Andrew Wylie deserves credit and blame
Ready for a multi-layered take? In the age where we’re just supposed to say players are great or horrible, the truth is that there’s a lot of nuance required when discussing things at right tackle for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs rolled with Andrew Wylie outside for the third consecutive game even with a bye involved—the fourth option down the depth chart. For Wylie to do his job well, it means not giving him any credit (after all, a lineman who does his job is an invisible player). For the most part, Wylie did a solid job given the task required and the Chiefs got the job done. That said, there were a couple moments when the offense stalled and the issue could be traced back to Wylie being overpowered.
Take the first half missed opportunity on a deep throw to Tyreek Hill. Mahomes saw him and reared back for a throw but Denver linebacker Stephen Weatherly made a move on Wylie and grazed the elbow of Mahomes. Just like that, some zip was taken off the ball and the pass fell harmlessly in the middle of the field. Instead of hitting Hill in stride for 30 or so yards, the Chiefs drive stalled and kept them from Denver away early.
Imagine the crazy planetary alignment that was required for Mike Remmers, Lucas Niang, and Kyle Long to go missing at the exact same stretch, but alas that’s the situation facing the Chiefs right now. Long is available and on the active roster. Niang is, too. Both guys were inactive on Sunday which shows us that the Chiefs believe they should be able to contribute sooner than later. But for now, Chiefs Kingdom has to take the good and the bad with Wylie out there.