Chiefs News: Patrick Mahomes once had to use silent counts in Baltimore

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2024 NFL playoff picks: Ravens prime Chiefs in AFC Championship thriller, Lions-49ers goes right down to wire in NFC | CBS Sports activities

The Ravens would possibly have the ability to gradual Kelce down, although. They solely gave up three landing catches all yr to tight ends, which was tied for the second-lowest quantity within the NFL.

This recreation will mark simply the second time in Mahomes’ profession that he’s began a playoff recreation on the street. Though he gained final week in Buffalo, he’ll now be heading to Baltimore, the place issues will doubtless be a lot crazier and Mahomes KNOWS that. The Chiefs QB lately admitted that Baltimore is one in all solely two stadiums that he’s performed in the place the group bought so loud that he couldn’t talk along with his offensive line.

4 Classes Discovered From the Ultimate 4 Groups of the 2023 NFL Season | The Ringer

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs taught us … via an elite quarterback, all issues are attainable.

How?!?! Critically, how the hell did this Chiefs workforce get again to the AFC title recreation? For a sixth consecutive yr, Kansas Metropolis can be taking part in for a visit to the Tremendous Bowl, and this time they bought there by outlasting the Payments on the street in a 27-24 thriller. We simply watched the identical group lose to the Raiders at dwelling on Christmas in a recreation that wasn’t as aggressive because the 20-14 rating implies. We noticed a younger Inexperienced Bay workforce outclass them on Sunday Evening Soccer in early December. They managed solely 9 factors in opposition to a Broncos squad that had given up 70 a number of weeks earlier. That is simply the worst workforce of the Mahomes-Reid period in Kansas Metropolis, and it’s 60 minutes away from taking part in for an additional world championship.

Mahomes doesn’t deserve all of the credit score for this, however he does deserve most of it. Whereas he’s getting assist from a protection that ranks simply exterior the highest 5 in EPA allowed, you must rating factors to win video games, and he’s acquired nearly no help in relation to doing that. The personnel deficiencies at vast receiver have been coated extensively this season, and that hasn’t been the offense’s solely challenge. The run recreation has been beneath common, and the identical goes for the run protection, which has made it simpler for opponents to maintain Mahomes on the sideline. Even Travis Kelce is displaying indicators of slowing down, which is sensible for a 30-something tight finish who has a whole lot of mileage on these legs and has developed his personal case of butterfingers this season.

Patrick Mahomes is king, Brock Purdy simply wins and the Baltimore Ravens are the very best workforce within the NFL | NFL.com

4) Patrick Mahomes is inevitable

It’s really superb. This had been a down season for Mahomes, a non-dominant marketing campaign for the Chiefs, particularly on offense. And but, No. 15 has his workforce in a sixth straight AFC Championship Recreation — in his sixth season as a starter. That’s past outstanding.

I actually didn’t take the cheese on Allen vs. Mahomes being “the brand new Manning vs. Brady.” Frankly, Mahomes is Peyton Manning and Tom Brady: finest pure quarterback and largest winner. You make a mistake, he pounces. A method or one other, he finds a approach to end on prime. By no means EVER take this stretch of particular, majestic domination with no consideration.

Why the Mahomes-Allen rivalry could possibly be extra attention-grabbing than Brady-Manning | FOX Sports activities

“Each time I’m going up in opposition to Josh, I do know it’s going to come back right down to the top, simply due to the competitor that he’s and the participant that he’s,” Mahomes stated postgame Sunday. “Similar after I go in opposition to Joe [Burrow], in opposition to Lamar [Jackson] — all these guys. You recognize that stuff. These are the video games that I watched rising up: Nice quarterbacks going in opposition to one another with nice soccer groups, nice organizations. That’s what I keep in mind.

“Hopefully, Josh and I — we’re making reminiscences for the youngsters rising up watching soccer.”

You’re most likely considering: Scoreboard. Allen has but to beat Mahomes within the postseason. However that doesn’t make their rivalry any much less attention-grabbing. Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice noticed what everybody else may see after Sunday evening’s recreation. Once I knowledgeable him that Mahomes had gained all three of his playoff video games in opposition to Allen, Rice put that into easy context.

“What would you consider that? He’s higher than Josh,” Rice stated.

He added: “Within the postseason out of Pat, I’ve seen somebody that basically don’t know the best way to lose.”

NFL Energy Rankings: Lions, Chiefs on the rise going into Championship Sunday; what’s subsequent for the Payments? | NFL.com

4 – Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

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You actually should tip your cap to Kansas Metropolis’s protection for stepping up yet another time after it had carried this workforce for stretches this season. Down key members from each degree of the unit by recreation’s finish, the Chiefs made two massive, fourth-quarter stops after which stored the Payments from getting nearer than a 44-yard FG attempt, and we all know how that one went. Early on, it regarded like a last-team-with-the-ball-wins kind of recreation — an up-and-down-the-field decathlon — however the Chiefs’ protection had put in additional work, with Buffalo operating almost twice as many performs (41 to 21) as Kansas Metropolis within the first half. The Chiefs’ offense didn’t decelerate a lot in one in all its higher video games this season, however Mecole Hardman’s fumble although the top zone prevented the protection from having any respiration room. In the long run, Kansas Metropolis pressured Josh Allen to be affected person, and Buffalo simply couldn’t land its haymakers. The distinction within the recreation might need been the deep pictures. Patrick Mahomes was 3-for-3 on passes of 20-plus air yards, per Subsequent Gen Stats. Allen was 0-for-4. The Payments averaged about three positive aspects of 20-plus yards per recreation this season, however the Chiefs wouldn’t permit them greater than 15 on any offensive play Sunday. Don’t overlook this protection as the important thing issue heading into Sunday’s showdown in Baltimore.

NFL Convention Championship Energy Rankings: Ravens Reign Supreme After Convincing Win | The thirty third Crew

3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Document: 11-6

Seed: third

Final Week: Chiefs 27, Payments 24

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been the NFL’s measuring stick for greater than half a decade. They are going to head to Baltimore for his or her sixth straight AFC Championship this Sunday.

Kansas Metropolis’s offense struggled all through the common season, nevertheless it’s averaging 26.5 factors in its two playoff video games. The offense’s efficiency in Buffalo final week was extra in step with what Mahomes’ offense normally appears like.

No workforce is extra battle-tested than the Chiefs, who’re the unlikely underdog in opposition to Baltimore.

2024 NFL Free Agent Rankings: High 150 gamers set to enter free company | NFL Information, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

1. DI CHRIS JONES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

It’s uncommon for a participant of Jones’ caliber to achieve unrestricted free company, and Kansas Metropolis didn’t surrender the suitable to franchise tag him for a second time when the 2 sides agreed to a reworked contract this previous offseason. A tag for Jones would land north of $33 million, which maybe helps him check the open marketplace for the primary time in his profession.

Jones is just not solely top-of-the-line inside go rushers within the recreation proper now; he’s top-of-the-line ever. He’s additionally able to lining up exterior of tackles as a five-technique, bending across the edge and getting dwelling.

2024 NFL mock draft: Mel Kiper’s Spherical 1 decide predictions | ESPN

29. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

Did you count on me to go together with one other place? Kansas Metropolis’s receivers actually struggled this season, exterior of rookie second-rounder Rashee Rice, who would possibly already be their prime wideout. Chiefs pass-catchers dropped 38 passes throughout the common season, rating final within the league. That’s why I’m giving them a gifted playmaker with this decide.

Franklin averaged 17.1 yards per catch in 2023 and had 23 receiving touchdowns over the previous two seasons. He’s an enormous, 6-foot-3 goal with misleading pace who can break tackles after the catch. This isn’t the primary time I’ve projected Kansas Metropolis to land a receiver in Spherical 1 — I gave them Zay Flowers in my remaining 2023 mock — however the gap is just too massive to not fill right here. By the best way, this makes seven wideouts in Spherical 1, which might tie the file for many in a single draft (2004).

Across the NFL

Raiders title former Chargers govt Tom Telesco new common supervisor | ESPN

This comes lower than six weeks after the Raiders beat the Chargers 63-21 at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 14 and Telesco and coach Brandon Staley paid for the historic loss with their jobs the following day.

Telesco, 51, had been the Chargers’ common supervisor since 2013 and was the architect of some nice rosters that underachieved within the AFC West. He drafted the likes of receiver Keenan Allen, operating again Melvin Gordon III, defensive finish Joey Bosa, security Derwin James Jr., quarterback Justin Herbert, linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. and defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu.

Payments GM Brandon Beane not wavering on Stefon Diggs as ‘No. 1 receiver’ following down yr | NFL.com

Precept amongst these is determining the best way to reinvigorate Stefon Diggs, who carried out removed from his signature self over the second half of the season.

“He’s a No. 1 receiver,” common supervisor Brandon Beane informed reporters on Tuesday throughout his end-of-season information convention. “I firmly imagine that. I’m not wavering off of that. … Now we have to proceed to place weapons on the market to maintain groups from bracketing him or locking him down in numerous methods. … Stef can nonetheless play. I’m certain he would like to have that deep ball once more. He’d be the primary to let you know. He’s tremendous aggressive. He’s going to work his tail off this offseason.

“I do know there’s numerous causes or questions on this, there’s manufacturing and all that, however I nonetheless see Stef as a No. 1 receiver.”

Skilled officiating crew to work Tremendous Bowl | ESPN

Vinovich’s regular-season crews usually common the fewest, or near the fewest, flags per recreation. In 2023, his crew averaged 13.4 flags per recreation, tied for the seventh fewest, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info.

Vinovich additionally labored Tremendous Bowls XLIX and LIV. His full crew for subsequent month’s recreation is as follows:

Umpire: Terry Killens

Down choose: Patrick Holt

Line choose: Mark Perlman

Area choose: Tom Hill

Aspect choose: Allen Baynes

Again choose: Brad Freeman

Replay official: Mike Chase

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Satisfaction

Convention Championship NFL energy rankings: It’s nonetheless Mahomes’ league

Why did the Chiefs beating the Payments shock anybody? Certain… this workforce hasn’t been nice of late — however all of us knew what model of Patrick Mahomes we had been getting after the Wild Card win over the Dolphins. The dude is a fiend who goes from demigod to full-on Zeus as quickly because the playoffs begin.

12 months after yr, individuals search for his equal. I’m sorry, individuals, however that particular person doesn’t exist. Mahomes is Michael Jordan. He’s Lionel Messi. He’s the Beatles. If the NFL was Disney, Mahomes can be Mickey Mouse. Allen? WALL-E… at finest.

The actual fact of the matter is that no matter what occurs this weekend in opposition to the Ravens, the NFL remains to be very a lot Patrick Mahomes’ league. This model of the Chiefs making the AFC Championship should terrify their rivals. It additionally places a ton of strain on the Ravens — as a result of they know this can be their solely real shot on the King for fairly a while.

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