Chiefs' Performance Analysis: Can KC Remain Elite?

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00:00Joe, we talked a lot about this one when we were getting ready here

00:02between KC and Detroit, and it's a little unfair

00:08if someone were to like the Lions coming in

00:12and then watched Kansas City kind of light them up.

00:16Like, well, the Lions were really injured.

00:19We knew the Lions were injured.

00:21It is a part of why the Chiefs looked as good as they did.

00:23So give Kansas City a ton of credit,

00:26but I think we're trying to find out from the Chiefs' side

00:29how back are they?

00:30Because we know, and again, we've done this dance a number of times, right?

00:35The notion of Mahomes playing to the standard.

00:39And this is what I know I want to see.

00:42This is the stuff that I was demanding that we didn't get

00:45for two seasons in a row.

00:47We're starting to get now.

00:50How do you feel about the Chiefs off of their 30-17 victory

00:53against the Lions moving forward?

00:54From an offensive perspective, they're back.

00:56And part of that is because they have speed on the outside

00:59with Marquise Brown, 100% healthy.

01:02Xavier Worthy, 100% healthy.

01:04The addition of Brashard Smith that has been involved in the offense

01:07over the past couple of weeks coming out of SMU.

01:10So you see speed that opens up everything from every level

01:14in the passing attack.

01:16And now that's why you're seeing the success of Travis Kelsey

01:18as well getting more involved.

01:20When they didn't have the speed on the outside,

01:23they were completely one-dimensional.

01:24They had no hint of a rushing attack, consistency, excuse me.

01:30And that put them into long third downs.

01:33And you saw in the Super Bowl, Pat Mahomes was buried early and often.

01:36But now when you spread it out and you open things up,

01:39Mahomes is allowed to cook.

01:41Everybody's eating.

01:42And when Rasheed Rice gets back in that offense,

01:44they're not going to have a problem, I don't believe, putting up points.

01:47I do believe, though, that the mainstay of that team,

01:52which was the defense, has been slightly exposed.

01:55And even though they were able to get this victory against Detroit,

01:58you saw that type of offensive philosophy.

02:01And you say, okay, when you attack Kansas City at every level,

02:05star, tight end, big play, wide receiver, big play slot,

02:08wide receiver, speed at the running back position that can not only run the

02:12football but catch it out of the backfield.

02:13They are very, I just think, pedestrian at times.

02:17And, yes, they win this game without a doubt.

02:20It was a blue-collar victory, and they were deserving to win.

02:23But I think it's an uphill battle for this team to just say they're the best

02:26in the AFC because they beat Detroit Sunday night.

02:31Joe, I really, I love everything you said there.

02:33Because for me, I think there's a number of lessons to take,

02:36but I don't, I do not think this is a Super Bowl favorites clear away.

02:42Here we go.

02:44Ultimately, if you look through the Mahomes numbers,

02:47this was the best game that he has played this season.

02:49Four total touchdowns.

02:50He's now tied a career high with four rushing touchdowns already this year

02:53through six weeks.

02:54It was his first game over eight yards per attempt.

02:57He had three touchdowns.

02:58Didn't throw an interception.

03:00His highest passer rating in a game, his highest, you know,

03:03QBR in a game since week number one.

03:04A lot of that was elevated by the rush work.

03:06My point is this.

03:08Why I bring up that Detroit banged up defense.

03:10Because Mahomes took advantage of a bad defense,

03:13which is what the Lions were yesterday, right?

03:15And I'm not going to take credit away because that's what he needs to do.

03:18No more of Mahomes' black performances through 17 weeks

03:23and we pretend it's okay.

03:24It's not okay.

03:26Not from one of the greats.

03:27That's who Mahomes is supposed to be.

03:28Not just all time, but right now.

03:30Many people believe, myself included,

03:32that he's the best quarterback in football.

03:34So when you go up against a team whose entire secondary can't walk

03:36or isn't available, you got to absolutely put it on him.

03:39And that's what he did.

03:41But the defensive concerns are legitimate.

03:44Chris Jones doesn't look himself.

03:45He's not looked right really at any moment this year.

03:49And I think there is at least, I want to be careful with this

03:52because it could be like famous last words.

03:54You can already picture it, you know, final play of a season type of thing.

03:57But I wonder if there's some figuring out of Spags.

04:00Oh, he's just going to blitz?

04:01Always?

04:02Like, you know what I mean?

04:03And the personnel, it doesn't feel as good.

04:06It's a great win for Kansas City.

04:08They are obviously a contender.

04:09They're, of course, a threat to still win the AFC West

04:11because I think the biggest thing for the Chiefs is a loss here.

04:15You're 2-4 with a couple of 4-2 teams in front of you.

04:17You know, it really would have been dire.

04:20I have no problem with their booking in terms of second overall in the AFC

04:23or up there in the Super Bowl odds.

04:25But I am not going to sit here and tell you I'm running to bet Chiefs futures.

04:29I'm not going to sit here and tell you what I'm talking about.

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