Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
A teammate for 4 seasons with the New England Patriots, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive guard Joe Thuney acknowledged that might have had one thing to do with him successful the Tom Bradys LFG Participant of the Sport.
“There is likely to be a slight bias in that,” joked Thuney in a dialog with FOX Sports activities following Kansas Metropolis’s 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. “It’s extremely humbling. Clearly, there’s lots of issues I can do higher. , I feel all the blokes on the O-line deserve it. I am simply proud to be a part of this group.”
In fact, Thuney’s play up entrance actually was a consideration as properly. A two-time Professional Bowler, Thuney was a part of a driving drive behind Kansas Metropolis speeding for 184 yards on Sunday, led by Kareem Hunt’s 78 yards and two scores.
Tom Brady’s LFG Participant of the Sport: Chiefs OL Joe Thuney | Week 7
[Related: Do the Chiefs have 49ers’ number, and can they keep winning this way? Tom Brady weighs in]
“Kareem’s superior,” Thuney mentioned. “He runs so onerous and performs so onerous. And he is at all times working all through the week, digging into his playbook. He is only a nice man.”
Mentioned Hunt: “I give it as much as the O-line for serving to me get the pushes to get in there.”
The Chiefs managed the road of scrimmage up entrance on offense, ending with 4 speeding touchdowns. Kansas Metropolis owned a 35:04-24:56 benefit in time of possession, because the Chiefs managed the clock.
“As an offensive lineman, you at all times take delight in operating the ball, particularly when the protection is aware of you are going to run it,” Thuney mentioned. “We had vast receivers blocking, tight ends blocking and operating backs operating onerous and Pat (Mahomes) making nice calls.
So, it was a complete crew effort, all 11 guys on offense. I am simply actually pleased with how every part went.”
Kansas Metropolis’s protection additionally performed stingy up entrance. The Chiefs intercepted San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy thrice, holding the offense to 2 of 11 on third down and one of many league’s prime speeding offenses to 101 speeding yards.
However linebacker Drue Tranquill additionally pointed to the offensive line as a gaggle that units the tone for the complete crew.
“It is big,” Tranquill advised FOX Sports activities. “There’s 10 minutes left there within the fourth quarter, and so they drive all of it the way in which down, I feel they transformed like 4 or 5 first downs and took a bunch of day without work the clock, and the Mecole (Hardman) will get ultimately zone.
“We speak about pounding the rock. When you have got these huge guys up entrance, led by Creed (heart Creed Humphrey) within the center, these three inside guys can actually get a push (within the run sport).”
Whereas Thuney and the offensive line performed successful soccer, quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to wrestle statistically till the sport issues most. Mahomes was a forgettable 16 of 27 for 154 yards with no landing passes and two interceptions for a 44.4 passer score.
Mahomes is now tied for the league lead in interceptions with eight, and has extra interceptions than landing passes (6). However when Kansas Metropolis wanted to take over the sport, Mahomes manufactured a memorable, 33-yard scramble that put Kansas Metropolis close to the purpose line.
He then capped the drive with a 1-yard run down the center of San Francisco’s protection, operating over a thumper at security in rookie Malik Mustapha.
The landing gave Kansas Metropolis a 21-12 lead with 14:13 left to play, a deficit the 49ers couldn’t overcome.
“I truly was not making an attempt to decrease my shoulder,” Mahomes mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt to soak up the hit as a result of I knew I used to be going to be proper there ultimately zone. And that ‘Dad Bod’ man, I had sufficient weight on me the place he went down.”
Added Tranquill: “We all know Pat’s received the sauce, man. So, it was cool seeing him scamper down the sideline. However the one which jumped out to me was the one on the purpose line. You may’t underestimate his toughness. Watching him run over that cat (Mustapha), I imply that cat had two or three huge hits. He is a canine. After which Pat simply runs him over. I feel that speaks to the toughness of our crew.”
Thuney has come to anticipate these kinds of performs for Mahomes.
“He’ll do something to make a play,” Thuney mentioned. “He is particular in that method. It is superior seeing what he can do. And I am simply making an attempt to do my job as finest I can, at any time when I can.”
As for the Chiefs, regardless that they’re the one undefeated crew within the league at 6-0, Thuney is aware of there’s nonetheless work to do if Kansas Metropolis needs to complete the season holding the Lombardi Trophy for an unprecedented third straight time.
“Each week we strive to take a look at movie to enhance, see what we will do higher,” Thuney mentioned. “It is a fixed course of. We’ll take a look at this one and see what we will enhance on. Hopefully, we will try this.”
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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