The numbers that truly matter are "four" and "zero," as in the Kansas City Chiefs' unblemished record after the first month of the season. After their road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chiefs are the class of the AFC, with a one-game lead over literally every other team. Those numbers do the most talking.
But those aren't the only stats we're concerned with. Snap counts are an intriguing way to view player usage and coaching trends and overall health. The Chiefs' game against the Raiders revealed a few things, especially on the defensive side, that grabbed our attention.
Safeties get some rest for once
It's quite amazing to see just how much rest the safeties were able to get on Sunday with the return of Chamarri Conner from a knee injury. Conner missed the end of the preseason as well as the first three regular-season games, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gave him plenty of reps. Conner played 75 percent of all defensive snaps, which allowed Alohi Gilman to at least take a few plays off after playing 100 percent of all snaps through the first three weeks. Jaden Hicks got even more downtime with only 35 percent compared to 100 percent in Weeks 1-3.
Chris Jones is feeling better
Chris Jones has been nursing a calf injury in the first month of the new season, despite the fact that he's practiced and played every week. But the Chiefs have kept a close eye on his usage rate, easing him along as the season progresses. In Week 1, Jones played 55 percent of snaps. In Week 2, the total climbed to 68 percent. Against the Raiders, Jones was in on 81 percent of snaps, which hopefully proves he's feeling better. That said, rookie Peter Woods was also in the blue tent for a stretch, so perhaps that's an anomaly. But Jones has been trending up all the same, so we'll see if this is where he stays after the bye.
Jalen Royals is up
The Chiefs are likely going to go shopping during the bye week to acquire some wide receiver help, especially if the evaluations on injuries to Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice come back with concerning results. But any new acquisition is going to need time to adjust, and there's still room for Jalen Royals to make an impact with the opportunity in front of him. His rookie campaign was a redshirt season, but he jumped from 19 percent to 63 percent of snaps between Weeks 3 and 4. He's a clear substitute for Rice, so the situation is fluid, but his time is now.
R Mason Thomas is a real factor
R Mason Thomas has already proven himself to be a tremendous addition as a speed rush option off the edge, but he's starting to earn more and more trust of Spags and his assistants. Instead of occasional reps as a situational pass rusher, Thomas played on 60 percent of all snaps on Sunday, and his count of 50 was the highest of the season. Seeing how dominant he was in the fourth quarter should alleviate any concerns about how he'll hold up with greater usage.
A rested Drue is a good thing
The Chiefs' linebackers looked good on Sunday, and veteran Drue Tranquill had a standout effort with several important stops. It's interesting, then, to look at the fact that he played less than he has yet this season. The return of Chamarri Conner and the Raiders' game plan altered Spags' usage rates, but Tranquill went from starting 98, 97, and 85 percent in Weeks 1 to 3, respectively, to a mere 65 percent on Sunday. Was it that extra rest that allowed him to play so well even deep into the fourth quarter of an intense game? That's why we look at these things.
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