In Week 14, the Kansas City Chiefs recorded a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers during ‘Sunday Night Football’ on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. While the Chiefs ultimately drove down the field to kick a game-winning field goal, it was anything but easy. The Chargers’ talented pass rush sacked quarterback Patrick Mahomes three times, hitting him a total of 13 times.
Kansas City’s offensive tackles had struggled during previous games, so fans were excited to see new left tackle D.J. Humphries start Sunday’s contest. Still, there were times it didn’t look much different; there were instances where Mahomes didn’t seem to be on the same page with his pass protectors or his receivers — and that led to him taking more hits.
This has been the story of the season. No other quarterback has been knocked down more often — and the hits are starting to add up.
Protection issues
Los Angeles wasted no time targeting Humphries, who had not played a snap of live football since he tore his ACL last December while playing with the Arizona Cardinals — and against the Chargers’ formidable edge rushers Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and Tuli Tuipulotu, he looked very much like someone who hadn’t played a live snap in nearly a year.
LAC delays their E/T twist just enough to allow 45 time to get home. Humphries initially gives up too much ground, and he tries to flatten out Mack but is overpowered. Thuney tries to pass it off, but the penetration makes it impossible. pic.twitter.com/1lk7Lg8t0H
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 10, 2024
On this play, Mack uses a combination of power and quickness to create penetration and open opportunities for his teammates. On the snap, he blasts into the B-gap, overpowering Humphries on his way into the backfield. Then Tuipulotu loops around from the inside. Since Humphries is outmatched, the Chiefs don’t have time to pass off the twist. Mahomes is slammed to the ground as the pass falls incomplete.
As he adjusted to the pace of the game, Los Angeles continued to pick on Kansas City’s left new tackle.
This play didn't have a chance. 3 beats Humphries clean off the snap. Baylor Cupp should not be blocking Bosa...
With the run action look this play was going to need some time to develop and LAC blew it up from the jump. pic.twitter.com/DSixst5SW1
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 10, 2024
Here, the Chiefs are setting up a shot play from a play-action look — one that will need Mahomes to have some time in the pocket. But on the snap, safety Derwin James flies up the field on a blitz. Humphries is a little late out of his stance, which allows James to blow past him. Running back Isiah Pacheco is also unable to pick him up. James’ quick pressure doesn’t allow enough time for Kansas City’s explosive play to develop — and James gets a sack.
While Mahomes was under pressure for most of the game, he still managed to make some incredible throws — even when he ultimately ended up on the ground.
This pass from Mahomes is incredible.
Mack wins the B gap and 0 loops all the way from the opposite B gap to the C gap. With both players closing in 15 delivers a perfect ball to Worthyin stride for a first down. pic.twitter.com/qZ4VnxQd2m
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 11, 2024
On this rep, Mahomes hangs in the pocket to deliver a critical third-down conversion. The Chargers run a super loop E/T twist. Mack once again powers through Humphries into the B-gap while the walkup linebacker loops around to the C-gap. They get to Mahomes simultaneously — but not before the quarterback fires a sidearm bullet to Xavier Worthy, who is running a shallow crossing route. Worthy makes the grab to record a first down.
Mahomes was getting rattled
Mahomes created a few issues on his own. After many weeks of getting hit, Mahomes appeared to be skittish in the pocket — and in a few instances, ran himself into pressure.
Pass protection is strange.
The left side of the line holds up, and Thuney gets a slab shot on Bosa. The right side plays the twist perfectly, but Mahomes runs ahead in the pocket and ends up being sacked.
Looks like 8 might have improvised a little too soon... pic.twitter.com/pGcqq7D3D1
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 10, 2024
On this red-zone play, the line creates a good pocket as Mahomes drops back to pass. It appears that wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Watson both come open on their routes — but instead of stepping up in the pocket, Mahomes takes off. This gives the Chargers’ defense a chance to attack. Mahomes ends up running himself into the pressure — and a sack.
Mahomes also could have helped himself against the blitz.
This is an example of a play where the Mahomes still gets hit despite the protection. Humphries caught up to the speed of the game and flattens down Mack. The rest of the protection holds, but the delayed blitzer gets through in time and brings him down. pic.twitter.com/DHsLLwDDYT
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 11, 2024
Here we see the Chiefs’ offensive line block the Chargers’ front well. Humphries does a nice job neutralizing Mack, giving him a little twist to finish the play. Unfortunately, Mahomes is hunting for a deep pass, so he holds the ball just a hair too long. A delayed blitzer from the secondary flies in at the last second. This forces Mahomes to chuck the ball. It falls incomplete — and Mahomes takes another hit.
With a delayed blitzer coming, it is Mahomes’ responsibility to either alter the protection or beat the blitzer himself by looking at a shorter route.
The bottom line
The hits Mahomes has been taking have become the offense’s primary problem; it’s the reason Humphries was brought in. But in his Kansas City debut, the new left tackle was up and down — and after sustaining a fourth-quarter hamstring injury, his status is up in the air. If he can return to the field, he will need to get back into shape — and regain his form.
Even worse, the hits he’s taken appear to have affected Mahomes’ confidence behind the line. This has led to the quarterback scrambling from clean pockets and missing open receivers.
The Chiefs are running out of time to find answers. In the last four games of the regular season, Kansas City will face a gauntlet of playoff teams — and the AFC’s No. 1 will be on the line. So as the team works on improving its pass protection, its best options are to depend on pass plays that will get the ball out quickly — and to run the football.