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Ranking the biggest disappointments for the KC Chiefs in 2020

By Byron Smith

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Wide receiver Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after making a catch for a two-point conversion against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Wide receiver Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after making a catch for a two-point conversion against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Devin Duvernay #13 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Devin Duvernay #13 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

3. Special Teams struggles a bit

Before someone says something, yes, Harrison Butker and the Chiefs special teams unit nailed three 50-plus-yard field goals in L.A. to win the game. Yes, this was impressive. No, it does not undo the mistakes made by Dave Toub’s players early this year.

Let’s start with Butker, who is 10 of 13 on extra point attempts and 7 of 8 on field goals. He is kicking touchbacks on 60.9 percent of his kickoffs. The Chiefs are allowing the most yards on kickoffs in the league on Butker’s kickoffs, and are the only team in the league to have given up a return TD this season (Devin Duvernay’s long touchdown from Week 3).

On the other side of the kick is Mecole Hardman (primarily, although Tyreek Hill has fielded a punt that he fair caught, and Armani Watts grabbed an onside kick against Houston) who has had an underwhelming season overall in 2020. He has fair caught or passed on almost every punt sent his way, only choosing to return 2 punts for a total of 23 yards. When receiving kickoffs, he has only chosen to return three kicks, for a total of 70 yards, only one of which went farther than the 25 yard line.

Sure, the special teams is probably suffering from the same problems that every other player is struggling with thanks to the complications that Covid-19 put on the 2020 NFL season. But that does not make these struggles any less concerning for the Chiefs moving forward.

There is a shining upside for the Chiefs’ special teams unit name Tommy “Tarzan” Townsend. Tarzan has a leg on him, averaging 50.6 yards per punt on 13 punts, with a 65 yard punt currently representing his longest of the season. He has put 4 punts inside the opposing 20 and only 4 punts in the end zone for a touchback.

Although punters do not get much action in the Mahomes era of Chiefs’ football, Townsend has been a star in his showings thus far and is definitely proving his worth thus far.

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