Instant analysis of Chiefs’ Week 16 win over Seahawks – Yahoo Sports
A low-scoring affair early between the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks was aided by some frigid temperatures. It was another grind-it-out win for Kansas City against a team battling for respect and to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Chiefs now have their fifth-straight 12-win season, good for the third-longest streak in NFL history.
So what else did we learn about the Chiefs in their latest game?
Final Score: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 10
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The Chiefs’ offense got off to a slow start in this one, but the defense was hot out of the gate. They didn’t allow a first down until the midway point of the second quarter. Neither the offense nor the defense had a penalty called on them until under the two-minute mark in the second quarter. It was one of the performances that you really needed to see from the defense to feel comfortable heading into the playoffs. Now, if they can only find a way to get every unit playing their best in a single game for a full four quarters.
Weekly Awards
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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Chiefs Wire Game Ball: DT Chris Jones
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Harrison Butker Rookie of the Game: DE George Karlaftis
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Casey Wiegmann Veteran of the Game: RB Jerick McKinnon
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Jamaal Charles Offensive Player of the Game: TE Travis Kelce
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Bobby Bell Defensive Player of the Game: S Juan Thornhill
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Morten Andersen Special Teams Player of the Game: K Harrison Butker
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Otis Taylor Play of the Game: George Karlaftis’ second-quarter sack of Geno Smith.
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Wesley Roesch Stat of the Game: Seahawks 2-of-14 on third down.
Quick-hitting observations and analysis
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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The Chiefs need to incorporate more running plays into their opening game script (and in general). Too often have we seen the team come out trying to establish the passing game first when they have the horses to establish the run to set up the pass.
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This might have been the best game from the Chiefs’ defensive line this season. They seem to be getting constant pressure and they’re rallying to the football in the running game better than they have all season long. They also put on a clinic on the Seahawks’ bootlegs in the passing game.
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Andy Reid needs to find a way to incorporate Kadarius Toney into the third-down offense. His ability to threaten East-West is valuable in the red zone, but it can also help in those middle-to-short gain situations on third down.
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Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon continue to be two of the most important and impressive players on offense. It’s not just their contributions in the run game either, but also what they’re able to do in the passing game. Pacheco had a 32-yard reception and McKinnon a 16-yard reception, both ranked in the top 3 longest receptions for the team in the first half.
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Willie Gay should not come off the field under any circumstances. I don’t care what Darius Harris did while Gay was suspended. No. 50 makes too many plays to ever come off the field. If Nick Bolton is fit enough to play 100% of the defensive snaps, so is Gay.
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Is there a better group of tackling cornerbacks in the NFL than the Kansas City Chiefs? Jaylen Watson and L’Jarius Sneed had tackles for losses in this game. Joshua Williams had a key stop for a minimal gain in the first half. Trent McDuffie didn’t get credited for it, but he should have been credited for the tackle for loss given to DT Brandon Williams.
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I was really impressed with the safety play in this game. Justin Reid was quiet per usual, but Juan Thornhill and Bryan Cook each made some big plays. Thornhill would not be denied his interception with an early one overturned. He got another one late that helped the team ice the game.
Up next:
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs will play their final home game of the regular season on New Year’s Day. During that game, they’ll be facing the Broncos for the second time this season. Kansas City was sloppy in their first matchup with Denver and instead of a dominant win, they settled for a close win. Hopefully, this game is a bit more like the first 1.5 quarters of Week 14.