Handing out players grades from KC Chiefs vs Chargers in Week 17

It’s time to hand out our final round of regular-season player grades for the Chiefs.

This wraps up the regular season as the Kansas City Chiefs fell to the L.A. Chargers by a final score of 38-21. They ended the season with a 14-2 record and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Two of the players Chiefs fans and myself were hoping to see take some steps and snaps in this game, Willie Gay Jr. and Deandre Baker, went down with injuries and we are hoping for the best for both. While you hate seeing injuries happen to anyone, this shows the nature of the game and why resting star players makes some sense.

It is now time to hand out this week’s player grades and name our MVP.

Juan Thornhill: C

Well I guess that answered our question. This seems to me to be the most we’ve seen Thornhill in a while and that leads me to believe it is a case of the coaching staff not trusting him more so than injury. He hasn’t been the same since the torn ACL and with dwindling playing time this season, this was the staff trying to get him some snaps.

Thornhill played all right in this one—not where he was last year—but he made some solid plays out here and also a few where he looked lost. The tackle he had on Austin Ekeler, which you hate seeing injuries even to the other team, seemed to be a good, legal hit, just unfortunate that Herbert threw the ball there.

Mecole Hardman: D+

Man, I really like the kid, but he has not had a good season and the magnifying glass on the players that went before him make it look worse. I really think he has the tools to succeed and I wish him all of the best, but if he is going to struggle in the return game and as a receiver as well, he is going to see the field even less.

I was really expecting to see a lot more of Hardman in this game than a muffed punt that led to a Chargers touchdown (let’s just put no one back there to field punts) and 2 catches for 25 yards,

Chad Henne: B-

While Chad Henne didn’t look great, he was solid considering the circumstances. He threw 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, and although he wasn’t throwing deep, he didn’t have many miscues. I would have liked to see him try to push the ball downfield more, but throwing to 2nd and 3rd stringers while trying to minimize mistakes makes it somewhat understandable.

He is probably not going to be the guy to lead a team to a comeback victory with all of those checkdowns, but as a back-up, Henne was solid and that is all you need. Also, “Drunk Off Henne” is a fantastic fantasy football name.

BoPete Keyes: B

A mixed bag for Keyes. He got beat multiple times including some 1 on 1s against Mike Williams, but he played extremely hard and you could tell he wanted to be out there. Even when beat in man coverage, some of it came down to great work by Williams. I think this game showed some glimpses of what the Chiefs saw in Keyes when they traded back into the draft to select him.

Keyes might not be a lockdown starter, but if he can add depth and provide some snaps when needed, that is a solid career and one that can add value. He isn’t afraid to tackle, showcased by his total of 8 in this one, and Spags and Co. seem to get the most out of late-round cornerbacks. I expect to see him sticking around in K.C. next season.

Darwin Thompson: B-

Darwin gets a B- for his consistent involvement as well as some solid plays throughout. He picked up some tough yards throughout the game and fell forward on most of his carries, even if the numbers weren’t great. He played hard and was involved in the passing game even though he had 2 bad drops. He did have a 37-yard reception as well as a touchdown through the air.

Thompson had a couple of poor plays including the previously mentioned two drops and he wasn’t able to pick up a yard on a fourth down attempt. As a whole, however, he played pretty well and was better than the numbers indicated.

I am not sure what the future holds for him, since this game didn’t showcase him as a lead back anytime in the future. He is a fine backup and he had a solid game.

Tim Ward: MVP

Awesome. You love seeing these stories of undrafted guys who work hard and get to realize their dreams to have an impact in the game. Getting his first sack in his career was great, plus Ward added 5 tackles and hit Herbert twice. Also, his jump on that sack was wild. That was one of the best jumps I have seen from anyone all season.

https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1345873794590789632

Ward showed some intense hustle and determination throughout, including chasing down and saving a Justin Jackson touchdown. He obviously wasn’t the most decorated guy coming out of college, but getting your first career sack and having a good game is a great way to start building and making a name for yourself.

Here’s to Tim Ward, the 14-2 Chiefs, and having a 1st round bye!