In Week 13, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched a playoff spot with a 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. On Sunday night, the Chiefs officially earned their ninth-straight AFC West title with a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
At 12-1, the Chiefs will look to continue to push their way toward securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. With games left in the regular season, Kansas City has a 1.5-game lead on the Buffalo Bills’ first place in the conference. (Buffalo would own the tiebreaker via a 30-21 win over the Chiefs on Nov. 17.
Issues at left tackle
The Chiefs have been winning despite one major issue on offense: the left tackle spot. During the Chiefs’ win over the Raiders in Week 13, Mahomes showed frustration while taking hits from Las Vegas defenders. Head coach Andy Reid chose to move Joe Thuney to left tackle during the game and bench second-year OT Wanya Morris.
Mahomes has taken 35 sacks in 2024, the most he’s taken in a single season during his eight-year NFL career. The most sacks he took before this season came in 2021, when he took 28 sacks. The hits have taken a toll on Mahomes stats, as the two-time NFL MVP has thrown for 3,189 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The Chiefs brought in veteran OT DJ Humphries in November to help solidify the left tackle spot. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 14. Kansas City listed him as doubtful to play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Earlier in the week, reports came out that the Chiefs could turn to Thuney to play left tackle while Humphries is out.
The Kansas City Chiefs have yet to decide on LT for Sunday
Per Pete Sweeney with Arrowhead Pride, Reid is “weighing options” on who to play at left tackle on Sunday.
“Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed he is still weighing options at left tackle for Sunday vs. Browns,” Sweeney posted on X. “He added they rotated several players in that spot this week.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed he is still weighing options at left tackle for Sunday vs. Browns. He added they rotated several players in that spot this week. https://t.co/28ib855pzN
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) December 13, 2024
Patrick Mahomes needs Reid’s decision to work out
The Chiefs were hoping rookie Kingsley Suamataia would be the team’s long-term solution at left tackle. However, he appears to be on the way to becoming a guard.
Kansas City needs to find a way to patch the offensive line before the postseason if they want a chance to three-peat. Mahomes hasn’t looked himself with the glaring issues at left tackle.
While Thuney is an exceptional guard, it could be in the team’s best interest to switch him to LT for the time being.
Reid has another day to decide and to hope Humphries’ hamstring improves.
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