The Chiefs had some good performances in Week 8's loss to the Broncos, but unfortunately they're outweighed by the bad performances.
It was an up-and-down Week 8 game for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos, and it came down to the wire.
At times, things looked extraordinarily difficult for both offense and defense. It was reminiscent of Week 7's loss against the Seattle Seahawks. At other times, it felt like the team learned a few things about itself. They battled all afternoon, with the Broncos surging back in the fourth quarter to take a late lead. It all came down to Patrick Mahomes and the offense in crunch time. Typically, that means the Chiefs have the opponent right where they want them. This time? No dice.
With that in mind, here's a breakdown of the winners and losers from Week 8's game.
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Winner: RB Emmett Johnson
The Chiefs' answer to a bottled-up running game and an inconsistent wide receiver room? Unleash rookie RB Emmett Johnson in the passing game. He was unguardable in the first half, catching all three of his targets for over 100 receiving yards. That included a tremendous 73-yard touchdown reception, which was the longest play by a Chiefs RB since Damien Williams took a run for 84 yards against the Chargers in 2019. Johnson's 119 receiving yards in the first half are the most by a Chiefs player in a game this season, just edging out Tyquan Thornton's 111 yards in Week 4. He added a 15-yard carry and a third-down conversion in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he had a four-yard reception on third-and-3 that was one of the biggest plays of the game. He had a 44-yard kick return in crunch time. The rookie showed big-time poise and ability in Week 8. It's too bad that it was all wasted.
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Winner: DE George Karlaftis
The Chiefs still have issues with their pass rush, but Karlaftis isn't part of them. He plays with his hair on fire every snap and has been relentless as an edge rusher this season. He notched a sack and batted down three passes in Week 8's game against Denver. That brings his total to two for the season and his pass-batting total to eight. Without Karlaftis, I am not sure where this defensive line would.
Winner: DB Jadon Canady
The Chiefs have some injuries in the defensive secondary and needed somebody to step up in Week 8. That player was Chiefs fourth-round draft pick, Jadon Canady. He didn't play much up to that point, but in his first significant action on defense, he made several key plays. None was more important than a tough open-field tackle that forced a fourth-down punt. While he allowed two receptions on the day, he only allowed three yards into his coverage. Sumer Sports noted that he made two impact plays on defense on Sunday, which was the most of any Chiefs player in the secondary. He did have a holding penalty on special teams, bringing the K.C. penalty total to nine penalties on the day. Still, the good outweighed the bad here.
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Winner: WR Rashee Rice
The difference on the offensive side of the ball with Rashee Rice on the field vs. off the field was palpable for Kansas City. That was evident when he quickly put together a 3-for-3 receiving performance for 26 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. He finished with several tough catches across the middle of the field. He finished the game with 7 receptions on eight targets for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Loser: HC Andy Reid
There are a few reasons that Reid will draw ire on this one. A cowardly punt on fourth-and-one (with centimeters to go) when you could've simply run a sort of QB sneak is at the top of the list. Beyond that? This game was one of the most undisciplined performances this team has put up in a long time. They had 11 penalties for 105 yards, and every phase of the game had those errors. Special teams had several, per usual. The offense made several unforced errors, including false starts and ineligible man downfield. In a key moment, an unnecessary roughness penalty on S Alohi Gilman let the Denver Broncos get right back into the game in the fourth quarter. The worst of them all? A false start on the one-yard line to push the Chiefs back in the red zone. The players have to execute, but a lack of discipline falls squarely on the coach.
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Loser: WR Cyrus Allen
I struggle to put Allen here, but his effort on his lone deep target on 3rd-and-7 was disappointing. He slowed down on the play, and had he simply run through it, he would've had a chance at a long reception and a touchdown. Maybe slowing down is why he looked open, but Mahomes gave the kid a chance. He caught his two other targets for 20 yards. It was a rookie mistake on a play where his number hasn't been called often this season. Still, it felt like his chance to become a bigger part of the offense in Kansas City. It slipped through his fingers, and he'll continue to be eased along
, as he has been all season.
Loser: LG Kingsley Suamataia
I know many Chiefs fans are frustrated with Andy Reid over his decision to bench Suamataia
. However, the frustration should lie with Suamataia for putting Reid in the position of having to bench him. He's the one who is proving unreliable when his team needs him. Reid said that the team and Suamataia would be better off after benching him the first time back in Week 4's game against the Raiders. Clearly, that hasn't happened yet. Perhaps they'll make a more permanent change at the left guard position moving forward.
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Loser: Harrison Butker
Up until the fourth quarter, Harrison Butker had a solid day. He made all of his extra points and a 45-yard field goal. The Chiefs went to Butker on a 54-yarder that would've put them up by six points. It had the distance, but he pulled it to the right. Kansas City didn't exactly set him up for success here. You wanted to give him confidence, but a 54-yarder in the rain was a gamble. They lost that gamble. It set up a long reception that gave the Broncos first-and-goal, then a five-yard touchdown run by Jonah Coleman to put Denver up. It begs the question: Will Butker kick in Week 9, or will it be Justin Tucker?
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 4 Winners and 4 Losers from Kansas City Chiefs' Week 8: Lack of discipline comes back to bite during letdown loss in Denver
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