{"id":151828,"date":"2023-11-06T13:00:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T18:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=151828"},"modified":"2023-11-06T11:07:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T16:07:06","slug":"reality-check-chiefs-mahomes-kelce-dolphins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/11\/06\/reality-check-chiefs-mahomes-kelce-dolphins\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyst Offers Reality Check on Chiefs’ ‘Real Problem’ After Win Over Dolphins"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs got a big win, this time 21-14 over the Miami Dolphins in Week 9, but it was not pretty. It also came in the way they\u2019ve done it more often this season than in years past: with the defense coming up with a critical stop to preserve the lead for an inconsistent offense<\/a>. While the victory counts the same, some are not letting the Chiefs off the hook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chiefs have a problem<\/a> on offense,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Marcus Spears said on \u201cGet Up\u201d on November 5. \u201cAnd it\u2019s a real problem. Last year, we saw them struggle early on. But you could see the remnants, you could see that they would get going. I still walked away from this game \u2026 saying those missed opportunities that the Chiefs are having right now have been a reoccurring theme throughout the first weeks of the season. And it doesn’t look like it\u2019s getting fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spears pointed to Mahomes\u2019 presence and Andy Reid\u2019s history as reasons for optimism. But he also noted the quarterback\u2019s scrambling as one tell-tale sign that all is not well with the Chiefs\u2019 offensive attack.<\/p>\n

Chiefs Have ‘Real Problem’ on Offense, ESPN Analyst Says<\/h2>\n

\u201cEven Pat is frustrated with how these games are playing out from the wide receiver position. He\u2019s doing this [running] more now than we\u2019ve seen him early in seasons. You usually don\u2019t get to this until the playoffs of late in the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Chiefs are generating 2.14 points per drive<\/a> this season, per Pro Football Reference, down from the 2.71 points per drive<\/a> they produced last season. What was the NFL\u2019s top-ranked offense in points and yards last season ranks 12th and seventh this season, respectively. Mahomes\u2019 passing yards per game are at a career low while his rushing yards per game are at a career high.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve turned Patrick Mahomes into a dink-and-dunk quarterback,\u201d fellow show panelist Ryan Clark responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have Travis Kelce who is your No. 1 who is no longer the explosive threat that he used to be. He\u2019s a No. 1, he\u2019s a security blanket, he\u2019s a guy that can catch you in volumes. He no longer scares you down the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelce is averaging 74.6 receiving yards per game this season, still above his career average.<\/p>\n

\n

Travis Kelce now has the most career scrimmage yards in franchise history (10,955), passing Tony Gonzalez (10,954).<\/p>\n

— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) November 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n