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NFL Prime-10 rankings: Chiefs in prime spot; 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys shut behind | FOX Sports activities
1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The defending back-to-back champs proceed to take a seat atop the charts after dismantling the Baltimore Ravens within the season opener. Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy confirmed prompt chemistry, with the first-round receiver totaling 68 scrimmage yards and a pair of scores. With Isiah Pacheco including 45 yards on the bottom and a rating, the Chiefs confirmed the potential to terrorize opponents with a balanced method that permits Andy Reid to win with drive or finesse. As defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo continues to construct a defensive juggernaut with All-Execs Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie main the best way, the Chiefs appear like one of the best group in soccer.
NFL Workforce Wants: Prioritizing Each Roster’s Greatest Weaknesses Earlier than Week 2 | Bleacher Report
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It’s tough to provide you with a participant who would moderately be value pursuing at this level. The Chiefs’ solely main harm proper now’s Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and the offense bought alongside simply superb towards the Ravens.
The defensive inside is one other spot to observe because the Chiefs moved Chris Jones out to the sting continuously towards the Ravens.
Legion of Zoom? Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes lastly have the weapons they want | FOX Sports activities
For the previous two seasons — and final season particularly — the Chiefs haven’t made full use of Mahomes’ distinctive set of abilities. It was like asking Max Verstappen to drive a go-cart — or, for all you non-F1 followers, it was like asking Taylor Swift to not sing “Merciless Summer time.” Even in case you’re not an F1 particular person otherwise you’re not a Swifty, you get it: Mahomes wants to have the ability to throw the deep ball along with the short sport and the yard ball. He wants a pass-catchers who assist him make use of each a part of the sphere at any given second.
For the previous two years, the largest lacking ingredient has been the deep sport.
It’s why Mahomes was urgently implementing rookie receiver Xavier Worthy and veteran wideout Hollywood Brown into the offense throughout coaching camp. Early in camp, Mahomes stated “there’s no easing” in Worthy. The QB wasn’t mendacity. Worthy had two touchdowns in Week 1 with 68 yards from scrimmage. The primary landing was a 21-yard keep it up a reverse.
“He’s so cool, calm and picked up like on a regular basis,” Mahomes stated. “You by no means even see the joy on him, however he goes up there and makes performs. Clearly, we need to proceed to make use of him an increasing number of. I assumed he had a fantastic day making massive performs in massive moments.”
Chiefs Week 1 victory over the Ravens set document for NFL kickoff sport | Chiefs Wire
In accordance with NBC Sports activities, the sport had a median viewers of 28.9 million, surpassing the 27.6 million who watched the New England Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers within the community’s 2015 opener. The viewers peaked at 33 million within the second quarter, because the 20-minute climate delay at Arrowhead Stadium to start out the sport didn’t have an effect on the numbers and switch away viewers.
The ranking is 5 p.c larger than final season’s opener towards the Detroit Lions. The Chiefs fell quick in that sport 21-20 and have been with out Professional Bowlers Travis Kelce as a result of harm and Chris Jones due to his contract holdout.
Why Leo Chenal, Jaylen Watson’s play vs. Ravens is nice information for Chiefs protection | The Athletic
In one other chat, Spagnuolo shared with linebacker Leo Chenal that he would have maybe the unit’s hardest task: He can be the spy defender for quarterback Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s reigning MVP and the league’s most elusive ball provider.
“It’s positively one thing out of my (consolation zone), so it’s good getting work at it,” Chenal stated Thursday after the Chiefs’ 27-20 victory. “It’s an honor to step up and do this and for Coach to have the ability to belief me to place me in that place, realizing full nicely how harmful it may be if (Jackson) will get out of the pocket and he scrambles. I used to be anticipating to be fairly gassed. I felt like coaching camp ready me nicely.”
NFL Week 1 grades: Cowboys earn ‘A’ for blowout win; Bengals, Browns each obtain ‘F’ for ugly losses | CBS Sports activities
B – Chiefs
The Chiefs weren’t excellent — they couldn’t run the ball they usually struggled within the pink zone — however they did what the Chiefs all the time do: They got here up with massive performs after they wanted them. Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy grew to become an prompt family title on this sport after scoring two touchdowns on simply three touches, together with a 21-yard dashing TD on the primary contact of his profession. Though the Ravens did a great job of shutting down Travis Kelce, that left issues broad open for Rashee Rice, who caught seven passes for 103 yards. As for Patrick Mahomes, he nonetheless appears to be like like Patrick Mahomes, which ought to fear the remainder of the NFL.
Across the NFL
Errors plague New York Jets in Aaron Rodgers’ return | ESPN
It was that form of season opener for Rodgers, whose extremely anticipated comeback was spoiled by errors and poor performances on each side of the ball in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday evening at Levi’s Stadium.
“They’re a championship-level group — and I hope we see them then,” Rodgers stated of the 49ers, ending his postgame information convention with a touch of optimism.
Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles on the fourth snap of the 2023 season, noticed his first in depth motion in 20 months. He grew to become the twenty second quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period (since 1966) to play after his fortieth birthday. There have been just a few classic moments for the four-time MVP, however he wasn’t happy together with his return efficiency.
“This can be a powerful opener for us, travel-wise and schedule-wise, however no excuses,” he stated. “We’ve got to play higher and I’ve to play higher and we’ll bounce again.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Satisfaction
Chiefs Roster: 3 defensive insights from Week 1 victory over Ravens
In accordance with NFL Professional, McDuffie was the closest defender for seven of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s passes, permitting 30 yards.
19 of them got here on this play from early within the first quarter.
On third-and-long, McDuffie is in off-man protection towards Baltimore’s No. 1 receiver: Zay Flowers. He’s enjoying with outdoors leverage, realizing security Justin Reid will defend the center of the sphere within him.
It appears to be like like McDuffie believes he’ll have the ability to minimize off Flowers beneath his route — however the throwing window is broad open as a result of Reid seems to have been misled by Jackson’s eyes. Whereas McDuffie permits the reception, every Raven deserves credit score for the large completion.
Watson, in the meantime, was the closest defender for six targets — the second-most amongst Kansas Metropolis defenders. On these performs, Baltimore gained 35 yards on 4 receptions.
