The K.C. Chiefs are looking for a way to rebound from their heartwrenching loss to the Baltimore Ravens as they face the L.A. Chargers ahead on the schedule in Week 3.
It would be fitting if running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was able to lead that charge.
Last Sunday, in the final 90 seconds of the Chiefs-Ravens game in primetime, Edwards-Helaire was given the ball in Baltimore territory to help grind out a few more yards, kill some of the clock, and set up the Chiefs for a game-winning field goal. Instead, rookie defensive end Odafe Oweh punched the ball out of Edwards-Helaire’s hands, forcing a fumble and gifting the win to the Ravens in the game’s final seconds.
The Chiefs like what they see from Clyde Edwards-Helaire this week.
Just like that, Edwards-Helaire became a whipping post of sorts in Chiefs Kingdom, a player who already has the banner of former first-round pick consistently hanging overhead. The narrative around CEH is often negative as it is, given that he’s put up moderate production in the face of lion-sized expectations. Then came the fumble.
After the game, Edwards-Helaire’s teammates were not only quick to defend him, but they also stated they reminded him that he has to put it all out of his mind and move on. On Thursday, Eric Bieniemy said CEH is taking things to heart. Apparently Edwards-Helaire is already standing out in practice, a good sign of things to come.
#Chiefs: EB says yesterday was Clyde's most "prolific practice" -- he continued --
— McKenzie Nelson (@McKenzieMNelson) September 23, 2021
"sometimes you need to be humbled and things happened and for whatever reason, we had to go through that experience."
"Clyde is a tremendous football player."
— Adam Orduna (@AdamKCTV5) September 23, 2021
"He will learn from this."
"You still put your arm around him."#Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy said in reference to RB CEH and the fumble lost to the Ravens.
This weekend, Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs will host the Chargers in a key division battle that will push one of the two franchises into the divisional basement of the AFC West with a potential two-game deficit before them after just three games. That’s not an insurmountable difference, but it will certainly be a wake up call for either team.
If the Chiefs can get Edwards-Helaire to begin to showcase his talents in the same sort of impactful way that Kareem Hunt did a couple years ago, this offense can certainly go to another level. For CEH’s benefit (and reputation) that sort of breakout effort would put a lot of criticism to bed.
Edwards-Helaire has 27 carries for 89 yards rushing while catching 3 passes for another 29 yards through 2 games.