The Kansas City Chiefs went into their Week 5 bye among three teams still undefeated at 4-0. The other two teams that remain undefeated at 5-0 are the Minnesota Vikings, who have a bye in Week 6, and the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN NFL analysts Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported the Chiefs are the team the rest of the league believes the most in.
“Kansas City was mentioned most when I asked league evaluators this week. Basically, the Chiefs are the team with the fewest concerns out of the group,” Fowler wrote.
“The Chiefs seem to be impressing people the most in terms of the sustainability of their success,” per Graziano.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes beat the clock in returning from a torn ACL and LCL to be under center for Week 1. He had some rust in Week 1, but he has looked back to his old self for much of the season. Mahomes has completed 64.1% of his passes for 1,037 yards (17th), nine touchdowns (tied for eighth) and two interceptions.
The addition of running back Kenneth Walker III completely changed the offense. Before the bye week, Walker led the league with 537 rushing yards on 87 carries. His 6.2 yards-per-carry average remains tops in the NFL. He has also added six total touchdowns. Something his presence has also done is open up the deep throws for Mahomes. The threat Walker provides in the backfield, as well as the play-action possibilities, has forced safeties to move up to respect those aspects.
“It’s helping out a ton,” Mahomes said of the Chiefs’ play-action attack. “I think people look at the stats and they see the touchdowns that Kenneth has and [rookie running back Emmett Johnson] when they’re running the ball. But I don’t think they really understand how the play-action and the movements [within the pocket] has really opened up in our offense. That’s a credit to [the running backs] and the offensive line firing off the ball, run and pass.”
Mahomes’ PFF passing grade of 84.1 ranks fifth at the position. He has nine big-time throws and two turnover-worthy plays in four games, according to PFF. The Chiefs resume action Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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