How did Kansas City use its players in Sunday’s game against Cincinnati?
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted their second straight home game, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — and once again, pulled out a last-second win.
How did the Chiefs use their players in Week 2’s 26-25 victory?
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Starters (offensive): WR Rashee Rice, TE Travis Kelce, LT Kingsley Suamataia, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor, TE Jared Wiley, TE Noah Gray, QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Isiah Pacheco.
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DE Michael Danna, DT Chris Jones, DT Mike Pennel, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Leo Chenal, CB Trent McDuffie, CB Jaylen Watson, S Justin Reid and S Bryan Cook.
Did not play: QB Carson Wentz.
Inactive: OL C.J. Hanson, OT Ethan Driskell, DT Marlon Tuipulotu and DE Cameron Thomas.
Offense
All
Pass
Run
Total
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Creed Humphrey
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Patrick Mahomes
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Trey Smith
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Jawaan Taylor
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Joe Thuney
60
(100%) 28
(100%) 32
(100%)
Travis Kelce
54
(90%) 26
(93%) 28
(88%)
Kingsley Suamataia
51
(85%) 23
(82%) 28
(88%)
Rashee Rice
49
(82%) 24
(86%) 25
(78%)
Isiah Pacheco
42
(70%) 20
(71%) 22
(69%)
Xavier Worthy
39
(65%) 20
(71%) 19
(59%)
Noah Gray
36
(60%) 13
(46%) 23
(72%)
Justin Watson
26
(43%) 15
(54%) 11
(34%)
Carson Steele
14
(23%) 4
(14%) 10
(31%)
Wanya Morris
12
(20%) 6
(21%) 6
(19%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster
12
(20%) 7
(25%) 5
(16%)
Jared Wiley
12
(20%) 4
(14%) 8
(25%)
Skyy Moore
5
(8%) 1
(4%) 4
(13%)
Samaje Perine
5
(8%) 4
(14%) 1
(3%)
Leo Chenal
2
(3%) 1
(4%) 1
(3%)
Mecole Hardman
1
(2%) 0
(0%) 1
(3%)
Offensive takeaways
* Without their uniforms, it might have been hard to recognize the Chiefs’ offense from its play-calling. The unit ran the ball 53% of the time. They ran it that much just twice in 2023, not at all in 2022 and just once in both 2021 and 2020. To be sure, Kansas City did this because Cincinnati was concentrating its defensive efforts elsewhere, essentially challenging the Chiefs to run the ball. Since the Bengals came close to beating the Chiefs — and for a while, someone other than Isiah Pacheco will be carrying the ball — could other teams adopt this strategy?
* We repeat: there is no indication that tight end Travis Kelce is getting time off. He was in for 88% of Week 1’s offensive snaps in Week 1 and 90% of Week 2’s. That’s a higher percentage of use than all but three of last season’s games. While his production hasn’t yet been noteworthy, it’s not because he hasn’t been on the field as much. Noah Gray and Jared Wiley’s percentage of use has also been consistent over the first two games: around 60% and 20% respectively.
* The Chiefs list Carson Steele as a fullback — and have given him the number that Anthony Sherman wore with distinction — but they’re not using him the way they used Sherman. The team’s longtime fullback was only rarely on the field for more than 10% of the snaps — and was consistently used for around 70% of the special teams reps. It’s only been two games, but Steele’s special teams snaps were cut in half after Week 1 — down to 35% — and he was in for 23% of the offensive plays. (This has little to do with Pacheco’s injury. The starter was hurt with only 2:00 left in the game). Even if another running back is brought in, it appears that Steele will be the starting running back against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
* Among the wide receivers, it looked very much like Week 1: Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy got the most use, followed by Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
* Linebacker Leo Chenal was on the field for two offensive snaps, becoming the fourth Kansas City player to participate in all three phases of a game since snap counts became a statistic in 2012. The others are Sherman, Dontari Poe and Khalen Saunders.
Defense
All
Pass
Run
Total
61
(100%) 39
(100%) 22
(100%)
Bryan Cook
61
(100%) 39
(100%) 22
(100%)
Trent McDuffie
61
(100%) 39
(100%) 22
(100%)
Nick Bolton
58
(95%) 36
(92%) 22
(100%)
Jaylen Watson
58
(95%) 39
(100%) 19
(86%)
Justin Reid
56
(92%) 38
(97%) 18
(82%)
George Karlaftis
52
(85%) 33
(85%) 19
(86%)
Chris Jones
49
(80%) 33
(85%) 16
(73%)
Drue Tranquill
48
(79%) 31
(79%) 17
(77%)
Michael Danna
43
(70%) 27
(69%) 16
(73%)
Tershawn Wharton
41
(67%) 27
(69%) 14
(64%)
Leo Chenal
31
(51%) 20
(51%) 11
(50%)
Chamarri Conner
27
(44%) 19
(49%) 8
(36%)
Nazeeh Johnson
21
(34%) 16
(41%) 5
(23%)
Mike Pennel
21
(34%) 10
(26%) 11
(50%)
Derrick Nnadi
13
(21%) 5
(13%) 8
(36%)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
12
(20%) 7
(18%) 5
(23%)
Malik Herring
6
(10%) 4
(10%) 2
(9%)
Joshua Williams
6
(10%) 3
(8%) 3
(14%)
Jaden Hicks
5
(8%) 1
(3%) 4
(18%)
Jack Cochrane
2
(3%) 2
(5%) 0
(0%)
Defensive takeaways
* There was a significant (if somewhat hidden) statistical difference between the Week 1 and Week 2 games. Against the Ravens, the defense was on the field for half again as many plays (74) as the offense (50). This was noticeable late in the game, as defensive players appeared to be worn out. But against the Bengals, the defensive players were able to get off the field more easily. They played 61 snaps, compared to 60 for the offensive players.
* As always, there were four defensive backs who were on the field for almost every rep: Safeties Bryan Cook and Justin Reid, along with cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Charmarri Conner and Nazeeh Johnson were primarily called upon as the fifth (and sometimes sixth) players in the secondary. Joshua Williams and Jaden Hicks each had only a handful of defensive snaps.
* Up front, George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Michael Danna and Tershawn Wharton led the way, with Mike Pennel and Derrick Nnadi subbing on the inside, along with Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Malik Herring rotating in on the outside.
* At the second level, the percentages for Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquil and Leo Chenal were all roughly the same as in Week 1.
Special Teams
Snaps
Total
26
(100%)
Jack Cochrane
22
(85%)
Chamarri Conner
22
(85%)
Jaden Hicks
22
(85%)
Joshua Williams
22
(85%)
Leo Chenal
17
(65%)
Cam Jones
16
(62%)
Noah Gray
15
(58%)
Christian Roland-Wallace
15
(58%)
Nazeeh Johnson
13
(50%)
Harrison Butker
9
(35%)
Mecole Hardman
9
(35%)
Carson Steele
9
(35%)
Peyton Hendershot
7
(27%)
Matt Araiza
6
(23%)
Nick Bolton
6
(23%)
Michael Danna
6
(23%)
George Karlaftis
6
(23%)
Derrick Nnadi
6
(23%)
Justin Reid
6
(23%)
Tershawn Wharton
6
(23%)
James Winchester
6
(23%)
Jaylen Watson
5
(19%)
Mike Caliendo
4
(15%)
Creed Humphrey
4
(15%)
Wanya Morris
4
(15%)
Hunter Nourzad
4
(15%)
Trey Smith
4
(15%)
Kingsley Suamataia
4
(15%)
Jawaan Taylor
4
(15%)
Skyy Moore
3
(12%)
Samaje Perine
2
(8%)
Justin Watson
2
(8%)
Special teams takeaways
* Williams, Hicks, Conner (and linebacker Jack Cochrane) were the special team unit’s four-phase players.
* 32 of the 47 Kansas City players who got on the field Sunday afternoon made special teams contributions. Along with specialists Harrison Butker, Matt Araiza and James Winchester, five other players — offensive linemen Mike Caliendo and Hunter Nourzad, cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace, linebacker Cam Jones and tight end Peyton Hendershot — played exclusively on special teams. (Hendershot has since been waived from the team).
All Snaps
Off
Def
ST
Total
Total
60
(100%) 61
(100%) 26
(100%) 147
(100%)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
0
(0%) 12
(20%) 0
(0%) 12
(8%)
Matt Araiza
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 6
(23%) 6
(4%)
Nick Bolton
0
(0%) 58
(95%) 6
(23%) 64
(44%)
Harrison Butker
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 9
(35%) 9
(6%)
Mike Caliendo
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 4
(3%)
Leo Chenal
2
(3%) 31
(51%) 17
(65%) 50
(34%)
Jack Cochrane
0
(0%) 2
(3%) 22
(85%) 24
(16%)
Chamarri Conner
0
(0%) 27
(44%) 22
(85%) 49
(33%)
Bryan Cook
0
(0%) 61
(100%) 0
(0%) 61
(41%)
Michael Danna
0
(0%) 43
(70%) 6
(23%) 49
(33%)
Noah Gray
36
(60%) 0
(0%) 15
(58%) 51
(35%)
Mecole Hardman
1
(2%) 0
(0%) 9
(35%) 10
(7%)
Malik Herring
0
(0%) 6
(10%) 0
(0%) 6
(4%)
Jaden Hicks
0
(0%) 5
(8%) 22
(85%) 27
(18%)
Creed Humphrey
60
(100%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 64
(44%)
Nazeeh Johnson
0
(0%) 21
(34%) 13
(50%) 34
(23%)
Cam Jones
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 16
(62%) 16
(11%)
Chris Jones
0
(0%) 49
(80%) 0
(0%) 49
(33%)
George Karlaftis
0
(0%) 52
(85%) 6
(23%) 58
(39%)
Travis Kelce
54
(90%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 54
(37%)
Patrick Mahomes
60
(100%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 60
(41%)
Trent McDuffie
0
(0%) 61
(100%) 0
(0%) 61
(41%)
Skyy Moore
5
(8%) 0
(0%) 3
(12%) 8
(5%)
Wanya Morris
12
(20%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 16
(11%)
Derrick Nnadi
0
(0%) 13
(21%) 6
(23%) 19
(13%)
Hunter Nourzad
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 4
(3%)
Isiah Pacheco
42
(70%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 42
(29%)
Mike Pennel
0
(0%) 21
(34%) 0
(0%) 21
(14%)
Samaje Perine
5
(8%) 0
(0%) 2
(8%) 7
(5%)
Justin Reid
0
(0%) 56
(92%) 6
(23%) 62
(42%)
Rashee Rice
49
(82%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 49
(33%)
Christian Roland-Wallace
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 15
(58%) 15
(10%)
Trey Smith
60
(100%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 64
(44%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster
12
(20%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 12
(8%)
Carson Steele
14
(23%) 0
(0%) 9
(35%) 23
(16%)
Kingsley Suamataia
51
(85%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 55
(37%)
Jawaan Taylor
60
(100%) 0
(0%) 4
(15%) 64
(44%)
Joe Thuney
60
(100%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 60
(41%)
Drue Tranquill
0
(0%) 48
(79%) 0
(0%) 48
(33%)
Jaylen Watson
0
(0%) 58
(95%) 5
(19%) 63
(43%)
Justin Watson
26
(43%) 0
(0%) 2
(8%) 28
(19%)
Tershawn Wharton
0
(0%) 41
(67%) 6
(23%) 47
(32%)
Jared Wiley
12
(20%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 12
(8%)
Joshua Williams
0
(0%) 6
(10%) 22
(85%) 28
(19%)
James Winchester
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 6
(23%) 6
(4%)
Xavier Worthy
39
(65%) 0
(0%) 0
(0%) 39
(27%)
Peyton Hendershot
0
(0%) 0
(0%) 7
(27%) 7
(5%)
Editor's Note: Chiefs Studios 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.
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/9/17/24247259/chiefs-bengals-snap-counts-defenders-get-some-rest?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
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