The Kansas City Chiefs were in trouble early in their Week 12 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. They dug themselves an early 14-0 lead, which could have been worse had Daniel Carlson not missed a chip-shot field goal.
Despite being down multiple scores early in the game, the Chiefs didn’t panic. They were able to tie the game up by halftime and quickly took the lead in the third quarter, scoring 21 consecutive points and never looking back.
It was the first time since Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers that the Chiefs were able to score a point in the second half, as they went three games without scoring in the third or fourth quarter. It was nice to see them get back on track, but it is an issue they need to figure out how to overcome consistently.
Having Andy Reid as head coach and Patrick Mahomes at quarterback certainly helps overcome a lot of shortcomings offensively. But even their greatness can be derailed by underwhelming performances on the field.
Coming into the season, the Chiefs knew they were taking a risk with the wide receiver group they compiled. Losing JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency was a major blow, as Kansas City was turning to youth to fill the void.
Expectations were high for Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, holdovers from last season. The team also used a second-round pick on Rashee Rice to bolster the unit. Rice has been excellent, but Moore and Toney have fallen woefully short of expectations, along with veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Addressing the wide receiver position is a must this offseason for the Chiefs. While a major overhaul won’t occur this offseason, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has pinpointed one player who could help instantly; KJ Hamler of the Indianapolis Colts.
“…Patrick Mahomes is still developing chemistry with his young receivers, but it’s on them to step up to the plate. Injuries haven’t helped either, and the options they can add are limited at this point.
KJ Hamler is one of the most intriguing out there. The former second-round pick was released by the Denver Broncos during the summer with a heart issue. However, he’s been cleared since then and is on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad,” wrote Ballentine.
Hamler came out of Penn State in the 2020 NFL Draft with a lot of hype. The Denver Broncos were excited about what he could bring to the field, but his glimpses were shortlived because of numerous injuries.
Now seemingly healthy and cleared as part of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, Hamler would make for a solid late-season addition in Kansas City. He would bring some explosiveness to the unit, averaging 14.8 yards per reception in his career.
At the very least, adding someone like Hamler to the mix could perk up some of the receivers on the team. If they see their jobs and spots in the lineup are in jeopardy, it could motivate them to produce at a higher level.
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