Chiefs' stat spotlight: Mahomes' moxie, turnover surprises, and tight end dominance

Week 14 is among us and the Kansas City Chiefs are 11-1, in first place atop the AFC, and one win away from clinching their ninth-straight AFC West championship. Unfortunately, the Chiefs have to grab that victory out from the jaws of the Los Angeles Chargers who are 8-4 and currently hold the fifth spot in the AFC playoffs if they were to start today.

While the Chiefs have already clinched their playoff tickets, the Chargers have a 92% chance of making the playoffs if Kansas City comes out victorious on Sunday Night Football. But, heading into that key matchup, some statistics really put this game in perspective on both sides of the field.

Let's look at some surprising stats and key observations heading into Week 14:

Left tackle situation shows just how good Mahomes is under pressure

It's quite obvious that the Chiefs' biggest problem, at least on offense, is the lack of consistent talent at the left tackle position. Both Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia have not performed at the level that is expected and Patrick Mahomes is the one reaping all the consequences of their mistakes.

For starters, Mahomes had only endured a five-game sack just once in the six seasons prior to this year (Week 10, 2018 in a 26-14 win against Arizona). But so far it's happened twice this season, both coming in these past two back-to-back games.

Even though Mahomes has been sacked 32 times—already four more than any season in his career despite there still being five weeks left in the season—he has made some key plays. In fact, Mahomes has a 90.7 grade under pressure over the past four weeks, which is first in the NFL.

Luckily the Chiefs' recently added left tackle D.J. Humphries, who will likely be starting his first game in red and yellow this Sunday night at home against Los Angeles. That could prove to solve plenty of question marks about this offense, or at least help Mahomes stay cleaner in the pocket even though he completes 46.8% of his passes under pressure.

Not only is he completing passes despite hands in his face and defenders down his neck, but he's also doing a great job making big-time throws when possible. At the moment, Mahomes is ninth in passing yards (2,979) despite being pressured on 115 dropbacks—second-most behind C.J. Stroud (138). So many of those yards came on outlet passes when the pocket collapses, but Mahomes has put together nine big-time throws which is tied for fourth-highest behind guys like Josh Allen (13) and Joe Burrow (12).

That pressure reared its ugly head from the left side of the Chiefs' line this past week versus the Raiders. So much so that Amazon Prime and Next Gen Stats let fans know during the broadcast, stating that Morris beat his previous record of 11 pressures allowed at LT back in 2023. Those 12 pressures allowed on the left side of the line were the second-most in a game by a Chief since Mahomes took over back in 2018, second only to Eric Fisher in his final season (2020). Luckily, Morris was benched with only a few minutes to go in the fourth quarter, allowing him to not rack up any more pressures.

Outside of literal pressure being applied to Mahomes in the pocket, he has also faced pressure at the end of nearly every game yet he's come away with miraculous wins. Up to this point in the season Mahomes has already come away with four fourth-quarter comebacks (most in the NFL) and six game-winning drives, which is double that of the next-best quarterbacks.

That ability to not panic late in close games has already proven its worth over and over again with Mahomes (just look at his trophy case) but it's even more important this season as 307 of the 388 games (79.1%) have been decided by one score or less.

No turnovers? No problem.

The second-biggest issue on the Chiefs can be accredited to their secondary as well as the pressure that the defensive line has not been able to produce. But, despite all that the Chiefs are still winning and pulling gutsy victories even when they simply can't force turnovers like they used to.

Just days before Week 14's matchup against L.A., the Chiefs have only forced ten turnovers, tied for fourth-least in the NFL behind the likes of Las Vegas (5), Jacksonville (8), and the Giants (9) who are all already looking at next year's draft board instead of the playoff picture.

What might be the craziest statistic of the week is the fact that those 10 turnovers are the fewest amount of takeaways by a team with 11+ wins through 12 games in NFL history. Just barely beating the 2016 Cowboys (11) and leaping over the 2020 Chiefs who had only forced 19 turnovers by this point when they eventually started 14-1.

This isn't a shock to those that have been watching though, especially considering how many years Mahomes has had a rusty defense to work around instead of a rusty offensive line. In fact, since Mahomes became the starter the Chiefs are far and away the best team with a negative turnover differential, hosting a 24-19 record (.558) with Buffalo at 16-23 (.410) being the only other team above .400.

The NFL average during that time is .210.

Some random stats before you go

1) Kansas City has used 2 or more tight ends on 52.7% of their offensive plays this season, the most in the NFL and only team over 50%.

- This team knows it's got an issue with pass protection and they have already been stacked at the tight end position, meaning they have the tools to help when needed.
- The tight end position has been lethal under Andy Reid for most of his entire coaching career, but when he has talents like Travis Kelce and Noah Gray able to block, chip, and then get out on the flat it's a no-brainer.
- A few extra blockers for a rejuvenated Isiah Pacheco and a worn-down Kareem Hunt never hurt anybody.

2) Noah Gray is once again the highest-graded Chief at the end of the day, this time scoring an 87.7, he has topped the list three times this season (team-high)

- The contract extension at the beginning of the season looks better and better every week, Brett Veach truly knew what he was getting when picking Gray out of Duke.
- Kelce's time as TE1 may truly be coming to a close right in front of our eyes, but the rise of Gray is also coming to fruition at the same time which should give everyone some comfort heading into the inevitable.
- Gray has Mahomes' complete trust no matter where he is on the field, and it shows when he continues to haul in an average of 31.1 yards per game. Hopefully this means Mahomes targets Gray as his last outlet more and more like he has with Kelce since entering the league.

3) Marquez Valdes-Scantling has four touchdowns in one month as a New Orleans Saint. He had three during his two-year tenure in Kansas City. He also has catches of 67 and 71 yards as a Saint, both longer than his 57-yard long as a Chief.

- Sometimes certain players don't fit your scheme or underperform when given a different task than they were used to at their previous organization.
- MVS is now playing for a new contract every single game unlike his time in KC where he had already secured the bag and could play a diminished role as Rashee Rice, Gray, and others grew into bigger roles.
- Being a pseudo-WR1 in New Orleans allows MVS more opportunities than he had as a glorified WR2 in Kansas City. No matter what, we're happy he's succeeding no matter what jersey he's wearing!