AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Within the 2023 NFL season opener on Thursday, it was obvious that this year’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offense seems vastly varied from the excessive-powered unit that has dominated the league for the past 5 years.
Patrick Mahomes and his original crop of large receivers struggled in the absence of megastar tight close Travis Kelce as the defending champion Chiefs suffered a 21-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on their dwelling discipline at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes accomplished 21 of his 39 passes for 226 yards, two touchdowns and an interception whereas additionally main the crew with 45 speeding yards on six carries. No receiver on the crew reached the 50-yard designate, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling main the manner with 48 yards. Rashee Rice and Blake Bell were on the receiving close of Mahomes’ touchdown passes.
The Chiefs entered the year with an unproven receiving corps beginning air of Kelce, and it showed in a foremost manner. Multiple receivers had key drops in the course of the game no matter Mahomes’ appropriate ball placement. His interception got here on a dropped pass and was returned for a touchdown by Lions rookie Brian Branch.
Same old first-round use Kadarius Toney, who entered the year with excessive expectations, had a demoralizing outing with one eradicate for one yard on 5 targets with more than one key drops. Promising 2d-year wideout Justyn Ross was nonexistent with one eradicate for six yards.
Followers on social media were no longer chuffed with how the Chiefs receivers let Mahomes and the remainder of the crew down in the season opener:
Mina Kimes @minakimes
Me: Patrick Mahomes can pick throwing to anybody
The Chiefs WRs: pic.twitter.com/Lx4K0YmH3M
B/R Gridiron @brgridiron
Mahomes is NOT chuffed along with his receivers pic.twitter.com/PDSO8LHlch
Bleacher Document @BleacherReport
Mahomes staring at his receivers plunge passes pic.twitter.com/NprOhCwGzh
Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak
Kadarius Toney at -2.19 expected capabilities added per target.
Put one more manner: throw the ball at Kadarius Toney Thrice; the more than a few crew rankings a touchdown pic.twitter.com/lR31n1Nzeo
🦦✨The usa Is Same old✨🦦 @DragonflyJonez
Mahomes is so unbelievable at placing the ball in the window the set apart his guy can procedure a play on it but the defender can not. And his guys factual ain’t cashing out. Dependable/mountainous receivers procedure a lot of catches that were drops tonight. It is like Magic hitting dudes in the face with out a-seems
Bartholomew Willijax @B_Willijax
I was called a nonball knower and “mind useless” for suggesting the Chiefs would desire a WR by mid season.
NO QB can procedure it work with WR5-Practice Squad stage receivers. No longer even Mahomes, especially without Kelce. https://t.co/SBUGfiosva
It is factual one sport, but Kansas Metropolis has a foremost discipline to address. With out a confirmed megastar on the beginning air, it shall be demanding for Mahomes to proceed his dominance and it is miles going to procedure the crew’s quest for a 2d straight Colossal Bowl title even more challenging.
The Chiefs will see to soar back entering into Week 2 in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 17 in a rematch of final year’s AFC Divisional Spherical playoff sport.
