The Kansas City Chiefs have improved considerably in their play-action game, which is helping to generate offense.
When the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent running back Kenneth Walker III, they had several important goals in mind. One was protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from knee surgery, and another was to become more versatile and add a way to control the clock to their offensive repertoire.
But the biggest goal was to rescue the Chiefs’ woeful play-action game. According to Nate Taylor of ESPN, the Chiefs were among the NFL's worst when it comes to using play-action. Kansas City has 178 play-action snaps, which was the seventh most in the league, and the Chiefs recorded just 977 passing yards when using that tactic, which ranked them 20th in the NFL, per ESPN Research.
The Chiefs even managed to surrendered nine sacks in play action and while posting just three touchdowns, which is remarkable given that one of the basic goals of play action is to slow down the pass rush.
Coach Andy Reid talked extensively about the eye test version of this extensively during the offseason, as he noted that linebackers and safeties weren’t buying into the threat. Instead they were dropping back into pass coverage without hesitating, which clogged throwing lanes and made it tougher to throw.
Mahomes has also talked about this, noting that people “don’t understand” how play action works because they tend to focus on the rushing numbers of Walker and rookie running back Emmett Johnson. But Mahomes completed all 14 of his play-action attempts for 201 yards against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and that included the initial touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce that gave the Chiefs the lead and set the tone for the game.
That tied Russell Wilson’s record for the most completions without an incompletion on play-action in the past 20 season, per Taylor. Mahomes wound up with a big statistical day against Miami as he had 329 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception on play-action attempts.
Mahomes also wasn’t sacked on those attempts, per TruMedia, which is important as the Chiefs continue their efforts to keep the quarterback upright.
Both Mahomes and receiver Rashee Rice noted that the presence of Walker has opened up a lot, and those throwing lanes that were clogged last year are now open for business. Mahomes has had choices when he drops back, which often wasn’t the case last year when he couldn’t find anyone open, and that’s a big development that’s helped make Kansas City 3-0.
