Should Chiefs fans be in a panic over wide receivers?
Through four games, there has yet to be a single wide receiver that has emerged as Patrick Mahomes' definitive No. 1.
Travis Kelce is, of course, his favorite target (if you define favorite as most-targeted), but Kelce's role as tight end demands much of him outside the receiving game.
Mahomes and the Chiefs need a traditional wide receiver to step up and stand out in big moments should they expect to compete deep in the postseason.
No receiver grabbing more than three passes on Sunday night was part of the reason the Chiefs were struggling to score. Running back Isiah Pacheco and Kelce -- both, of course, not WRs -- were the only players to bring in 40 yards of receiving or more.
Here's what Jacob Milham said on Arrowhead Addict of the receiver issue (notably, this was in an "overreaction" column:
This team is tied for the league lead with 11 drops and leads it with a 7.4 drop percentage. Justin Watson, a free agency afterthought, leads the team with 163 receiving yards. This team ranks 26th in air yards before the catch per reception, showing how rare the Chiefs produce on the deep ball. How can this team have one of the best deep passers ever in Patrick Mahomes, yet 63.9% of the pass attempts are no further than five yards down the field? That is what happens when the receivers cannot win one-on-one.
He called for the Chiefs to look to the trade market. Not necessarily a bad idea.
Me, personally? I'm sticking to patience. Watson has the speed necessary to become a deep ball threat situationally by season's end. Rashee Rice is just a rookie and coming along nicely, lkely to progress more. Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have been disappointing, but it's too early to write them off completely.
Plus, Mahomes has proven he can still win games even if all he has is non-WRs to get the passing game going. The Jets win wasn't pretty, but the job got done.
Should the Chiefs look to the trade market? Sure, why not. Surveying all options is always wise. But they shouldn't jump there just for the sake of trying to add to the locker room. This is a problem that can still be fixed internally.
Chiefs are on top of the AFC
Well, well, well, the Chiefs lead the AFC West. The Chargers, at 2-2, have had their defense run through week-in and week-out, and Kansas City looks like the easy favorite in the division.
Conference-wide? Kansas City is also at the top. The last remaining undefeated team, the Philadelphia Eagles, is in the opposite conference, which means the Week 1 loss has officially been made up by three consecutive wins for Kansas City.
Tied with them in the conference are the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens, also all 3-1.
One thing you have to like about the Chiefs chances of securing the No. 1 overall AFC record and a first-round bye in the playoffs is their strength of schedule. They have the eighth-easiest (25th-hardest) schedule remaining and the third-easiest in the AFC.
Buffalo has the 17th-hardest, Miami 21st, Baltimore 10th.
You have to like a Mahomes and Andy Reid-led team in every game. But you like it even more when the matchups are good.
The Chiefs do have the Dolphins and Bills on the docket this year, but both games are at home. Those will be great opportunities to further separate themselves in the standings if they keep winning the rest of their matchups.
Travis Kelce isn't distracted amid Taylor Swift situationship
The Chiefs are 2-0 when Taylor Swift is in attendance, but the public attention the situationship (relationship? I'm not sure if we're there yet officially) between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift has drawn is intense. It's easily gotten to a point where one has to wonder if the off-field noise is going to be an issue for Kelce or the Chiefs.
Answer? Probably not. Kelce is a consummate professional, after all.
Page Six reported what Chiefs fans already know well: "During the NFL season, his priority is the Chiefs," a source told the magazine. "It's all about the team."
The source also indicated that the connection is indeed just a situationship at this point, stopping short of saying the duo were dating. It said they were, "hanging out."
The hanging out is going to end in November, as Swift heads out for her international leg of The Eras Tour starting Nov. 9, getting a break at the end of the month. Notably, she's likely to also be out of the country during the Super Bowl in 2024, with her tour in Tokyo and Australia in February.
Very much high school vibes, but it seems to be working for Kelce, who had 60-plus yard games in both Swift-attedned contests. What better way to get the best out of your tight end than him wanting to show off for his new "friend"?
Perhaps most importantly? The article indicates the source said Donna Kelce is fond of Swift. Mom's approval? Go for it, Travis.
