Several issues surround the Kansas City Chiefs following a mind-numbing loss to the Denver Broncos. Offense is where the most maddening results have occurred over the last two games. You could point to a few different factors holding the Chiefs back on that side of the ball.
Let’s focus on the role of a certain offensive weapon for Kansas City. Simply put, Tyquan Thornton deserves to be playing more snaps when the Chiefs possess the football. He only received 16 offensive snaps in the loss at Denver. On special teams, he had almost the same amount of snaps (13).
Those 16 offensive snaps were just a measly 23 percent of Kansas City’s offensive plays against the Broncos. While it was far too low for Thornton, he made the most of his opportunities. He came down with an unreal contorted catch deep down the field on a third-down play. That 61-yard gain set up Kareem Hunt for an eventual touchdown run that tied the game at 13.
Despite outshining several veterans, Tyquan Thornton remains underused in a Chiefs offense desperate for a spark.
Even as a kick returner, Thornton made a noticeable impact against Denver. He tallied 85 yards on a combined three kick returns, good enough for an average of 28.3 yards per return.
As a pass catcher, Thornton received only one other target outside of his deep catch. It was another deep shot early in the game that Patrick Mahomes just overshot down the sideline. In a game that left Kansas City grinding and constantly chasing, it makes no sense not to give Thornton more chances to make a play with the ball in his hands.
When Rashee Rice was injured early in the season, it was Thornton who played like Kansas City’s WR1. Rice is still Mahomes’ favorite wide receiver to target after returning from his suspension. That much is not surprising. However, Thornton has still outperformed other Chiefs' offensive weapons that get many more snaps, despite his limited opportunities.
Hollywood Brown has been a frustrating player in his second season with the Chiefs. Even after missing all that time last season due to injury, there was hope that a veteran like him would be more consistent. JuJu Smith-Schuster excels in the details and can be a leader on the team, but his impact is known more as a blocker and in specific situations as a pass catcher. Even at tight end, there was hope that Kansas City would get more out of Noah Gray to this point in the season.
Thornton has the deep speed that the Chiefs regime covets. His height and stature can match up well against certain defensive backs. And given the tough and difficult catches he has made this year, he is cashing in more than some Kansas City weapons who have logged more snaps.
The Chiefs cannot fall back on the same old tactics offensively. Perhaps one of the adjustments is to get Thornton more involved in the last seven games of the season. After all these different pass catchers have left Mahomes lacking trust in recent years, it seems like the belief is there when the passer targets Thornton. Getting this wide receiver more chances cannot hurt the Chiefs’ offense more than they have already hurt themselves in other areas.