In Week 17, the Kansas City Chiefs lost 20-13 to the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun was just one of many inexperienced players who saw an extended opportunity. Let’s look at how the Chiefs used their players in this game:
Starters (offensive): WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, TE Travis Kelce, LT Esa Pole, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Chukwuebuka Godrick, WR Jalen Royals, WR Xavier Worthy, QB Chris Oladokun and RB Isiah Pacheco.
Starters
(defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Mike Pennel, DE Michael Danna, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Kristian Fulton, CB Nohl Williams, S Bryan Cook, S Chamarri Conner and DB Jaden Hicks.
Did not play: QB Shane Buechele, T Matt Waletzko and WR Jason Brownlee.
Inactive: RB Dameon Pierce, CB Melvin Smith Jr., DE Ethan Downs, DE Tyreke Smith, OL C.J. Hanson, OL Jaylon Moore and DT Derrick Nnadi.
The big takeaway
Early on in this game, it appeared the Chiefs had a plan to see more from two specific rookies: Wide receiver Jalen Royals and linebacker Jeff Bassa. Royals, a fourth-round pick, made his first career start, while Bassa rotated in for starting linebacker Drue Tranquill during a drive early in the second quarter.
By the end of the game, Royals played only five offensive snaps with just one featuring a route to run. Bassa flashed in his four defensive snaps, then played solely on special teams for the remainder of the evening.
It was encouraging to see the defense continue using two prominent members of last year’s draft class: cornerback Nohl Williams, who played 100% of the snaps, and defensive end Ashton Gillotte, who was on the field for a season-high 63% of the defense’s plays.
It was an undrafted member of the rookie class that stood out more than usual. Linebacker Cooper McDonald played 30% of the defensive snaps, including 47% of the run plays faced. He was the starting SAM, or the third linebacker alongside Bolton and the WILL when the defense was in base formations.
McDonald and Bassa have both been pillars of the special teams unit this season, but McDonald got the nod on defense against Denver. Bassa, a fifth-round pick, appears to be pigeonholed into the WILL position going forward.
Offensive takeaways
The Chiefs had to rely on the run game to keep this game close with Oladokun under center. Last week, running back Isiah Pacheco led the backfield, but the volume of snaps flipped back to Kareem Hunt against Denver.
Hunt played 65% of the run plays, the highest rate he has experienced since the 23-20 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts. In that game, he had 30 carries for 104 rushing yards. On Christmas, Hunt actually received fewer attempts (7) than Pacheco (9), but he was still on the field more despite Pacheco’s steady ascension back into the lineup since returning from injury against the Dallas Cowboys.
With Pacheco slated to hit free agency, the reduction in playing time does no favors for his value in the open market.
It’s also worth noting backup offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad’s role in the offense against Denver. The offense used a sixth offensive lineman in formation twice; each time, Nourzad aligned as an in-line tight end. On Hunt’s fourth-and-1 conversion, the second-year lineman sealed the run lane with a key block.
Defensive takeaways
Defensive tackle Chris Jones highlighted the defense with another disruptive performance to keep the scoring down. He earned a sack along with three other hits on Broncos’ quarterback Bo Nix.
Jones was impactful despite playing a lower snap rate than the previous game for the fifth consecutive week. With the playoffs out of the picture, it makes sense for Jones to see limited time being under contract through 2028. He can still make his presence felt when needed.
After not being involved for most of the season, cornerback Kristian Fulton was a full-time starter against Denver and broke up three passes, including the deflection that Nick Bolton secured for an interception. With uncertainty among the cornerbacks heading into the offseason, Fulton made a strong effort to provide a good impression from this lost season.
Data
Offense
| Offense | All | Pass | Run |
| Total | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Chukwuebuka Godrick | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Creed Humphrey | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Chris Oladokun | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Esa Pole | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Trey Smith | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Kingsley Suamataia | 42 (100%) |
23 (100%) |
19 (100%) |
| Travis Kelce | 41 (98%) |
22 (96%) |
19 (100%) |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 35 (83%) |
20 (87%) |
15 (79%) |
| Xavier Worthy | 33 (79%) |
16 (70%) |
17 (89%) |
| Marquise Brown | 26 (62%) |
19 (83%) |
7 (37%) |
| Kareem Hunt | 24 (57%) |
15 (65%) |
9 (47%) |
| Noah Gray | 20 (48%) |
12 (52%) |
8 (42%) |
| Isiah Pacheco | 14 (33%) |
5 (22%) |
9 (47%) |
| Brashard Smith | 6 (14%) |
5 (22%) |
1 (5%) |
| Jalen Royals | 5 (12%) |
0 (0%) |
5 (26%) |
| Jared Wiley | 4 (10%) |
1 (4%) |
3 (16%) |
| Hunter Nourzad | 2 (5%) |
0 (0%) |
2 (11%) |
Defense
| Defense | All | Pass | Run |
| Total | 71 (100%) |
39 (100%) |
32 (100%) |
| Chamarri Conner | 71 (100%) |
39 (100%) |
32 (100%) |
| Bryan Cook | 71 (100%) |
39 (100%) |
32 (100%) |
| Nohl Williams | 71 (100%) |
39 (100%) |
32 (100%) |
| Nick Bolton | 70 (99%) |
39 (100%) |
31 (97%) |
| Kristian Fulton | 70 (99%) |
39 (100%) |
31 (97%) |
| Drue Tranquill | 64 (90%) |
34 (87%) |
30 (94%) |
| George Karlaftis | 51 (72%) |
29 (74%) |
22 (69%) |
| Ashton Gillotte | 45 (63%) |
27 (69%) |
18 (56%) |
| Chris Jones | 37 (52%) |
23 (59%) |
14 (44%) |
| Charles Omenihu | 37 (52%) |
23 (59%) |
14 (44%) |
| Jerry Tillery | 36 (51%) |
14 (36%) |
22 (69%) |
| Jaden Hicks | 32 (45%) |
21 (54%) |
11 (34%) |
| Mike Pennel | 32 (45%) |
16 (41%) |
16 (50%) |
| Michael Danna | 28 (39%) |
15 (38%) |
13 (41%) |
| Cooper McDonald | 21 (30%) |
6 (15%) |
15 (47%) |
| Zacch Pickens | 19 (27%) |
9 (23%) |
10 (31%) |
| Mike Edwards | 15 (21%) |
10 (26%) |
5 (16%) |
| Kevin Knowles II | 6 (8%) |
5 (13%) |
1 (3%) |
| Jeff Bassa | 4 (6%) |
2 (5%) |
2 (6%) |
| Jack Cochrane | 1 (1%) |
0 (0%) |
1 (3%) |
Special Teams
| Special Teams | Snaps |
| Total | 21 (100%) |
| Jack Cochrane | 18 (86%) |
| Jaden Hicks | 18 (86%) |
| Cooper McDonald | 18 (86%) |
| Nohl Williams | 15 (71%) |
| Jeff Bassa | 14 (67%) |
| Cole Christiansen | 14 (67%) |
| Joshua Williams | 14 (67%) |
| Kevin Knowles II | 13 (62%) |
| Noah Gray | 8 (38%) |
| Harrison Butker | 7 (33%) |
| Brashard Smith | 7 (33%) |
| Jared Wiley | 7 (33%) |
| Matt Araiza | 6 (29%) |
| Nazeeh Johnson | 6 (29%) |
| James Winchester | 6 (29%) |
| Robert Tonyan | 5 (24%) |
| Nick Bolton | 4 (19%) |
| Chamarri Conner | 4 (19%) |
| Michael Danna | 4 (19%) |
| George Karlaftis | 4 (19%) |
| Mike Pennel | 4 (19%) |
| Jerry Tillery | 4 (19%) |
| Drue Tranquill | 4 (19%) |
| Mike Caliendo | 3 (14%) |
| Bryan Cook | 3 (14%) |
| Mike Edwards | 3 (14%) |
| Chukwuebuka Godrick | 3 (14%) |
| Creed Humphrey | 3 (14%) |
| Hunter Nourzad | 3 (14%) |
| Esa Pole | 3 (14%) |
| Trey Smith | 3 (14%) |
| Kingsley Suamataia | 3 (14%) |
All Snaps
| All Snaps | Off | Def | ST | Total |
| Total | 42 (100%) |
71 (100%) |
21 (100%) |
134 (100%) |
| Matt Araiza | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
6 (29%) |
6 (4%) |
| Jeff Bassa | 0 (0%) |
4 (6%) |
14 (67%) |
18 (13%) |
| Nick Bolton | 0 (0%) |
70 (99%) |
4 (19%) |
74 (55%) |
| Marquise Brown | 26 (62%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
26 (19%) |
| Harrison Butker | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (33%) |
7 (5%) |
| Mike Caliendo | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
3 (2%) |
| Cole Christiansen | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
14 (67%) |
14 (10%) |
| Jack Cochrane | 0 (0%) |
1 (1%) |
18 (86%) |
19 (14%) |
| Chamarri Conner | 0 (0%) |
71 (100%) |
4 (19%) |
75 (56%) |
| Bryan Cook | 0 (0%) |
71 (100%) |
3 (14%) |
74 (55%) |
| Michael Danna | 0 (0%) |
28 (39%) |
4 (19%) |
32 (24%) |
| Mike Edwards | 0 (0%) |
15 (21%) |
3 (14%) |
18 (13%) |
| Kristian Fulton | 0 (0%) |
70 (99%) |
0 (0%) |
70 (52%) |
| Ashton Gillotte | 0 (0%) |
45 (63%) |
0 (0%) |
45 (34%) |
| Chukwuebuka Godrick | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
45 (34%) |
| Noah Gray | 20 (48%) |
0 (0%) |
8 (38%) |
28 (21%) |
| Jaden Hicks | 0 (0%) |
32 (45%) |
18 (86%) |
50 (37%) |
| Creed Humphrey | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
45 (34%) |
| Kareem Hunt | 24 (57%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
24 (18%) |
| Nazeeh Johnson | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
6 (29%) |
6 (4%) |
| Chris Jones | 0 (0%) |
37 (52%) |
0 (0%) |
37 (28%) |
| George Karlaftis | 0 (0%) |
51 (72%) |
4 (19%) |
55 (41%) |
| Travis Kelce | 41 (98%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
41 (31%) |
| Kevin Knowles II | 0 (0%) |
6 (8%) |
13 (62%) |
19 (14%) |
| Cooper McDonald | 0 (0%) |
21 (30%) |
18 (86%) |
39 (29%) |
| Hunter Nourzad | 2 (5%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
5 (4%) |
| Chris Oladokun | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
42 (31%) |
| Charles Omenihu | 0 (0%) |
37 (52%) |
0 (0%) |
37 (28%) |
| Isiah Pacheco | 14 (33%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
14 (10%) |
| Mike Pennel | 0 (0%) |
32 (45%) |
4 (19%) |
36 (27%) |
| Zacch Pickens | 0 (0%) |
19 (27%) |
0 (0%) |
19 (14%) |
| Esa Pole | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
45 (34%) |
| Jalen Royals | 5 (12%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
5 (4%) |
| Brashard Smith | 6 (14%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (33%) |
13 (10%) |
| Trey Smith | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
45 (34%) |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 35 (83%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
35 (26%) |
| Kingsley Suamataia | 42 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (14%) |
45 (34%) |
| Jerry Tillery | 0 (0%) |
36 (51%) |
4 (19%) |
40 (30%) |
| Robert Tonyan | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
5 (24%) |
5 (4%) |
| Drue Tranquill | 0 (0%) |
64 (90%) |
4 (19%) |
68 (51%) |
| Jared Wiley | 4 (10%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (33%) |
11 (8%) |
| Joshua Williams | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
14 (67%) |
14 (10%) |
| Nohl Williams | 0 (0%) |
71 (100%) |
15 (71%) |
86 (64%) |
| James Winchester | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
6 (29%) |
6 (4%) |
| Xavier Worthy | 33 (79%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
33 (25%) |
Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride obtains snap count data from the NFL’s game stats and information system, which allows us to break out snap counts by run or pass on offensive and defensive plays. Because GSIS data ignores plays that were nullified by penalties, total offensive and defensive snap counts will vary from other sources, which get their data from NFL Gamebooks
