The Kansas City Chiefs had a secret superstar during their Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers
A number of guys stepped up for the Kansas City Chiefs during their Week 4 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, but one who may have flown under your radar was punter Matt Araiza. Kansas City's offense struggled for the majority of the game, only scoring on three out of 10 possessions (not counting its […]
A number of guys stepped up for the Kansas City Chiefs during their Week 4 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, but one who may have flown under your radar was punter Matt Araiza.
Kansas City's offense struggled for the majority of the game, only scoring on three out of 10 possessions (not counting its final possession which ended the game with a kneel). The Chiefs punted four times, and Araiza made the most out of each one.
Two punts landed inside the 20-yard line, and the other two landed inside the 10. The Chargers recorded zero return yards and Araiza averaged a whopping 50 yards per punt (H/T Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest).
As a result of Araiza's big performance, the Chiefs had an advantage in field position for most of the game. With the Chargers being shorthanded due to injuries, forcing them to drive the length of the field to score was a task they just couldn't handle. The Chiefs' defense swarmed the Los Angeles offense, holding it to just 224 total yards.
It appears that Araiza is getting back into the form he was in during his days with the Buffalo Bills. Araiza has one of the strongest legs in the NFL and is now sharpening up on his accuracy. Some of his success can be attributed to special teams coordinator Dave Toub, who has worked with great punters such as Dustin Colquitt and Tommy Townsend in the past.
Havin a punter as a weapon is an underrated asset for a team. The Chiefs may be in for another challenging year on offense given all their injuries, so having Araiza to flip field position will make a world of difference. K.C. signed Araiza to a one-year contract during the offense and could look to lock him up long-term if he keeps at his current pace.
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