Shifted offensive mindset
The Chiefs were forced this season by most opponents to adjust their offensive approach given that most everyone was playing them with two high safeties intended to shut down the deeper routes typically reserved for Tyreeek Hill and Mecole Hardman. It took some time but we began to see the Chiefs change their offensive tendencies and the results were trending well until recently.
Patrick Mahomes proved the Chiefs can still score 30-plus points in games where they allow drives to come to them, taking what they can get on underneath routes instead of forcing the big throw over the top. The same can be said as the Chiefs began to run the ball more, especially behind the interior power of left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith. The latter two are only rookies, but it looks as if they’ve given the Chiefs a power element to the game that they can use in the postseason and/or inclement weather.
It’s not the most exciting thing, and Mahomes himself has said he’s still learning here, but the Chiefs are going to have to adapt to a league that’s slowly adapted to them and we’re seeing the results in real-time.