Chiefs News 10/24: Mahomes is benefitting from showing patience

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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is the NFL MVP favorite. Here’s where he thinks he’s improved | The Athletic

In 2024, he would’ve looked for a checkdown pass here. Or perhaps to scramble to pick up whatever yards

he could. This time, however, Mahomes made it to his third read while buying time in the pocket. And saw receiver Tyquan Thornton running free downfield. “In previous years, I would have never even looked over there to Tyquan,” Mahomes said Wednesday, “because the coverage dictated that it was not going to be open.” Instead of a minimal gain, Mahomes getting to Thornton resulted in a deep second-quarter pass — and a 34-yard completion. It’s this sort of sequence, Mahomes says, that he’s worked so hard to create this year after some self-evaluation this past offseason. The takeaway for Mahomes after that reflection? He was actually overanalyzing on too many plays. Mahomes said last season, he was obsessed with playing the game perfectly before the snap. That meant if he saw the defense was about to play a certain way, he’d decide beforehand not to throw to specific routes. “It’s like, ‘I know the coverage it is. I know this route’s not supposed to be open.’ So I would just move on,” Mahomes said. “I went back and watched the film this last year, and I was like, ‘I can’t give (defenses) too much credit.’”

NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Colts jump, Commanders tumble | PFF

1. Kansas City Chiefs (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 84%

Chance of winning Super Bowl: 13%

The Chiefs cruised to a 31-0 victory over the Raiders in their first early Sunday game of the season, securing their first regular-season shutout of the Andy Reid era. The win marked the return of Rashee Rice, who caught seven passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns, to the lineup. Rice’s availability is another positive sign for a Chiefs offense that continues to hark back to former iterations in previous weeks. The early-season rust is wearing off, and the Chiefs are third in EPA per play.

Fantasy playbook: NFL Week 8 Shadow Reports, lineup locks and projected scores | ESPN

Fantasy scoop: Worthy is in a bit of a slump since producing 121 yards in his return from injury in Week 4. In three games since that point, he’s totaled only 125 yards and one TD, failing to clear 11.1 points in any of the three outings. The 2024 first-round pick didn’t see much of a change in playing time with Rice back in the fold on Sunday, but his target share dipped to 12% — the lowest it has been in a full game since Week 9 of last season.

2025 NFL trade deadline: Which teams should buy, sell or hold ahead of Nov. 4 | CBS Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, and the offense got a massive boost with the return of Rashee Rice last week. That said, they could look to bolster their defensive line for the stretch run. Given that they are in the thick of a championship window, K.C. will always look to add.

NFL QB rankings, Week 8: Drake Maye enters top five; Jaxson Dart climbs past Jayden Daniels | NFL.com

2 – Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs · Year 9

2025 stats: 7 games | 66.1 pct | 1800 pass yds | 7.3 ypa | 14 pass TDs | 2 INTs | 250 rush yds | 4 rush TDs | 3 fumbles

NFL rookie report cards 2025: Grading every team’s draft class after seven weeks | Yardbarker

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-3) | Rookie class grade: B- | Cornerback Nohl Williams looks like a steal, as Pro Football Focus has given him the second-best coverage grade (86.6) at his position through seven weeks, and offensive tackle Josh Simmons has posted an above-average 73 pass-blocking grade in five games. However, WR Jalen Royals has zero receptions.

Around the NFL

Vikings-Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’: What We Learned from Los Angeles’ 37-10 win | NFL.com

Herbert, Chargers offense got back on track. Justin Herbert threw for a career-high 420 yards on Sunday, but it came in a loss to the Colts, throwing two picks after falling behind, 21-0. Four days later, Herbert turned in a cleaner performance – even with a second-half pick – in a much-needed victory over the Vikings. They’d lost two straight at home coming in, not looking like the team that stormed out to a 3-0 start. Once again, Herbert carried a major share of the load, throwing three touchdowns and dicing up the Vikings with his legs, but he had help. Kimani Vidal had a bounce-back game, with a TD and some strong second-half running. Herbert had a third-quarter throw tipped and intercepted deep in Chargers territory, but those were some of the cleaner pockets he’s had in a month, with the much-awaited return of Joe Alt. Alt wasn’t perfect but was a major upgrade over his replacements the past three games. On Sunday, Herbert was sacked three times and hit 15 times. On Thursday, he was sacked only once and hit seven times. That’s better.

Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill undecided on retirement after injury | ESPN

In an interview on the podcast of Terron Armstead, Hill’s former Dolphins teammate, Hill said he’ll make up his mind about his career at some point. For now, his focus is on recovering from surgery he had a couple of weeks ago to repair significant damage to his left knee, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“At the end of the day, I feel like that decision is based upon how I feel and where my mindset is at the moment,” Hill said on the podcast, which was released Thursday evening. “I’m happy with the career that I’ve had. I love playing football. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot on you mentally, it takes a lot on you physically.

“I’m at the point now where I need to have a conversation with mom, family, everybody. Wherever my mind is at the time, the decision will be made, but I know right now, I haven’t had time to live in the moment.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Andy Reid gives Josh Simmons update as 3 Chiefs miss Thursday practice

In his opening statement to reporters before the practice began, head coach Andy Reid covered the players who would miss Thursday’s session.

“The guys who won’t go today [include] Kareem Hunt, who has a bone bruise on his knee,” he announced. “He’s going to be OK, but we’ll have him sit out today. And Trey [Smith]. [He’s] got low back spasms. It’s getting better. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Then Reid moved on to the situation for which everyone has been seeking clarification: left tackle Josh Simmons’ mysterious absence. Reid said little about it — but compared to his previous statements, it was an avalanche of information.

“There’s communication,” said Reid. “I’m not going to get into all of it. Everything’s positive; it’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family.”