fight that remains close entering the fourth quarter.
Walker should have another productive game, although the Chiefs may have to remain patient if Denver slows him down early. Andy Reid cannot abandon the run at the first sign of trouble. Sticking with Walker will create play-action opportunities and make life easier for Mahomes.
You rarely see Mahomes play as poorly as he did in Seattle, and you almost never see him produce two performances like that in consecutive weeks. I expect him to rebound, while Reid simplifies the offense and gets him into a better rhythm.
Jaylon Moore’s potential return at right tackle would also be significant because it would provide more stability in pass protection. If the game is close late, I trust Mahomes to make the decisive plays.
With Kansas City at 5-1 and Denver at 5-2, this is an important early battle for control of the AFC West. I expect the Chiefs to respond to the Seattle loss and leave Denver with a hard-earned victory.
Chiefs 24, Broncos 17.
