With Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, it’s safe to say the days of smashmouth football are long gone in Kansas City.
But while Chiefs fans are happy Mahomes is averaging 300 yards a game passing for his career, they wouldn’t mind seeing a little more out of the run game — starting Sunday in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers.
The Chiefs rushed for just 58 yards last week against the Colts, and coach Andy Reid said he takes full responsibility for the lackluster performance.
“I can call those at the right time and the right situation,” Reid said. “And again, we all have a piece of it. We could block better, we could run better. We’re all taking a responsibility for that. We’ve got to do better, and we’ve got to identify the issue and work with it and get it fixed.”
Of those 58 yards rushing against the Colts, Mahomes had 26 while Edwards-Helaire had seven carries for zero yards, though he did score a touchdown.
Edwards-Helaire said there were several breakdowns in the run game, and the team is working to get those issues resolved.
“It was one of those games,” Edwards-Helaire said. “It’s football, and every day and every game can’t always be yours. It’s just one of those things that I felt like from an offensive standpoint that we shot ourselves in the foot.
“It’s something that all 11 have to look at each other and figure out these are the things that we need to do, and these are the things that we need to get done. You can’t sit there and pinpoint one thing or the other. It’s the O-line helps running backs, running backs help offensive lineman and receivers. It’s all a trickling-down effect.”
In three games this season, Edwards-Helaire has 22 carries for 116 yards (5.3 avg.) while also adding 12 catches for 115 yards (9.6 avg.) and two touchdowns.
“I pretty much say as soon as Coach Reid gives me this opportunity, go run this route,” Edwards-Helaire said. “That’s what I’m going to do – go run a route and catch the ball. So just seeing the opportunities and taking full advantage of those opportunities and being able to show that I can do it.”
Edwards-Helaire also showed what a good teammate he is as he talked to rookie Skyy Moore after Moore fumbled a punt that led to a Colts’ touchdown. Edwards-Helaire felt for his teammate, especially since he had a similar situation last year against the Ravens when he fumbled the ball late in the game.
“It’s football, and the only thing you can do is encourage the next guy,” Edwards-Helaire said. “Everybody gets put in those situations and you feel like at that point all eyes are on you. The only thing I can do is show you that all your guys are right here with you.
“And we’ve been through hell and back from the things we’ve been through in St. Joe. And not only that but a guy being so young, and having that experience, and it happening so early in the season, and it just feels like everything’s coming down you. And not to pinpoint bad things, but I even had a fumble that ended up losing us the game against the Ravens last year. And it’s something that everybody’s like it’s a team aspect, everybody lost the game. But I will always say that I felt like that was on me and that’s just what it is. But you try to get that individual person and let them know we’ve got their back.”
BUTKER SITS OUT PRACTICE
A day after returning to practice, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed Thursday’s practice with soreness. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Butker missing practice didn’t necessarily mean he would also miss Sunday’s game.
“It’s going to come down right to the end until we have to make that decision who’s going to be up and down,” Toub said.
TOWNSEND NAMED SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend has been named AFC special teams player of the month. Townsend averaged a league-best 55.6 yards on 11 punts, including a long of 75 yards.
Townsend also downed five punts inside the 20. It marks the second time Townsend has won the award, making him the only punter in team history to win the award twice.
