The latest
The People Who Brought You Travis Kelce | The New York Times
Despite the growing pile of distractions, Mr. Kelce’s longtime trainer, Alex Skacel, said the star tight end’s dedication to football has never been stronger.
Mr. Skacel likes to share the story of a visit to Paris Fashion Week a few years ago, when he and Mr. Kelce took a late-night jog around the city because Mr. Kelce was antsy for a workout after an entire day of sitting by the runway. “It’s midnight, and we’re doing sprints over the bridges over the river,” Mr. Skacel said. “No matter where he is, he finds time to get done whatever he needs to get done.”
10 Quick Facts About the Chiefs’ Week 17 Victory Over Cincinnati | Chiefs.com
10. Mahomes also topped 4,000 passing yards for the sixth-straight season.
Mahomes also hit a personal milestone on Sunday, topping the 4,000-yard mark for the sixth-straight time. Only Drew Brees (12 straight from 2006-17), Matt Ryan (10 straight from 2011-20), Philip Rivers (8 straight from 2013-20), Peyton Manning (8 straight from 2006-14) and Matthew Stafford (7 straight from 2011-17) own longer streaks in NFL history.
Stugotz Provides Unsettling Bulletin Board Material for Kansas City Chiefs | The Big Lead
“This time of year, everyone talks about teams they don’t want to see come playoff time,” he said. “I want to talk about a team that I actually want to see come playoff time. I want to see the Chiefs. I want Patrick Mahomes strolling into my stadium with max confidence. I want Travis Kelce. I want Taylor Swift. I want the team that lost to Jordan Love. I want the team that lost to Aidan O’Connell. I want the team that trailed 17-0 to Jake Browning. That is the team that I would like to face in the playoffs because that team is not very good. I have been saying for years there’s something off in Kansas City, last year that take didn’t go so well for me, they won the Super Bowl. This year it’s going very, very well.”
Orlando Brown Jr. has no regrets leaving Chiefs for Bengals | Cincy Jungle
“I wouldn’t rather play for any other organization in this league,” Brown told reporters following Sunday’s 25-17 loss at Kansas City. “This organization, man, it’s gonna fight. It’s got a ton of character. You know, it’s got a ton of will, and man, I’m happy to be on this side of things. We came up short today, but as I say, that’s football. It’s a lot of ups and downs in this game and that’s the beauty of it. You know you live to fight another day, to fight another year.”
Chiefs’ December Struggles May Be Explained By Unique NFL Schedule Quirk | Athlon Sports
HOLTHUS: “I get networks want ‘their’ slot to have best teams but this has to be discussed going forward! According to Warren Sharp this hasn’t happened to a team in 35 years.”
Prosecutors move to dismiss most charges against Jackson Mahomes | FOX4
Johnson County prosecutors are moving to dismiss some charges against Jackson Mahomes, brother to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss three felony charges of aggravated sexual battery against Mahomes.
Around the NFL
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens lead the league in rushing yards and average 5.0 yards per carry, but there’s a case to be made for them to still add a back like Cook before making a playoff run. The team lost running backs J.K. Dobbins and Keaton Mitchell throughout the year and has been relying on Gus Edwards and Justice Hill in recent weeks, along with getting contributions from quarterback Lamar Jackson . Cook comes in and deepens what has been a depleted unit and joins a team that is very much in the conversation to win the Super Bowl.
The NFL released a statement to media Tuesday announcing the penalty.
“The National Football League today fined Carolina Panthers’ chairman David Tepper $300,000 for his unacceptable conduct in Jacksonville during Sunday’s game,” the statement reads. “All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans and favorably reflect on their team and the NFL.”
The memo, which included a video, was sent three days following the Cowboys defeating the Lions, 20-19, after officials ruled offensive lineman Taylor Decker was not an eligible receiver when he caught a 2-point conversion that would have given Detroit a one-point advantage. After Decker’s catch was negated, the Lions were intercepted on an ensuing attempt that was negated by a Cowboys penalty before a third attempt fell incomplete.
As end possibly arrives, Bill Belichick retains laser focus | NBC Sports
“But on a week-to-week basis, I don’t want to spend time, or get caught up in what happened five years ago, or what’s going to happen two years from now, and a bunch of other random stuff. Just working on the Jets. . . . I’m committed to the team that I’m coaching right now, the players that are here. They deserve my best every day and that’s what I’m going to give them.”
Kenny Pickett denies rumors he refused to be Steelers’ QB2 Sunday | ESPN
“There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a 2,” Pickett said. “If I was healthy enough to play, and the trainers and coaches felt like I looked good enough to play, I was going to start and play. If they believed that I was not — which they believed I was not — I was not going to dress and suit up for the game.
“So, whoever reported that, I don’t know where it started, it’s kind of crazy what people will write and put out there to try to prove their point or help their standpoint or their careers and what you guys do. But disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it.”
Rams’ Sean McVay makes ‘promise’ that he’ll coach ‘24 season | ESPN
At this time last year, McVay said he was wrestling with how long he would remain in the profession as he started a family. He and his wife welcomed their first child in October. But with the Rams headed to the playoffs and McVay needing just seven regular-season wins to set the team record, he didn’t want to leave any doubt about his status for 2024. “
That I can promise you,” McVay told host J.B. Long when asked whether there would be a “Coach McVay Show” next season.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs’ Playoff Picture: Wild Card opponent determined by season’s last game
This means that in the Wild Card round, the Chiefs could host the Dolphins (a 47% chance), Bills (18%), Indianapolis Colts (17%), Houston Texans (14%) or Pittsburgh Steelers (4%).
Chiefs-Bengals snap counts: Unexplainable use of wide receivers
After the Week 15 game against the Patriots, we noted that Marquez Valde-Scantling’s usage had been trending downward since Week 7 — but in the last two games, it’s been back to the high percentages we saw at the beginning of the season. While Rahsee Rice continues to lead the position group in snaps, we simply cannot explain the team’s continued reliance on Valdes-Scantling, who had one catch for three yards (on four targets) during the last two games. Meanwhile, players like Richie James (who was three for three for 54 yards against Las Vegas) and the just-activated Mecole Hardman aren’t getting more work.
A tweet to make you think
ICYMI: From last week on The NFL Report. It’s safe to say the #chiefs miss Eric Bieniemy. No slight to anyone on the current staff, but EB brought something that is currently missing and it’s too obvious to ignore. pic.twitter.com/kkRiDMSgi1
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 2, 2024