Clyde Edwards-Helaire makes scintillating debut for Chiefs against Texans

Clyde Edwards-Helaire somehow lived up to the hype in the Chiefs opening game.

From the moment the Kansas City Chiefs first turned in a draft card with Clyde Edwards-Helaire written on it, the buzz could not be ignored. Every talking head in the NFL and draft analyst on the web began to instantly talk about the “fit,” referring to how perfectly the running back’s game was suited for Andy Reid‘s offense.

The hype was overwhelming. It turns out it wasn’t loud enough.

On Thursday night, the Chiefs hosted the visiting Houston Texans for a rematch of last year’s postseason game in which K.C. put up 51 points on Bill O’Brien‘s team after coming back from a 24-point deficit. The game had plenty of angles to cover given the matchup, the big-name quarterbacks, the opening of the NFL season, and plenty of other stars—yet through it all, Edwards-Helaire made sure his name was mentioned early and often.

In the Chiefs season-opening win, Edwards-Helaire rushed 25 times for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. He did so while breaking a number of tackles, forcing defenders to miss or take poor angles on multiple plays. It provided the exact sort of dimension missing since the team cut Kareem Hunt late in the 2018 season.

Edwards-Helaire entered the league with a penchant for coming up big in the spotlight after a spectacular season that ended with a national championship with the LSU Tigers. He finished last season with the Tigers with 215 carries for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns. He caught another 55 passes for 453 yards through the air and another score. He had 164 yards from scrimmage in the national championship game against Clemson.

That level of experience certainly didn’t hurt Edwards-Helaire in his pro debut. For those who wondered what drafting a first-round running back would add to the league’s most potent offense, you know have your answer. Edwards-Helaire presents defenses with another emerging star on an offense already loaded for bear for the season ahead.

Edwards-Helaire’s skill set is what turned so many heads and drew comparisons to the likes of Darren Sproles or Maurice Jones-Drew or Brian Westbrook. Hall of Famer running back Terrell Davis, after the Chiefs made the pick, noted “the rich just got richer.”

If you thought the buzz on Edwards-Helaire was something during the offseason, just wait until he shows what he can do with more experience.