More deep shots on the way? Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says so.

The Kansas City Chiefs offense has been lacking a key aspect of their game through the onset of the 2023 NFL season. The team is currently averaging a middling 10.6 yards per reception on offense. Their longest reception of the season came late in Week 2 when Skyy Moore snagged a pass and picked up […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
Add as preferred source on Google

The Kansas City Chiefs offense has been lacking a key aspect of their game through the onset of the 2023 NFL season.

The team is currently averaging a middling 10.6 yards per reception on offense. Their longest reception of the season came late in Week 2 when Skyy Moore snagged a pass and picked up 54 yards to help ice the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Outside of that play, the team's success on the deep ball has been lacking early on. 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was perhaps the Chiefs' best deep ball receiver last season. With 42 receptions in 2022, Valdes-Scantling had the second-most yards per reception among Chiefs receivers with 16.4. Only Justin Watson had a higher yards per reception with much fewer targets. 

Asked whether he was getting the best out of Valdes-Scantling so far this season, Mahomes spoke about the offensive performance in general and how it relates to the deep ball.

“We haven’t been great offensively just in general, so I think as the offense gets going and we start find our rhythm, you’re going to start seeing those shots to Marquez (Valdez-Scantling) down the field," Mahomes explained. "You’re going to start seeing him more involved in the offense. When you can’t stay in rhythm, that’s me included, as an offense, it’s hard to get the guys targets that they deserve and that they should get and so we have to find that rhythm and find the way to spread the ball around and then get the guys the catches so that we can go out there and have a better offensive day.”

The offense hasn't been a bright spot for Kansas City so far, and the receivers were criticized after a drop-filled Week 1 performance against the Detroit Lions. Mahomes says that he hasn't sensed frustration out of that room, but he feels that the entire offense knows they must perform better. 

“No, I haven’t. From that whole receiving room, I haven’t sensed any frustration," Mahomes said. "I think the frustration is probably more of me about myself and how the offense has been doing. Everybody has had that mentality that we just have to keep working, keep getting better, me included. Obviously, we want to play better because the defense is playing so well, we want to take some of that pressure off of them.”

Part of a better offensive performance is getting back into a rhythm. That starts with executing, limiting penalties, and limiting turnovers. Once they do that and get back to the basics, they can be more confident in calling more of those deep shot plays to Valdes-Scantling and others.

Featured image via Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Related Articles