Are the Chiefs lucky? Or just better prepared? | Fox Sports
On "The Facility," Chase Daniel pointed to a handful of plays in Week 2's game that gave Kansas City the edge, such as Mahomes connecting with Rice on a 44-yard touchdown pass because a Bengals safety cheated on his coverage, and getting a scoop-and-score on Burrow's fumble in the fourth quarter.
Colin Cowherd also mocked the idea that the Chiefs are lucky. As he noted that Kansas City's defense is now "winning these games," Cowherd said that the Chiefs' performance "in the situational stuff" separates them from the rest of the league, comparing them to one of the other great dynasties in NFL history.
"It's like the Patriots handed the baton to the Chiefs on how to win games late against rivals," Cowherd said on "The Herd." "That's what they said for 20 years about New England: 'Just lucky New England.' The Chiefs have officially become the Patriots' dynasty. They just figure out ways to win games."
T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Bengals' loss: Officials rule in Chiefs' favor every game | Yahoo! Sports
"Give every game to the Chiefs rest of season," Houshmandzadeh tweeted. "Refs in their favor every game. Why play the game if we know results beforehand?"
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson wraps up Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes benefited from a pass-interference call on 4th-and-16 against Bengals rookie defensive back Daijahn Anthony in the final moments of the game.
"That was PI," Houshmandzadeh added, via Twitter. "Let's see if that call gets made moving forward for other teams when it's 4th & long."
Chiefs continue September dominance under Andy Reid | Athlon Sports
While the team certainly fought hard to stay undefeated through the first two weeks, it's not the first time they've had a hot start to the season under head coach Andy Reid. In fact, through Reid's 12 seasons as Kansas City's coach, this is the seventh time they've been undefeated through the first two weeks.
Including 2024, the Chiefs have also begun the season 2-0 in 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 under Reid. They're also a combined 18-6 through the first two weeks of the season under Reid, which is the best record of any team in the league since 2013.
10 quick facts about the Chiefs' victory over Cincinnati | The Mothership
The defense has held opponents under 28 points in 23 straight games (including the playoffs)
Kansas City surrendered only 25 points on Sunday, maintaining their streak of holding opponents under 28 total points alive. In fact, the Chiefs have now matched the longest such streak for any team since 2009, when Washington continued a 23-game streak that began the previous season.
Wanya Morris caught the Chiefs' first "big man touchdown" in a while
It was the first "big man touchdown" for Kansas City since Nick Allegretti caught a 1-yard score in the 2021-22 Wild Card Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the context of the regular season, Morris became the first Chiefs offensive lineman to haul in a touchdown since Eric Fisher did so in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
5 possible replacements after Chiefs' RB Isiah Pacheco's injury | Sportsnaut
Sign Matt Breida
He may be 29 years old now, but Matt Breida still has plenty of juice. The former 49ers running back clocked a 4.38 40-yard dash coming out of college. While he's coming off a career-worst 2.7 YPC, part of Breida's struggles may be tied to running behind a porous Giants offensive line. As a pure speed threat, Breida may be worth taking a chance on for Kansas City.
Poach Dalvin Cook from Cowboys' practice squad
Yes, Dalvin Cook signed with the Dallas Cowboys, but he's only on the practice squad, which means other teams can still sign him to their active roster. Now could be the time for the Chiefs to poach the four-time Pro Bowler from Dallas. As for Cook, why wouldn't he want to chase a ring with Andy Reid and Co?
Chiefs waived tight end who cost them $100,000 for sideline shove | CBS Sports
Peyton Hendershot is off to waivers. The Kansas City Chiefs waived the third-year tight end on Monday following the team's Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Media.
Hendershot, acquired by Kansas City in a late summer trade with the Dallas Cowboys, was inactive for the opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but did make the game-day roster for Week 2. The 25-year-old saw limited action, playing on just seven special teams snaps.
While Hendershot's tenure around the defending champions was short-lived, it did prove costly for the organization. Standing on the sideline inactive for the opener, Hendershot shoved Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith after he had hit Patrick Mahomes as he ran out of bounds. That shove resulted in Hendershot being fined $5,472, while the franchise was docked $100,000 for the infraction.
What we learned from Falcons' win over Eagles on MNF | NFL.com
Eagles waste Hurts masterpiece
Jalen Hurts was excellent Monday night, extending plenty of plays with his legs and carrying one scoring drive almost solely with his scrambling, including a run for 15 yards that required Hurts to evade a defender and barrel through a couple more to pick up the first down. His passing, while not prolific, was sharp, too, and with a healthy early mix of Hurts playmaking and Saquon Barkley runs, the Eagles were doing enough to set themselves up for what appeared to be a 2-0 start. But when the wheels fell off, they did so rapidly, and by the time Hurts regained possession with a chance to save Philadelphia, his ambition got the best of him when he threw a sailing pass toward DeVonta Smith along the sideline and watched Jessie Bates slide in for the game-sealing interception. Hurts did enough to win this game, showing off toughness, persistence and leadership. Eagles fans -- and the Eagles themselves -- will need some time to process the pain of this loss.
Panthers benching former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after 0-2 start | NFL.com
Dave Canales has made the first seismic move of his head-coaching tenure in Carolina.
The Panthers are benching quarterback Bryce Young and starting veteran Andy Dalton beginning this coming Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday, per sources informed of the situation.
After an ugly 0-2 start to the season, Canales watched the tape and decided a change was needed, Pelissero added.
Canales told reporters later Monday that the decision to bench Young was his, stressing that he made the move to Dalton because "Andy gives us our best chance to win this week."
Dolphins won't put Tua Tagovailoa on IR yet | ESPN
Tagovailoa remains in the NFL's return to participation protocol after suffering a concussion in Thursday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. [Head coach Mike McDaniel] said that it's too early in the process to say whether Tagovailoa will be placed on injured reserve but that he and general manager Chris Grier will make that decision once further evaluations have been completed.
McDaniel declined to comment on reports that Tagovailoa is not considering retirement and reiterated what he told local media Friday -- that Tagovailoa should be allowed to speak on his own career.
"As far as Tua's career is concerned, I think it's an utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak onto his career," he said. "I think as far as I'm concerned, I'm just worried about the human being and where that's at day to day. I'll let Tua be the champion of his own career and speak on that."
McDaniel confirmed the Dolphins are signing quarterback Tyler Huntley from the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. While the team publicly insists there is no timeline for Tagovailoa's return, NFL rules essentially require players signed from another team's practice squad to remain on their new team's 53-man active roster for at least three weeks.
Patrick Mahomes says attention on Travis Kelce creates space for other receivers
During Sunday's 26-25 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, Kelce only recorded a single reception, marking the first time since 2018 he did not catch at least three passes in a game.
After the game, quarterback Patrick Mahomes explained why he still feels like Kelce is contributing, even if the stats aren't there.
Mahomes acknowledges his favorite target is seeing heavy coverage from opposing defenses.
"They're doing a good job," he observed of the competition, "of just having two people for him pretty much the entire game."
There is an advantage, however, of one player commanding such attention: the ability for young wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy to make big plays of their own. Worthy announced his presence in Week 1 with two touchdowns in his rookie debut. On Sunday, Mahomes and Rice connected deep for one of the biggest plays of the second-year pro's young career.
"That's why you've seen guys like Rashee and Worthy," Mahomes remarked. "If you look at the first touchdown, I'm actually looking at Trav, and the backside safety goes all the way across the field to help guard Travis, and I threw the ball on the sideline to Rashee."
Mahomes believes there is a key reason for believing Kelce has more big moments in him that will show in the coming weeks. However, if the slow start continues, he has faith Kelce will still be charismatic.
"Obviously," the league's biggest star noted, "we've played two opponents [that] we've played a lot. They had a plan on how they were going to account for Travis, but as the season goes on, he's going to get his catches. He's going to get his yards.
"But the leader he is -- what's special is he's hyping everybody up. He's keeping everybody motivated -- and that's what you need out of your great players."