A number of contenders had been lively across the 2023 NFL Commerce Deadline. The Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Buffalo Payments all made strikes to strengthen their rosters. — strikes with the purpose of dethroning the defending Tremendous Bowl Champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
After a second championship in 4 seasons, the Chiefs have appeared weak at instances, regardless that they’re tied for the most effective document within the AFC. They’d be alone atop the convention if not for enjoying just like the soccer was greased in a 24-9 loss to the Denver Broncos and their worst protection within the NFL.
It’s debatable that the Chiefs’ strongest unit in 2023 has been the protection. They’re fourth within the NFL in complete pressures, fifth in Defensive DVOA, and haven’t surrendered even 25 factors in a single recreation. Nevertheless, the featured attraction for Chiefs — apart from Travis Kelce’s luxurious field — is the offense. Many instances this season, that unit has appeared disconcerted. The younger extensive receiver corps has proven velocity, however restricted playmaking. A slight improve in that place may have been the elevate the Chiefs wanted to be the NFL’s first repeat champions for the reason that 2003-04 New England Patriots.
As of Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST, the Chiefs let the commerce deadline expire with out making a transfer. Which means Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, and Mecole Hardman will likely be relied upon to hold their share of the load within the passing recreation.
Even with Patrick Mahomes and Kelce, the offense has solely damaged 30 factors twice this season. In 2022, the Chiefs led the NFL in factors per recreation at 29.2. Their 2023 level totals is likely to be trigger for alarm at first look, however a better look reveals that the offense is in prime place to repeat.
The Chiefs’ offense is at present fifth in Offensive DVOA. For all the good they’ve gotten from their protection, the 2 items occupy the identical spot of their respective rankings. That makes the Chiefs certainly one of solely two groups whose offensive and defensive are each top-rated of their respective DVOAs. The opposite is the Baltimore Ravens, and the Detroit Lions.
A have a look at superior stats additionally reveals the Chiefs sitting fairly. They’re prime 5 in yards per play, factors per play, yards per drive, and scoring share. The Chiefs are additionally fourth-best within the NFL in third-down conversion share.
Whereas not lighting up the scoreboard the way in which that they did final yr, or in 2018, the offense remains to be top-of-the-line within the NFL. It’s led by three future Corridor of Famers in Kelce, Mahomes, and Andy Reid. The youth within the backfield and receiving corps are making simply sufficient performs to use as a lot strain on opposing defenses as any of the opposite prime NFL offenses.
Dominance appears to be like completely different on the Chiefs as of late. There won’t be as many 40-point totals this season, however they’re nonetheless a feared unit. Certain, they might have pushed for an addition on the deadline to attempt to preserve tempo with the Eagles, 49ers, and Payments.
Or, perhaps these groups made these strikes as a result of they nonetheless weren’t assured that that they had sufficient expertise to outpace the defending champs.
