Film room: Travis Kelce is Chiefs MVP against Ravens

Kansas City won a game with enormous playoff implications on Sunday. Who came up big in the game and who didn’t? We discuss our MVP, LVP, and Unsung Hero.

The Kansas City Chiefs needed to have a good game to knock off the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. With one of the best defenses in the NFL and an athletically gifted offense, Baltimore offered a unique challenge. Fortunately, the Chiefs were ready for it.

After most of the game was dominated by Kansas City, quarterback Lamar Jackson made a series of lucky throws that moved the ball down the field to make it interesting in the end. That did not stop Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs from moving on to 3-0 on the season.

This win was easily the biggest of the early part of the season. In such an important game, who was this week’s MVP, LVP, and Unsung Hero? We discuss.

MVP: TE Travis Kelce

The Ravens had no answer for Kelce throughout the game. Over and over again, Patrick Mahomes would find Kelce wide open in the middle of the field. While Kelce is a natural mismatch, he was particularly good against the pass defenders in this one.

This is one of the most underrated aspects of Kelce’s game. His ability to feel his way open in a zone is an elite trait. Mahomes is beginning to make Kelce his safety blanket and it is clear to see why.

When Mahomes snaps the ball, Kelce and the running back are the only to receivers to his left. Mahomes checks the running back and Kelce places himself directly in the center of the opening in the zone. While it may look like an easy play from Kelce, you don’t get that wide open for no reason.

This is definitely something I missed when I was watching live. This could have been six points if Patrick Mahomes places the ball to the inside. The safety bites on his look to the left and Kelce is all alone with Brandon Carr. Kelce may not be as fast as he once was, but he is still unbelievably smooth in and out of his routes. Kelce makes a quick move to the outside and in a flash is moving back up-field. While it was an incomplete pass, Kelce was dominant all game long.

LVP: LB Anthony Hitchens

While Antony Hitchens has shown signs of growth under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, on Sunday, he looked a bit like his old self. At times, he took bad angles. Other times he was a step too late. While he didn’t have a horrendous game, Anthony Hitchens ends up as this week’s LVP recipient.

Hitchens was not last year bad on Sunday; he was just a touch behind some plays. He would find himself looking in the wrong place, not being aware of his surroundings, or being a tick too slow to close in on a tackle. Being too slow is the case here.

On this play, Mark Ingram takes the handoff and begins to run to the right. Instead of crashing hard to fill the gap, Hitchens tries to stay back in case Ingram tries to cut back. When Hitchens finally decides to crash, it is too late. He is swallowed by an interior lineman.

Unsung Hero: RB Darrel Williams

Not only did Darrel Williams ice the game on a brilliant screen pass, but he also showcased his incredible balance of size and speed. For the Chiefs, Darrel Williams filled in masterfully for the injured Damien Williams. Darrel Williams had a career day and showed off the Chief’s depth at the running back position and the Ravens were caught off guard.

There are a number of unsung hero candidates for this game including Tyrann Mathieu and Emmanuel Ogbah, but no one had a more impressive game than Darrel Williams. Williams was effective and showcased real NFL talent throughout the game. With great power and vision, Williams had a career day.

This is more impressive the more that I watch it. Watch as Williams takes the snap and the defensive lineman shoots the gap. Judon, the defensive lineman gets push to the middle of the field; precisely where the play is designed. Williams turns upfield on a dime and gets eight yards where it seemed like he may go for a loss.

This is what sealed the game for the Chiefs. It was a brilliant play call, brilliant blocking, and a brilliant catch and run for Darrel Williams. Williams sells that he is staying in to block and Mahomes sells that he is throwing the ball to the other end of the field. Williams moves to his spot perfectly giving himself plenty of space. Austin Reiter, who has struggled, delivers an excellent block to spring him for the game-clinching first down.

Previous weeks:

Week 1:

MVP: WR Sammy Watkins

LVP: CB Charvarius Ward

Unsung hero: LB Damien Wilson

Week 2:

MVP: WR Demarcus Robinson

LVP:C Austin Reiter

Unsung hero: CB Kendall Fuller