The Kansas City Chiefs are rolling right now. Once again, Andy Reid's team looks like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, proving that last year's debacle was just a blip and not the new normal for this organization.
Adding Kenneth Walker III to the mix has been a true blessing. For the first time in ages, this team has someone reliable to lean on in the ground game. Chances are, if Walker gets the rock in his hands, he'll make something happen. While his usage has been insane through four weeks and might have to be slightly mitigated going forward, that's neither here nor there.
However, as explosive as the running game has been, and as nice as it's been to watch the big plays again, Patrick Mahomes knows there's still plenty of work to do. When asked about the offense, No. 15 claimed they must be better at the little things.
Patrick Mahomes wants the Chiefs' offense to be more consistent
“We’re close,” Mahomes said. “We have the explosiveness part, and now it’s about just stringing drives together, being able to do both. We’ve done it in spurts where we’ve had some long drives in certain points of games, but being more consistent about that, not having as many three-and-outs, I think that’d be important for us. If we can continue to have the explosive plays, that covers up a lot, and now we’ve got to add that consistency to it as well.”
That's crucial. The team just lost its most explosive wide receiver with Tyquan Thornton's gruesome injury, so what will they do when the home run isn't there? Travis Kelce has turned back the clock with some big catch-and-runs, but again, what about the rest?
Xavier Worthy finally showed signs of life in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He's left plenty to be desired, and the Chiefs ought to get him involved and make the most of his speed. His brittle body makes it a risk to use him out of the backfield, but they'll have to do something.
As for Rashee Rice, he was expected to be the team's possession receiver, but again, he hasn't done much to earn his next contract. Moreover, he's now dealing with a hamstring injury, though the hope is that it's nothing major enough for him to miss any real time.
Mahomes is getting better pass protection than expected, even in Josh Simmons' absence. The running game is keeping the offense ahead of the sticks and allowing Reid and Eric Bieniemy to keep the playbook open. They're definitely trending in the right direction.
But just because they have the best quarterback in the game doesn't mean they have to hope he'll always figure things out. It's the quick-hitters, the checkdowns, the easy completions in short and intermediate zones that keep the offense going.
Being better and more consistent, and the little things, will only open up more lanes for those signature explosive plays. Fortunately, they have a full week to rest, watch film, and fix what needs fixing before taking the field again.
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