Arrowheadlines: Laterals are the future of the NFL
Chiefs safety Justin Reid has contributed to the last two titles and is a trusted veteran in the secondary. He appeared as a guest in a recent episode of the ‘Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams’ to give his insight on a topic many have shown interest in, especially with tight end Travis Kelce…
Chiefs safety Justin Reid has contributed to the last two titles and is a trusted veteran in the secondary. He appeared as a guest in a recent episode of the ‘Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams’ to give his insight on a topic many have shown interest in, especially with tight end Travis Kelce and music superstar Taylor Swift.
“Absolutely. Who doesn’t play better when they want to impress their girlfriend?” said Reid, proudly praising the importance of having significant others attend games. “Taylor (Swift), come to all the games. Taylor, keep coming,”
Reid received a fantastic surprise during the Chiefs victory on Monday Night Football over the New Orleans Saints. In a sea of fans at Arrowhead Stadium, he spotted his girlfriend Marissa Rand holding up a sign revealing that she and the Chiefs defensive back are expecting their first baby together.
While the game commentators initially did not believe that Kelce’s sideways pass was planned, Chiefs coach Andy Reid later confirmed that it was a designed play. While, of course, such a move has been done many times before, experts report that NFL teams, including the Chiefs, appear to be increasingly taking a leaf out of the rugby playbook.
Sharing a clip of the moment online, one fan wrote: “This is literally a rugby play. It’s perfect.” Another added: “This is the future of the NFL,” while a third wrote: “Kelce [is a] confirmed rugby guy.”
One fan suggested: “A LRZ-inspired play maybe?” while another considered what would happen with Kelce and the Welshman sharing the field together, as they wrote: “Imagine if Rees-Zammit was still in the team!”
3. G Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith’s 82.7 PFF grade currently ranks fourth among all guards in the NFL this season, and he will still be only 25 years old when free agency opens next year. That’s a good combination for a big payday, given that multiple players at the position signed deals at or exceeding $20 million per year in 2024.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) (Last week: 1)
Week 5 result: Defeated New Orleans Saints, 26-13
Brady’s thoughts: ”Yup, they’re 5-0. We knew that and we actually kind of expected that, too. They continue to find a way. They’ve dealt with a lot of injuries this year. Patrick [Mahomes] was unfazed early going against a really tough Saints D. They’re a total, complete football team. They can win on offense. They can win on defense. They can win with the running game and the pass game. They’re good in a lot of areas, and they’re No. 1 on my list until someone can find a way to take them out.
“Some great games this coming weekend. Let’s see who finishes atop the power rankings after Week 6.”
6 – Patrick Mahomes
The numbers aren’t necessarily pretty for a former MVP. And he’s taking a lot of short stuff to compensate for the depth-tested weaponry. Yet the Chiefs are 5-0, in part because he’s come up with slippery scrambles or chain-moving darts when it matters most. His team is inevitable.
Reviewing 2024 preseason predictions for all 32 NFL teams | ESPN
Original prediction: The Chiefs will be the best offense in football in terms of EPA per play.
Why we’re throwing it out: They just haven’t been good enough thus far — they rank ninth through Week 5 — and I don’t see them improving to the point where they rank first, especially after the injuries to WRs Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (knee).
New bold prediction: CB Jaylen Watson will be a Pro Bowl alternate. Trent McDuffie being a big part of the solution to fill the void left by L’Jarius Sneed was expected. But Watson has played well, too, allowing 1.1 yards per coverage snap (better than average) and a minus-9 EPA when targeted, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Around the NFL
Spencer Rattler will start for New Orleans in their meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Dennis Allen announced on Wednesday.
“We talked a lot as a staff about what we felt like was the best thing for us and give us the best chance to win the game,” Allen said, via the team website. “That was the decision that we made and we’re excited about him getting the opportunity to go in there, and we’ll let him go play and see what he can do.”
Rattler has not yet appeared in a regular season game but performed well enough in preseason action (20 of 38, 202 yards, one touchdown) to get Saints fans talking quietly about his potential. Now that Carr has suffered an oblique injury that is expected to keep him out for multiple weeks, New Orleans is deciding to take a look at Rattler, who they’re choosing over backup Jake Haener. When Carr was injured Monday in the Saints’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Haener entered the game, while Rattler was the emergency third QB. Now he’ll be QB1.
Jets demote Nathaniel Hackett, tap Todd Downing to call offense | ESPN
On his second full day on the job, New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich made a major shake-up on his coaching staff, stripping the playcalling responsibilities from embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
The move, announced by Ulbrich on Thursday, has an added layer of significance because Hackett is an Aaron Rodgers confidant. One of the main reasons why Rodgers wanted to be traded to the Jets last year was his close relationship with Hackett.
The new playcaller is Todd Downing, a former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator who coaches the quarterbacks and holds the title of passing game coordinator. He will have “the full say on the game plan and, ultimately, the plays that are called within the game,” Ulbrich said.
“This is more a byproduct of a different take on things,” he said, explaining his rationale. “I’m not saying it’s a better or worse take on things by any means, but just a different take on things, a fresh approach.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Pride Bye Week Awards 2024: Defensive Player of the Year
VOTING: CB Trent McDuffie (8), LB Leo Chenal (1), DT Chris Jones (1)
Trent McDuffie was voted by the AP staff as the team’s defensive player of the year heading into the bye week. The third-year player has had a hot start to the season and has been one of the key cogs in the Chiefs fielding a top-ten defense.
McDuffie is the Swiss army knife of the Chiefs’ defense and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has weaponized this versatility, making him one of the most impactful defenders on the field.
This season, McDuffie has gone from playing sticky man coverage and shutting down No. 1 receivers, lurking in the box and helping out with Kansas City’s elite run defense, and, even in a few big moments, rushing the passer.
