Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs offense was as soon as on beefy repeat for the first time in 2023 Thursday.
The defending champions fell 21-20 to the Detroit Lions, and the absence of tight quit Travis Kelce was as soon as clearly felt.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes spread the ball spherical, which bodes decently for him relating to delusion football however now now not necessarily his receivers.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling led all Chiefs receivers with 48 yards, and Rashee Rice and Blake Bell hauled in touchdowns.
Rice, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore are weapons that the Chiefs search data from of to depend on this season, however the success of the three was as soon as now now not as expected.
Rashee Rice
Rice was as soon as truly one of Mahomes’ better weapons in the opener, as he caught a touchdown pass. He accomplished with three catches for 29 yards and the fetch however was as soon as less effective in the rushing game as he had one elevate for minus-three yards.
This comes on a gentle-weight evening for the Chiefs offense, so being in the receiving mix is a solid signal for his production. He’s with out anguish a solid add candidate as a extra productive day from the offense ought to fabricate significant better statistics. He’s clearly in Mahomes’ mix, however he is now now not necessarily truly one of his significant targets.
Kadarius Toney
Toney has been known as the crew’s “sure-decrease No. 1 receiver,” however that did now now not display veil Thursday evening. He had one capture for factual a single yard in the aerial assault and had one shuffle for minus-one yard in the bottom game.
Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak
Kadarius Toney at -2.19 expected facets added per diagram.
Place one other manner: throw the ball at Kadarius Toney 3 situations; the assorted crew ratings a touchdown pic.twitter.com/lR31n1Nzeo
This efficiency was as soon as mocked on social media, however it truly is important to display veil that he was as soon as missing for a natty piece of coaching camp. He’s inching toward drop territory, however the pain ancient previous ought to fabricate delusion owners decrease him some slack.
Skyy Moore
Toney a minimal of made an affect in the passing game. Moore was as soon as a statistical no-display veil in that aspect, making zero catches on three targets. He did like slightly extra success in the bottom game, having one shuffle for four yards, however his affect on the sport was as soon as restricted.
This lowlight efficiency didn’t reach with restricted reps either, as Nathan Jahnke of Authentic Football Center of attention reported that he was as soon as most attention-grabbing truly one of two skill keep gamers on the Chiefs with out a reception, and Moore had vastly extra snaps than his companion.
The enjoying time and not using a production is genuinely relating to and is now now not a swap from 2022. Moore would now not appear to be in Mahomes’ mix, even with him spreading things spherical, so the receiver would possibly be regarded as a drop candidate.
The output from the Chiefs offense was as soon as lackluster when in comparison with what it is going to fabricate. The crew had 226 yards in the passing assault and was as soon as held to factual 62 offensive plays. Kansas City most attention-grabbing held possession for 27: 22 and was as soon as now now not paying homage to the crew that led the league in offense a season previously.
Now not having Kelce (knee) in the lineup was as soon as a sure detriment, however Week 1 results fabricate now now not mean every part. Rice showcased some skill, however the performances from Moore and Toney are relating to to advise the least.
