On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs dropped a 20-17 decision to the Buffalo Bills on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, dropping their record to 8-5.
Let’s see how the Chiefs used their players in this Week 14 loss.
Starters (offensive): WR Rashee Rice, LT Wanya Morris, G Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, G Trey Smith, T Jawaan Taylor, TE Blake Bell, WR Skyy Moore, TE Travis Kelce, QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Chris Jones, DE Michael Danna, LB Willie Gay Jr., LB Nick Bolton, CB Trent McDuffie, CB L’Jarius Sneed, DB Chamarri Conner, S Mike Edwards and S Justin Reid.
Did not play: QB Blaine Gabbert.
Inactive: RB Isiah Pacheco, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Nic Jones, DE BJ Thompson, T Donovan Smith, DE Neil Farrell and DE Malik Herring.
Offensive takeaways
Offensive line
Third-round rookie tackle Wanya Morris claimed his first NFL start in relief of starter Donovan Smith, staying on the field for every offensive snap — and turning in what appeared to be a good performance. Smith’s timetable for return from his neck injury is unknown — but if Morris continues to play well in his absence, it could become indefinite.
Running backs
With Isiah Pacheco out with a shoulder injury, Clyde Edwards-Helaire got his first start since Week 6 of 2022. In the weeks before his injury, Pacheco was getting 70-80% of the snaps. But on Sunday, the team went back to what they did when Edwards-Helaire was the starter: he and Jerick McKinnon essentially split the work. Edwards-Helaire got 48% of the reps, while McKinnon was on the field for 45% of them. Both figures were season-highs.
Meanwhile, practice squad rookie Deneric Prince — who was elevated to the roster for the second straight week — once again failed to get on the field with the offense. This time, however, he was out there for 21% of the special teams snaps.
Tight ends
34-year-old Travis Kelce continues to be used as if he is ten years younger, getting to 90% of the snaps for the second time this season. Kelce needs just 104 yards over the season’s final four games to set another stunning new record for NFL tight ends: eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Meanwhile, Noah Gray — the team’s actual 24-year-old tight end — continues to see his usage trend down. When given opportunities this season, the third-year player has been productive — his offensive success rate of 62.1% is second only to Kelce among Chiefs players.
Wide receivers
Sunday’s Chiefs game was the first this season where a wide receiver got the kind of snaps we typically see from an NFL starter: Rashee Rice had 84% of the snaps. He was followed by Justin Watson (55%) and Kadarius Toney (42%) — and then Skyy Moore (35%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (34%) and Richie James (18%) brought up the rear. As Pete Sweeney noted on this week’s Arrowhead Pride “Editors’ Show” podcast, this was finally the kind of distribution fans have been waiting to see: Rice getting the lion’s share of snaps, with players like Valdes-Scantling and Moore getting limited work.
Defensive takeaways
Defensive backs
With safety Bryan Cook now on the Reserve/Injured (injured reserve) list, veteran Mike Edwards had 97% of the defensive snaps — easily his highest mark of the season. Although veteran practice squad safety Deon Bush was elevated to the roster for this game, he had just a handful of defensive reps. He was, however, a key special teams contributor, getting 88% of that action. Another one of those was rookie safety Charmarri Conner — who also had at least 50% of the defensive snaps for the first time this season.
In Week 13, Jaylen Watson and Josh Williams went back to splitting the snaps as the team’s third quarterback — but against the Bills, Watson was once again the top dog in that role, getting 45% of the snaps to Williams’ 5%.
Linebackers
Returning to the field after missing five games with a wrist injury, MIKE linebacker Nick Bolton was on the field for almost a full workday, getting 92% of the work. Second-year player Jack Cochrane — who filled in when Drue Tranquill couldn’t play for Bolton in Week 13 — took the rest of the MIKE snaps. Meanwhile, Wille Gay Jr. got plenty of work while Tranquill remained out on Sunday.
Data
Offense
Offense | All | Pass | Run |
Total | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Creed Humphrey | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Patrick Mahomes | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Wanya Morris | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Trey Smith | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Jawaan Taylor | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Joe Thuney | 62 (100%) |
44 (100%) |
18 (100%) |
Travis Kelce | 56 (90%) |
41 (93%) |
15 (83%) |
Rashee Rice | 52 (84%) |
36 (82%) |
16 (89%) |
Justin Watson | 34 (55%) |
25 (57%) |
9 (50%) |
Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 30 (48%) |
19 (43%) |
11 (61%) |
Jerick McKinnon | 28 (45%) |
24 (55%) |
4 (22%) |
Kadarius Toney | 26 (42%) |
16 (36%) |
10 (56%) |
Noah Gray | 24 (39%) |
15 (34%) |
9 (50%) |
Skyy Moore | 22 (35%) |
11 (25%) |
11 (61%) |
Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 21 (34%) |
21 (48%) |
0 (0%) |
Richie James | 11 (18%) |
9 (20%) |
2 (11%) |
Blake Bell | 6 (10%) |
3 (7%) |
3 (17%) |
Defense
Defense | All | Pass | Run |
Total | 73 (100%) |
45 (100%) |
28 (100%) |
L’Jarius Sneed | 73 (100%) |
45 (100%) |
28 (100%) |
Trent McDuffie | 72 (99%) |
44 (98%) |
28 (100%) |
Mike Edwards | 71 (97%) |
45 (100%) |
26 (93%) |
Nick Bolton | 67 (92%) |
41 (91%) |
26 (93%) |
Justin Reid | 67 (92%) |
42 (93%) |
25 (89%) |
Willie Gay Jr. | 56 (77%) |
34 (76%) |
22 (79%) |
Michael Danna | 52 (71%) |
33 (73%) |
19 (68%) |
George Karlaftis | 52 (71%) |
36 (80%) |
16 (57%) |
Chris Jones | 51 (70%) |
34 (76%) |
17 (61%) |
Charles Omenihu | 40 (55%) |
22 (49%) |
18 (64%) |
Chamarri Conner | 39 (53%) |
26 (58%) |
13 (46%) |
Derrick Nnadi | 37 (51%) |
21 (47%) |
16 (57%) |
Leo Chenal | 35 (48%) |
18 (40%) |
17 (61%) |
Jaylen Watson | 33 (45%) |
22 (49%) |
11 (39%) |
Tershawn Wharton | 30 (41%) |
16 (36%) |
14 (50%) |
Matt Dickerson | 10 (14%) |
4 (9%) |
6 (21%) |
Felix Anudike-Uzomah | 6 (8%) |
4 (9%) |
2 (7%) |
Jack Cochrane | 5 (7%) |
3 (7%) |
2 (7%) |
Joshua Williams | 4 (5%) |
3 (7%) |
1 (4%) |
Deon Bush | 2 (3%) |
1 (2%) |
1 (4%) |
Travis Kelce | 1 (1%) |
1 (2%) |
0 (0%) |
Special Teams
Special Teams | Snaps |
Total | 24 (100%) |
Jack Cochrane | 21 (88%) |
Chamarri Conner | 21 (88%) |
Joshua Williams | 21 (88%) |
Deon Bush | 21 (88%) |
Leo Chenal | 17 (71%) |
Cam Jones | 17 (71%) |
Noah Gray | 16 (67%) |
Darius Harris | 13 (54%) |
Justin Watson | 12 (50%) |
Richie James | 9 (38%) |
Ekow Boye-Doe | 8 (33%) |
Jerick McKinnon | 8 (33%) |
Harrison Butker | 7 (29%) |
Tommy Townsend | 7 (29%) |
James Winchester | 7 (29%) |
Blake Bell | 5 (21%) |
Deneric Prince | 5 (21%) |
Felix Anudike-Uzomah | 4 (17%) |
Nick Bolton | 4 (17%) |
Michael Danna | 4 (17%) |
George Karlaftis | 4 (17%) |
Derrick Nnadi | 4 (17%) |
Justin Reid | 4 (17%) |
Tershawn Wharton | 4 (17%) |
Nick Allegretti | 3 (13%) |
Mike Caliendo | 3 (13%) |
Creed Humphrey | 3 (13%) |
Wanya Morris | 3 (13%) |
Lucas Niang | 3 (13%) |
Trey Smith | 3 (13%) |
Jawaan Taylor | 3 (13%) |
Travis Kelce | 1 (4%) |
All Snaps
All Snaps | Off | Def | ST | Total |
Total | 62 (100%) |
73 (100%) |
24 (100%) |
159 (100%) |
Nick Allegretti | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
3 (2%) |
Felix Anudike-Uzomah | 0 (0%) |
6 (8%) |
4 (17%) |
10 (6%) |
Blake Bell | 6 (10%) |
0 (0%) |
5 (21%) |
11 (7%) |
Nick Bolton | 0 (0%) |
67 (92%) |
4 (17%) |
71 (45%) |
Ekow Boye-Doe | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
8 (33%) |
8 (5%) |
Harrison Butker | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (29%) |
7 (4%) |
Mike Caliendo | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
3 (2%) |
Leo Chenal | 0 (0%) |
35 (48%) |
17 (71%) |
52 (33%) |
Jack Cochrane | 0 (0%) |
5 (7%) |
21 (88%) |
26 (16%) |
Chamarri Conner | 0 (0%) |
39 (53%) |
21 (88%) |
60 (38%) |
Michael Danna | 0 (0%) |
52 (71%) |
4 (17%) |
56 (35%) |
Matt Dickerson | 0 (0%) |
10 (14%) |
0 (0%) |
10 (6%) |
Mike Edwards | 0 (0%) |
71 (97%) |
0 (0%) |
71 (45%) |
Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 30 (48%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
30 (19%) |
Willie Gay Jr. | 0 (0%) |
56 (77%) |
0 (0%) |
56 (35%) |
Noah Gray | 24 (39%) |
0 (0%) |
16 (67%) |
40 (25%) |
Darius Harris | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
13 (54%) |
13 (8%) |
Creed Humphrey | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
65 (41%) |
Richie James | 11 (18%) |
0 (0%) |
9 (38%) |
20 (13%) |
Cam Jones | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
17 (71%) |
17 (11%) |
Chris Jones | 0 (0%) |
51 (70%) |
0 (0%) |
51 (32%) |
George Karlaftis | 0 (0%) |
52 (71%) |
4 (17%) |
56 (35%) |
Travis Kelce | 56 (90%) |
1 (1%) |
1 (4%) |
58 (36%) |
Patrick Mahomes | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
62 (39%) |
Trent McDuffie | 0 (0%) |
72 (99%) |
0 (0%) |
72 (45%) |
Jerick McKinnon | 28 (45%) |
0 (0%) |
8 (33%) |
36 (23%) |
Skyy Moore | 22 (35%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
22 (14%) |
Wanya Morris | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
65 (41%) |
Lucas Niang | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
3 (2%) |
Derrick Nnadi | 0 (0%) |
37 (51%) |
4 (17%) |
41 (26%) |
Charles Omenihu | 0 (0%) |
40 (55%) |
0 (0%) |
40 (25%) |
Justin Reid | 0 (0%) |
67 (92%) |
4 (17%) |
71 (45%) |
Rashee Rice | 52 (84%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
52 (33%) |
Trey Smith | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
65 (41%) |
L’Jarius Sneed | 0 (0%) |
73 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
73 (46%) |
Jawaan Taylor | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (13%) |
65 (41%) |
Joe Thuney | 62 (100%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
62 (39%) |
Kadarius Toney | 26 (42%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
26 (16%) |
Tommy Townsend | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (29%) |
7 (4%) |
Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 21 (34%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
21 (13%) |
Jaylen Watson | 0 (0%) |
33 (45%) |
0 (0%) |
33 (21%) |
Justin Watson | 34 (55%) |
0 (0%) |
12 (50%) |
46 (29%) |
Tershawn Wharton | 0 (0%) |
30 (41%) |
4 (17%) |
34 (21%) |
Joshua Williams | 0 (0%) |
4 (5%) |
21 (88%) |
25 (16%) |
James Winchester | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
7 (29%) |
7 (4%) |
Deon Bush | 0 (0%) |
2 (3%) |
21 (88%) |
23 (14%) |
Deneric Prince | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
5 (21%) |
5 (3%) |
Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride obtains snap count data from the NFL’s game stats and information system, which allows us to break out snap counts by run or pass on offensive and defensive plays. Because GSIS data ignores plays that were nullified by penalties, total offensive and defensive snap counts will vary from other sources, which get their data from NFL Gamebooks