By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
Notification Show More
Latest News
Cam Ward has a message for NFL teams: 'If you don't draft me, that's your fault'
Cam Ward has a message for NFL teams: ‘If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault’
Game Analysis NFL
Lil Wayne defends Jordan Love, talks Lakers' championship on 'First Things First'
Lil Wayne defends Jordan Love, talks Lakers’ championship on ‘First Things First’
Game Analysis
5 ways to fix NBA All-Star Weekend after widely panned 2025 event
5 ways to fix NBA All-Star Weekend after widely panned 2025 event
Game Analysis
Can Lakers make a title run as sixth-best odds to win NBA Finals? | First Things First
Can Lakers make a title run as sixth-best odds to win NBA Finals? | First Things First
Game Analysis
Bucky Brooks’ Top 5 Super Bowl contenders sparks debate | First Things First
Bucky Brooks’ Top 5 Super Bowl contenders sparks debate | First Things First
Game Analysis NFL
Aa
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Reading: Five plays that have defined the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs
Share
Aa
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Search
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
BigPaulSports > Blog > NFL > Five plays that have defined the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs
NFLSports News

Five plays that have defined the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs

BigP
Last updated: 2023/12/15 at 4:03 PM
BigP Published December 15, 2023
Share
Five plays that have defined the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs
SHARE
  • Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff WriterDec 15, 2023, 06:00 AM ET

    Contents
    Week 1: Kadarius Toney‘s dropped pass is intercepted and returned for a touchdownWeek 13: Mahomes throws fourth-quarter interceptionWeek 14: Toney is flagged for offside penalty in fourth quarter
    Close

    • Covered Chiefs for 20 seasons for Kansas City Star
    • Joined ESPN in 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs lead the league in dropped passes, are sixth in turnovers and first in offensive penalties and offensive penalty yardage.

The Chiefs aren’t just making these mistakes at crucial times. But it does seem like it.

The Chiefs have cost themselves with a dropped pass, turnover or penalty — sometimes more than one — at a big juncture of the game in each of their five losses. Those plays have come to define their season and place it in peril. The Chiefs at 8-5 are two games behind the Baltimore Ravens in the race for the AFC’s top playoff seed. Their lead over the Denver Broncos in the AFC West is down to one game.

Here are five plays that helped define the Chiefs’ season.

Week 1: Kadarius Toney‘s dropped pass is intercepted and returned for a touchdown

Toney and the Chiefs rolled two of their problems into one play in the season-opener against the Detroit Lions. With the Chiefs leading 14-7 in the third quarter, Toney ran a shallow crossing route left to right on third-and-six from the Kansas City 46-yard line. Patrick Mahomes saw Toney open and put the ball where it needed to be to pick up the first down.

But Toney didn’t catch the pass, deflecting it instead to safety Brian Branch, who returned it 50 yards for the game-tying touchdown. The Chiefs would go on to lose, 21-20.

The dropped pass was one of five for the Chiefs that night. The interception was the first of the season for Mahomes, who now has 11. He’s on pace for 14, the highest total of his career.

“He’s a very secure catcher,” coach Andy Reid said after the game. “I think you’ll see better as we go down the road here from him.”

Toney dropped three passes in that game. He has dropped only one since, in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“I have to put the work in, a lot of work,” Toney said after Week 1. “Spend 30 minutes after practice catching from the [throwing machine], catching from the quarterback, whatever I have to do. I just have to make sure that I show up when it’s time.”

The Chiefs won the six games after playing Detroit and then went to Denver to play the Broncos, a team the Chiefs had beaten 16 straight times. They were behind 21-9 midway through the fourth quarter facing a fourth-and-2 from the Denver 26.

Rather than merely try a shorter yardage play to convert, the Chiefs went for a touchdown. It appeared they would make it work, too. The Chiefs’ formation caught the Broncos by surprise and Moore was single covered by safety P.J. Locke, who was late in getting to Moore.

Mahomes placed the ball perfectly, but the ball went through Moore’s arm’s for an incompletion. A catch would have pulled the Chiefs within a touchdown. Instead, down by two scores, they ran only five more plays — none from Denver’s half of the field. They wound up losing, 24-9.

“They’re going to know that I’m going to keep firing to them,” Mahomes said afterward about the Moore drop and others. “That’s just who I am. I’m going to keep firing to open guys, let them make plays and I trust those guys.”

play

2:00

Orlovsky to McAfee: Chiefs are better than Eagles despite loss

Dan Orlovsky joins Pat McAfee to break down the problems with the Chiefs and if they are fixable.

The Chiefs looked ready to finish off the Philadelphia Eagles early in the fourth quarter. They led, 17-14, and had a first down on the Eagles’ 14 after converting on fourth down on the previous play.

Kelce caught a short pass from Mahomes and made his way to the 9-yard line, where the Eagles punched the ball out and recovered the fumble. Philadelphia would later score the go-ahead touchdown and go on to win 21-17.

Kelce’s fumble was one of two Chiefs’ red zone turnovers in that game and one of four this season.

Kelce was short in talking about the fumble afterward.

“I’ve got to be better,” he said. “It’s all fixable, just have to do it.”

Week 13: Mahomes throws fourth-quarter interception

The Chiefs trailed the Green Bay Packers, 24-19, midway through the final period and had a first down on the Green Bay 49. But Mahomes threw an interception that killed the drive. The Packers eventually tacked on another field goal and held on for a 27-19 win.

Mahomes and his intended receiver, Moore, had different ideas about how the route was to be run. Moore briefly stopped his route as Mahomes was making the throw, indicating he believed Mahomes would throw to his back shoulder, away from the defender.

Mahomes threw the pass as if Moore would continue the route down the field. Mahomes wondered publicly after the game whether Moore was right and he should have thrown to his back shoulder.

“That’s a mistake on my part that you can’t make in that situation,” Mahomes said.

play

2:11

NFL rules expert to SVP: Refs ‘100% correct’ to call Chiefs offsides

Former NFL referee John Parry tells Scott Van Pelt why the officials made the right call on a controversial offsides penalty against the Chiefs.

Week 14: Toney is flagged for offside penalty in fourth quarter

This one cost the Chiefs not only a touchdown that would have put them ahead with less than two minutes remaining against the Buffalo Bills, but a spectacular play. After catching a pass from Mahomes, Kelce threw a cross-field lateral to Toney, who completed what looked to be a 49-yard touchdown.

But it didn’t count. Toney lined up offside and was penalized, wiping out the play. The Chiefs eventually turned the ball over on downs and lost, 20-17.

The Chiefs, most notably Reid and Mahomes, were livid that Toney was penalized for an infraction that had no bearing on the result of the play. But nobody disputed that Toney indeed lined up offside.

Reid said the Chiefs would coach Toney and their other receivers to check with the official after lining up to confirm they are aligned properly. In the meantime, he indicated Toney would remain in the lineup despite a second crushing mistake of the season.

“The thing I know is he makes plays,” Reid said. “He makes plays when he has the ball in his hand and that’s important. He’s a young guy. He doesn’t have … a ton of experience, but I think he’s getting better every week.”

Sponsored Content

You Might Also Like

Cam Ward has a message for NFL teams: ‘If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault’

Bucky Brooks’ Top 5 Super Bowl contenders sparks debate | First Things First

Top 10 2025 NFL free-agent QBs: Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson?

2025 NFL Draft odds: Will Titans retain the No. 1 pick?

BigP December 15, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
newsletter featurednewsletter featured

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    Popular News
    Capers, McCown joining Reich on Panthers' staff
    NFLSports News

    Capers, McCown joining Reich on Panthers’ staff

    BigP BigP February 11, 2023
    Broncos’ Hamler stepping away for heart issue
    Saleh: Rodgers ‘wants to play’ as deadline nears
    Lawyers seek NFL protection from Snyder suits
    USC hires Rams assistant Henderson to be co-DC
    - Advertisement -
    Ad imageAd image

    Categories

    • Sports

    About US

    We offer information and tips on US Sports and evernts all over the world.
    Top Categories
    • Game Analysis
    • Free Picks
    • Services
    • Premium Content

    Subscribe US

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      © Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

      Removed from reading list

      Undo
      Welcome Back!

      Sign in to your account

      Lost your password?