How a 7-0 Kansas Metropolis Workforce Has Loads of Room to Enhance

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ successful machine powered by way of one other opponent Sunday with the inevitable effectivity we’ve come to anticipate.

Consecutive victory No. 13 — which matched the franchise document — was hard-fought, like so many Chiefs victories as of late: 27-20 over Gardner Minshew and the Las Vegas Raiders.

In some methods, Kansas Metropolis’s second 13-game successful streak of the Patrick Mahomes period is much more spectacular than the 2019-20 model, merely for the stylistic transformation the Chiefs have made. They’re scoring a lot fewer factors per recreation throughout this streak (30.8 then to 23.5 now), they usually have been favored by a lot much less (-6.6 common unfold then to -1.7 now). Sustained successful is hard.

“The nice coaches evolve to regardless of the second is, and that’s what Andy Reid has finished,” an exec from a rival group mentioned.

The Choose Six column dares to ask a query that has lingered now that we will now not choose Mahomes’ passer ranking out of a lineup (it’s 84.9). What must occur for the Chiefs to have all of it — the roaring, big-play offense that Mahomes fueled to nice heights upon turning into a starter in 2018 and the tough-as-nails Steve Spagnuolo protection that has backed the offense extra lately?

The reply lies not within the document books, however within the historical past books. Whereas the Chiefs have impressively constructed the protection that Dan Marino by no means loved, these outdated Miami Dolphins groups did repair what ailed their offense after Marino, like Mahomes, flashed onto the scene spectacularly, solely to see his manufacturing settle on the similar level Mahomes finds himself in 2024. The complete menu this week:

• Mahomes, Marino and key to resurgence
• Commanders future, enabled by Bears?
• Takeaways from Tua Tagovailoa’s return
• Rams–Vikings fallout past officiating
• The adventures of Anthony Richardson
• Two-minute drill: Browns defending Watson

1. What can Marino’s profession manufacturing arc inform us in regards to the state of Mahomes? Time to discover a bookend sort out in Kansas Metropolis.

Marino shattered the NFL document with 48 landing passes in his first full season because the Dolphins’ quarterback. It was no fluke. Marino, a part of the 1983 quarterback draft class that includes fellow Corridor of Famers John Elway and Jim Kelly, led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in every of his first three full seasons as a starter.

Mahomes started his profession with related audacity. He handed for five,097 yards with 50 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first full season because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ starter. His first three seasons as a starter had been the fashionable equal to Marino’s, with Mahomes throwing practically 5 landing passes for each interception, a 114-23 ratio from 2018-20 (see desk under).

The relative slide in manufacturing for Mahomes extra lately, punctuated by his unrecognizable stat line this season (eight touchdowns with 9 interceptions), tracks with Marino’s profession manufacturing timeline. Supporting casts change. Opposing defenses alter. Even the perfect should recalibrate.

The chart under illustrates the Marino-Mahomes parallel by exhibiting every participant’s passing yardage per recreation in relation to league averages.

Mahomes’ Chiefs have clearly gained greater than Marino’s Dolphins ever did, with a 3-0 lead in Lombardi Trophies. Marino’s expertise nonetheless might present a blueprint for the Chiefs in a single particular space.

Whereas these Dolphins offenses fell off as receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper aged, the offensive line was the larger drawback. Corridor of Fame middle Dwight Stephenson suffered a career-ending harm in Marino’s fifth season. Accidents restricted Marino’s left sort out by way of the late Nineteen Eighties.

Marino’s fast launch helped, similar as Mahomes’ scrambling bails out the Chiefs’ issues at sort out. However do the Chiefs actually need Mahomes’ scramble price to proceed growing at its present price?

Whereas Aaron Rodgers’ scramble price fell with every of his 4 MVP seasons, from 7.5 p.c in 2011 to three.0 p.c in 2021, Mahomes is more and more utilizing his legs to flee bother as his thirtieth birthday approaches subsequent season. It’s working, however is the pattern sustainable?

“It takes lots of effort to get everybody on the identical web page for the scramble drill,” a veteran coach mentioned of the present Chiefs. “The one guys who can do it whenever you want it in a pinch are the veterans. They get sluggish and worn out. Mahomes is a gladiator within the Coliseum and the lions are proper on him.”

Marino’s manufacturing spiked within the early Nineteen Nineties after the Dolphins solidified their left sort out scenario through the use of a first-round choose on Richmond Webb, who started his profession with seven consecutive Professional Bowls (Marino suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in 1993 and struggled to take care of elite manufacturing thereafter).

The Chiefs used first- or second-round picks on receivers Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy over the previous three drafts. They spent a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder on veteran DeAndre Hopkins final week.

These strikes had been all comprehensible, however is the repair for Mahomes the identical because it was for Marino? The Chiefs opened the season with third-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia at left sort out, then changed him with 2023 third-rounder Wanya Morris. On the correct facet, Jawaan Taylor has a league-high 26 penalties for the reason that begin of final season. What if these conditions don’t stabilize?

“I’d discover a strategy to get an actual sort out, a respectable one-side-or-the-other sort out, and solidify that for the subsequent 5 years to guard the quarterback so he’s not operating for his life and having to make all of the performs,” a longtime personnel govt mentioned.

Maybe the Chiefs stay assured Suamataia or Morris will develop. The commerce deadline (Nov. 5) gives an unlikely avenue for upgrading. Free company or the draft are the extra seemingly sources (Kansas Metropolis holds Tennessee’s choose within the third spherical from the L’Jarius Sneed commerce, along with its personal third-rounder, so there may be capital out there to maneuver).

The Chiefs’ skill to win each week beneath altering circumstances virtually it doesn’t matter what is exceptional. They rank ninth in offensive EPA per play and first in offensive success price (the protection ranks sixth and seventeenth, respectively, in these classes, per TruMedia). They usually have Mahomes to drag out the shut video games virtually each time.

However because the desk under reveals, the Chiefs’ 23.5-point scoring common throughout their 13-game successful streak ranks final among the many 12 successful streaks of 13 video games or longer since 2000.

With some diminished weaponry and instability at sort out, Mahomes has thrown a league-high 23 interceptions over his final 23 regular-season video games (for the reason that begin of 2023). He has the fifth-lowest sack price however has taken the second-most hits amongst quarterbacks (136). He ranks twenty fourth in passer ranking over that span, thirteenth in EPA per go play and eighth in passing touchdowns. He’s nonetheless a unanimous Tier 1 quarterback — in the course of this uneven stretch, he gained his third Tremendous Bowl MVP — however the abrupt change in statistical profile is tough to disregard.

Mahomes accomplished 27 of 38 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns towards Las Vegas. It was a little bit of an journey.

The Chiefs’ lead was 17-13 within the third quarter when back-to-back holding penalties towards Morris, the left sort out, pressured Kansas Metropolis into first-and-16 from its personal 2-yard line. Mahomes threw over the center for Travis Kelce, solely to have the Raiders tip the ball and intercept it, giving them possession on the Kansas Metropolis 3-yard line. The Chiefs’ protection turned over the ball on downs.

Does successful masks all?

“Andy Reid doesn’t miss something,” the opposing coach mentioned. “He is aware of there are numerous methods to win a recreation. He has finished it with Tyreek Hill and he’s seen it work simply fantastic in a two-back offense with Edgar Bennett (in Inexperienced Bay three a long time in the past). He drafts Mahomes, watches all the school tape and that’s the place we’re proper now. However he’s an offensive lineman at coronary heart, and he doesn’t miss that (the sort out place wants assist). Andy doesn’t win 300 video games as a result of he seems like he’s in a consolation zone. That’s not the best way it’s, even whenever you win (13) in a row.”

2. There’s apparently no karma like post-Dan Snyder Commanders karma.

Earlier than ceding the ultimate fateful Hail Mary, the Chicago Bears had put the Washington Commanders in an almost unattainable place. The Bears had drained the fourth-quarter recreation clock from 4:21 to 0:25 earlier than scoring a landing and two-point conversion for a three-point lead. They kicked off to the aim line, forcing Washington to bleed one other six seconds off the clock throughout a return to the 24-yard line.

The setup was practically good. Washington wanted all however the ultimate two seconds to succeed in its personal 48-yard line, too far for a shot on the tying discipline aim. The sport was seemingly over.

HAIL NOAH!!!!!!!!!!

📺 #CHIvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/nRr3sIF17K

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 27, 2024

The Commanders had been the forty eighth group since 2000 to take over possession in the same scenario: down three, a minimum of 75 yards from the opponent’s aim line, between 15-25 seconds remaining on the sport clock when the ball was kicked off to them. 5 of the earlier 47 made tying discipline targets. Two others missed.

Not one of the earlier 47 had scored a landing. With Washington 52 yards away, its quarterback enjoying by way of sore ribs, the Bears felt assured sufficient for one in every of their cornerbacks, Tyrique Stevenson, to taunt the Washington followers even after Commanders middle Tyler Biadasz snapped the ball on the ultimate play. (Stevenson apologized on social media after the sport.)

GO DEEPER

Bears’ Stevenson jaws with followers moments earlier than giving up Hail Mary

Stevenson taunting the gang in the course of the play then runs over to tip the ball to Brown for the win. Unimaginable. pic.twitter.com/nDS7zvIWhR

— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) October 28, 2024

The remainder is a part of the Commanders’ new historical past, which now not feels linked to the 23 seasons Snyder owned the group.

Jayden Daniels holding the ball for practically 13 seconds earlier than launching it wanting the aim line. The Bears’ Stevenson, realizing the play was underway, operating from close to the sideline again towards the motion, arriving in time to deflect the go. Receiver Noah Brown, lurking ultimately zone uncovered, behind the mass of our bodies, catching the ball on the rebound for the walk-off rating, quickly to be greeted by receiver Terry McLaurin and a wave of teammates. CBS’ Jim Nantz screaming, “It’s a miracle!” Coach Dan Quinn exulting with linebacker Frankie Luvu earlier than throwing his headset to the bottom in what needed to be disbelief.

A month in the past, we questioned how the Commanders might prime the assertion of a landing go Daniels delivered to McLaurin to assist win a shootout at Cincinnati. Now we all know.

3. The Dolphins’ offense returned to life with Tua Tagovailoa again within the lineup. Right here’s what we’ve discovered.

Two tales performed out in Florida as Arizona pulled out a 28-27 victory over the Dolphins.

The Cardinals stacked back-to-back victories for the primary time since they began 7-0 in 2021. This was huge for Arizona to maintain tempo in an underwhelming NFC West. It was huge for normal supervisor Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon as they attempt to present progress on the sector of their second season collectively. It was additionally huge for Kyler Murray and rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. to attach constantly (six receptions for 111 yards and a landing on seven targets).

Tagovailoa’s return was the larger story given all of the implications for him and the group. My prime three takeaways from Tagovailoa and the Dolphins:

• Tua’s worth enhanced: Tagovailoa comes out trying higher than the Dolphins’ roster development and offensive teaching.

Tagovailoa is seen by coaches and executives as a Tier 3 quarterback unable to hold a group, so it’s hanging to see how completely different the Dolphins’ offense has been with and with out him. The proof suggests the personnel division ought to have had higher choices behind him, realizing Tagovailoa’s well being was fragile. Even then, it was stunning that coach Mike McDaniel couldn’t get extra from the offense when Tagovailoa was sidelined.

“I feel there may be blame to go round,” an exec mentioned. “No one has finished much less with a few of the greatest perimeter assist in the league, however did they actually suppose Skylar Thompson was going to be the reply? There’s fault for the entrance workplace, for the coach and for executing. Not even with the ability to operate.”

The Dolphins had been down to 3rd quarterback Tyler Huntley after Thompson lasted just one begin. That may be a huge mitigating issue for McDaniel and the teaching workers. Miami is the one group this season to begin a real No. 3 quarterback (I’m excluding Jameis Winston, who technically was No. 3 for Cleveland in Week 7 earlier than beginning Sunday).

Miami went 5 consecutive video games with out surpassing 15 factors, beginning with the Week 2 recreation Tagovailoa failed to complete following his concussion. This was the Dolphins’ longest such streak since 2004 and tied for the third-longest in franchise historical past, per Professional Soccer Reference.

With Tagovailoa within the lineup Sunday, the Dolphins hit season highs on offense in factors (27) and EPA (10.6).

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• Tua’s motives pure: Tagovailoa’s love for the sport seems to be the driving drive behind his resolution to threat future concussions. I don’t purchase the concept he’s financially conflicted after signing a $212 million contract within the offseason.

Tagovailoa has already earned $70 million. He’s not hurting financially. Whereas the Dolphins might attempt to reclaim bonus cash if Tagovailoa retired, I don’t suppose they’d take a cutthroat method to such a scenario. When Andrew Luck retired from the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, the group let him hold $19 million in bonus cash it might have reclaimed.

“I agree 100%,” the exec mentioned. “I feel he has love for the sport and he’s past even deciding if he’s going to play. The query for me is, what if he has one other one?”

• Week 9 is huge: The Dolphins would fall to 2-5 in the event that they lose at Buffalo subsequent week. That document would possibly flip some groups into sellers on the commerce deadline, which passes two days after Miami’s recreation towards the Payments. This season is perhaps too vital for the Dolphins to suppose alongside these strains if Tagovailoa stays wholesome on the deadline.

One exec doubted Dolphins possession would have the endurance at this stage to begin promoting. The longer term in Miami might change into difficult for a group that carried the NFL’s oldest snap-weighted roster into Week 8.

4. Vikings-Rams fallout trifecta: officiating, recreation administration and suspected trade-talk agenda

• On an officiating repair: The referee and umpire had been the one on-field officers with eyes in Minnesota’s offensive backfield when Rams defensive lineman Byron Younger grabbed quarterback Sam Darnold’s facemask because the Vikings mounted a determined drive within the ultimate minute Thursday evening. Neither noticed the foul, which was apparent to anybody watching the Amazon Prime video feed.

Why couldn’t the league implement a replay mechanism permitting officers to make the right name, overturning what grew to become a drive-ending security?

Replay tends to end in flags being picked up, not put down. The league beforehand empowered replay to catch defensive pass-interference penalties that the on-field officers missed. The experiment was a catastrophe.

“They’ll’t educate the replay officers judgment,” a group exec mentioned. “Cross-interference replay was finished after one yr. Nobody even introduced it as much as re-vote it in. That is the kind of blatant missed name that occurs a few times a yr in nevertheless many thousand performs, the place two guys miss what everybody watching on TV can see.”

• Whether or not O’Connell endangered Darrisaw: Coach Kevin O’Connell’s resolution to name a operating play as an alternative of a quarterback kneel with 35 seconds left within the second quarter opened him to questions when offensive sort out Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending knee harm on the play.

Minnesota confronted first-and-10 from its personal 3-yard line. The Rams had just one timeout remaining, stopping Los Angeles from forcing Minnesota into punting from its personal finish zone if the Vikings repeatedly knelt. Did the chance outweigh the reward?

An exec and a coach supplied differing views.

“I belief the coach there, so I most likely wouldn’t even second-guess it,” the exec mentioned. “That coach has constructed up sufficient chips so the place if I used to be the GM, ‘No matter you need to do, coach.’”

That’s the view from 30,000 toes. The view from the bottom could be completely different.

Per TruMedia, this was the fourth time since 2000 {that a} group took over possession from its personal 3-yard-line to its personal 5-yard-line with 32-38 seconds left earlier than halftime and the protection possessing fewer than two timeouts. The opposite three groups knelt. Minnesota was the one group to run a play in that scenario. Groups rushed thrice in 5 performs when the protection had two timeouts, and one time in a single play when the protection held all three timeouts.

“Let’s say you pop a 10-yard run there,” a coach mentioned. “Who’s taking timeout from the minus-13 with lower than 30 seconds?”

O’Connell steered he appreciated the look towards the Rams’ dime protection.

I’d anticipate O’Connell to kneel if he encounters the same scenario sooner or later.

• Not shopping for Rams as sellers: Executives from two NFC groups made unsolicited factors questioning whether or not the Rams had been ever severe about buying and selling Cooper Kupp, not to mention quarterback Matthew Stafford. Each noticed reviews of Kupp’s availability as seemingly motivational ploys to place gamers and/or coaches on discover. It’s tough to fathom any group absorbing Kupp’s contract in its present type.

“I wasn’t shopping for that Cooper Kupp is getting traded in any respect,” one of many execs mentioned. “The specter of a fireplace sale perhaps lit the fireplace.”

5. Anthony Richardson accomplished 2 of 15 passes within the first half for Indianapolis in a key divisional matchup at Houston. That was solely the start.

The Colts knew there could be a studying curve once they used the fourth choose of the 2023 draft on Anthony Richardson, a quarterback with 13 school begins. May they’ve anticipated the training curve could be this … adventuresome?

Each play seems like a roll of the cube. His efficiency in a 23-20 defeat at Houston included:

• Finishing 2 of 15 passes within the first half
• Scoring a 69-yard landing on a type of completions
• Throwing an interception (-4.8 EPA) deep in Colts territory lower than 30 seconds earlier than halftime, organising a Texans landing
• Taking himself out of the sport for a play as a result of he was drained
• Fumbling a handoff trade on third down, taking the group out of discipline aim vary
• Failing to get out of bounds to cease the clock with lower than a minute remaining and Indy out of timeouts

When was the final time a quarterback tapped out as a result of he was drained?

#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on leaving the sport for one play within the 3Q:

“Drained, I ain’t gonna lie. That was lots of operating proper there that I did, and I didn’t suppose I used to be gonna be capable of go that subsequent play. So, I simply advised (HC Shane Steichen) I wanted a break proper there.” pic.twitter.com/EMUtiSLIvm

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 27, 2024

Richardson accomplished 10 of 32 passes for 174 yards. He had a second potential landing go dropped.

That the Colts virtually gained the sport is exceptional. At 4-4, they seem dedicated to using out the turbulence as an alternative of turning to backup Joe Flacco for the stretch run. That’s comprehensible when contemplating what number of Flacco sorts they’ve cycled by way of in recent times.

Because the Richardson incompletions piled up Sunday, I dove into the archives to see how the 2-for-15 passing half in contrast with Colts quarterbacks from the group’s current previous. The larger revelation: Richardson is the seventh Indy quarterback to begin a Week 8 recreation previously seven seasons (see desk above).

It is a franchise determined for stability on the place.

“We gotta simply hold working by way of it,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned. “He has work ethic. He grinds by way of this stuff. It’s a course of. We do it collectively. It’s not about one man.”

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6. Two-minute drill: What the Browns gained’t say about their quarterbacks

The Cleveland Browns set season highs on offense Sunday in factors (29), complete yards (401), passing yards (321), first downs (22), EPA (7.4), success price (46.5 p.c), go performs gaining greater than 15 yards (9), EPA per go play (+0.3) and possibly a bunch of different classes.

One thing in regards to the offense appeared completely different throughout this 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. I’d think about some theories would possibly emerge to clarify the in a single day change as soon as analysts have time to review the sport tape.

May it have been the change from Deshaun Watson to Jameis Winston at quarterback?

“I perceive the query,” coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned in his postgame information convention. “I don’t actually get wrapped up in it truthfully. I need to be sure we’re doing all the things in our energy to attain factors on offense to assist this soccer group. That’s an awesome group win there. I feel all three phases did their job.”

The offense did greater than its half statistically, ending with +7.4 EPA, in comparison with -5.9 on protection and +3.5 on particular groups. However apparently, as a result of the group stays financially tethered to Watson, who suffered a season-ending harm final week, nobody in a management capability with the group appears keen to say something that even remotely suggests Watson might need been holding again the offense. Even the reward for Winston appears tempered. It’s fairly a factor.

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Lloyd: Jameis Winston’s efficiency, Browns’ win a reminder of what might’ve been this yr

• The Lions’ 52-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans was a one-off by so many measures. Per Professional Soccer Reference, this was the primary time a group has gained by greater than 25 factors whereas getting outgained by 175 or extra yards; the primary time since 1941 {that a} group scored greater than 45 factors whereas gaining 225 or fewer yards; the fourth time a group has scored greater than 50 factors whereas operating fewer than 50 performs (second time since 1966); and the sixteenth time a group has completed with extra factors than performs run.

• Will the Titans, having already traded DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones IV, hold promoting earlier than the commerce deadline? They don’t have a 2025 third-round choose. Can they get one?

• The Jets dropping three consecutive video games since firing coach Robert Saleh, together with two in a row since buying and selling a third-round choose to Las Vegas for Davante Adams, leaves them fifteenth within the AFC, forward of solely Tennessee. 4 different 2-6 groups within the convention maintain tiebreakers over the Jets, together with Adams’ former group, the Raiders.

“It simply feels just like the proprietor mentioned, ‘I’m entrusting our future with Aaron Rodgers,’ and take a look at the outcomes,” an exec mentioned. “That’s tough.”

That is loopy: #Jets had 0 turnovers, held the Patriots to 247 yards — and nonetheless misplaced. They’re the primary group to lose a recreation by which they didn’t flip the ball over and held their opponent beneath 250 yards since Week 3 of 2012.

In 2012, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers misplaced,…

— Wealthy Cimini (@RichCimini) October 27, 2024

• Kirk Cousins finishing 65 of 87 passes (75 p.c) for 785 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception in two victories over Tampa Bay is beautiful. Cousins now has 14 landing passes with two interceptions in 5 profession video games towards Tampa Bay, the primary of which spawned Cousins’ “You want that?!” catchphrase.

Kirk Cousins is the fourth participant in NFL historical past with 750 passing yards and eight go TDs towards a single opponent in a season. The others: Dan Marino, Joe Montana and YA Tittle. Per @ESPNStatsInfo. #Falcons

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) October 27, 2024

• The Philadelphia Eagles successful three in a row with typically strong performances on either side of the ball has calmed the waters across the group. In beating Cincinnati 37-17, the Philly offense posted its greatest EPA recreation (+17.5) since a divisional-round playoff victory over the Giants following the 2022 season. Up subsequent: Jacksonville, which ranks thirty second in defensive EPA per play.

(Photograph of Patrick Mahomes: Candice Ward / Getty Photos)

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