Welcome to Arrowhead Pride’s weekly snap-count analysis!
Full disclosure: The late, great John Dixon, our former site manager who passed in April, was the mastermind behind collecting the NFL snap-count data we would present weekly on the site in recent years. I haven’t found the same accessibility. So we’ll use Pro Football Focus’s premium stats to collect snap-count data, a dependable database for such information that I’ve used personally for eight years covering the site.
So let’s see what we can figure out about the Kansas City Chiefs when taking a closer look at playing time during the 33-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. The starting lineups are courtesy of NFL Game Stats and Information:
Starters (offensive): LT Kahlil Benson, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jaylon Moore, QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Rashee Rice, WR Xavier Worthy, RB Kenneth Walker, TE Travis Kelce and TE Noah Gray
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Khyiris Tonga, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, S Jaden Hicks, CB Nohl Williams, CB Kristian Fulton, CB L’Jarius Sneed, S Alohi Gilman
Did not play: CB Mansoor Delane, QB Justin Fields
Inactive: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier (Emergency third QB), S Chamarri Conner (Knee), DE Jack Pyburn, OT Diego Pounds, LT Josh Simmons (Back), DT Byron Eason
The big takeaway: Xavier Worthy leads WRs
The Chiefs’ speedy third-year wideout led all wide receivers in snaps (69), ahead of Rashee Rice (63) and Tyquan Thornton (47). Worthy led the unit in run-blocking snaps (22), an interesting number compared to Rice (20) and Thornton (11).
The small-bodied receiver led the way in an offensive game plan that still handed the ball off to running back Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson 26 times.
However, Worthy produced just 25 yards over five catches; he averaged 0.54 yards per route run on Sunday night.
He was tasked with stretching the defense horizontally and vertically throughout the game, but so were Thornton (2.39 yards per route run) and Rice (2.02 yards per route run).
If Worthy isn’t the best blocker of the trio and isn’t as productive a receiver as the other two, why is he leading the room in snaps?
The Offensive takeaway: Noah Gray plays 40 snaps
After 38 snaps in Week 1, second tight end Noah Gray played 40 offensive snaps against the Colts. The 12-personnel sets kept auxiliary receivers Jalen Royals (12 snaps) and rookie Cyrus Allen (3 snaps) on the sideline. Gray blocked for a run or pass on 24 of his snaps.
Over two weeks, the move speaks to the Chiefs’ commitment to running the ball against opponents they need to beat. The Broncos’ pass defense was tougher, but both opponents were asking for a downhill run game right down their faces.
As the season wears on, it will be interesting to see whether Gray — who has just one catch for five yards — gets less time in favor of higher-potential playmakers in the receiving room.
The Defensive takeaway: R Mason Thomas has ‘pass-rush specialist’ playing time
Rookie defensive end R Mason Thomas logged 27 snaps for the Chiefs’ defense on Sunday night. Only six of those snaps were against the run, including a rep where he was washed out on the way to Colts running back Jonathan Taylor’s first of two touchdown runs.
Fourth-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah out-snapped Thomas overall, but saw the field for 5 fewer pass-rush opportunities. Still, Anudike-Uzomah was a more productive pass rusher, hitting the quarterback twice while Thomas registered just one pressure.
The Chiefs’ young defensive line has faced two strong units up front to start the season. Thomas stood out less against Indianapolis, and the team is clearly trying to maximize his strengths by altering the rotation to keep him fresh for pass-rush situations.
Offensive Snaps
Defensive Snaps
Special teams snaps
