KC Chiefs: Tyrann Mathieu makes his impact felt immediately with pick-six vs. Ravens

Tyrann Mathieu missed the K.C. Chiefs season opening game because he’d missed so much time due to being on the team’s COVID/reserve list before they hosted the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. On Sunday night, Mathieu made his impact felt within the first two throws from Lamar Jackson, as he took an errant throw to the house for a pick-six on the Baltimore Ravens’ first drive of the game.

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Mathieu was missed last week as the Chiefs allowed the Browns offense to basically execute their game plan to perfection for three full quarters. The Browns ran as they wanted with a two-pronged attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and Baker Mayfield looked like one of the league’s best quarterbacks in the process. Fortunately the Chiefs still pulled things together when it mattered most on defense (and it helps to have the heroics of someone like Patrick Mahomes under center).

Mathieu said he was wanting to play but it was Reid’s call at the last minute to keep him out in Week 1,. Perhaps he was too weak from having not played, but the Chiefs are in this for the long haul. They also kept out defensive end Frank Clark in the same way with a hamstring injury, knowing they are aiming for a deep postseason run, so there’s no need to push any important player to hurry up and play so early in the season.

The Chiefs and Mathieu have been discussing, even publicly, a long-term contract extension. As if the franchise needed any reminder, Mathieu is the man for the Chiefs in the secondary and the sort of emotional and productive leader that will help put them back over the top again in 2021.