KRYK’S NFL WEEK 7 TAKEAWAYS: Chiefs, Bengals see-saw into new realities

news7h 10/25/2021

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KRYK'S NFL WEEK 7 TAKEAWAYS: Chiefs, Bengals see-saw into new realities

Nightmare in Nashville is likely to be Mahomes-led Chiefs’ nadir, whereas Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals explode into relevance

Creator of the article:

John Kryk

Publishing date:

Oct 24, 2021 • 50 minutes in the past • 7 minute learn • Be a part of the dialog

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes a second on the turf to assemble his ideas after taking successful on a fourth-down play towards the Tennessee Titans throughout the second half at Nissan Stadium. Picture by Steve Roberts /USA TODAY Sports activities

One yr in the past this NFL weekend, all the pieces was flipped.

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The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs improved to 6-1, in first place within the AFC West, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes passing as effectively as ever, with 16 touchdowns towards just one interception, for a 109.8 passer score.

The Cincinnati Bengals, meantime, dropped to 1-5-1, in final place within the AFC North, with quarterback Joe Burrow trying good for a rookie however throwing 9 TDs towards 5 interceptions, for an 89.4 passer score.

The contrasts at this time, to the entire above, are nothing wanting beautiful.

First the Chiefs, then the Bengals …

NO MIRAGE: MAHOMES AND CHIEFS ARE A MESS

Following their team-wide, 27-3 mutilation Sunday by the hands of the over-powering Tennessee Titans, Mahomes and the Chiefs look like falling aside.

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The 2-time defending AFC champs slumped to 3-4 on the season, tied in final place within the AFC West with Denver. They’ve now been outscored by foes on the season by 15 factors.

And Mahomes’ 2021 struggles solely worsened towards a Titans defence that everyone had been chewing up. Mahomes was hurried on drop-backs 9 occasions, sacked 4 occasions and dedicated two extra turnovers (a choose and a misplaced fumble) as Okay.C. failed to attain something however an extended third-quarter area aim.

The diploma of the Chiefs’ woeful all-around efficiency at Tennessee was the shock right here, not the very fact the Chiefs misplaced in any respect — as would have been the case in any of the earlier three seasons.

Tennessee led 14-0 after one quarter, on 7-of-7 passing for 114 yards from Ryan Tannehill, in comparison with simply 23 yards of complete offence from Mahomes.

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Tennessee led 27-0 at halftime.

So now, practically midway into the season, it should be mentioned: The Chiefs are a porous mess on defence, a confused mess on offence.

Can head coach Andy Reid flip it throughout? Large job. Even for him.

“We weren’t doing it offensively, and we weren’t ending it defensively,” Reid mentioned of Sunday’s face-slap. “We actually have to get either side enjoying nicely … I’m seeing issues we hadn’t seen earlier than, and we’ve simply received to repair it.

“It begins with me.”

It appeared as if Mahomes might need been concussed late within the sport, for the second time this calendar yr (after being so injured towards Cleveland in an AFC divisional playoff sport in January) however Reid mentioned Mahomes cleared concussion protocol, and the QB insisted afterward he was wonderful.

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“If you get hit fairly laborious, generally you simply wish to lay there — plus it was fourth down,” Mahomes mentioned. “It was a disappointing day, and a disappointing technique to finish it.”

In distinction to his elite 16-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio final yr by means of Week 7, Mahomes has thrown two extra touchdowns in 2021 (18) however a whopping eight extra interceptions (9), with three misplaced fumbles as well. Eleven turnovers by Mahomes. And he’s been sacked 14 occasions.

Sunday arguably was the nadir of his profession.

“You’re embarrassed. We simply received spanked fairly good,” he mentioned.

Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals outruns the Ravens defence for a long touchdown reception in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) — Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals outruns the Ravens defence for an extended landing reception within the second half at M&T Financial institution Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Picture by Rob Carr/Getty Photographs)

LOOK OUT, BECAUSE HERE COME THE BENGALS

Conversely, the Bengals improved to 5-2 — successfully in first place within the AFC North, after blowing out the host Baltimore Ravens, 41-17.

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Each groups are 5-2 however Cincinnati holds the head-to-head tiebreaker for now.

The rating precisely mirrored how emphatic a victory it was for the Bengals. Burrow and crew shredded the proud Ravens defence, making its entrance seven look drained and lumbersome, and its secondary confused and at all times a pair steps late.

That’s a tribute to each the expertise of Cincinnati’s offensive gamers, and to the cleverness of the general scheme designed by third-year head coach Zac Taylor.

Cincinnati’s possessions from mid-second quarter to mid-fourth ended thus: Landing, area aim, landing, landing, interception in Baltimore’s finish zone, landing, landing.

It’s uncommon ever to see such a tightly packed sequence of scoring towards any Ravens defence.

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The 24-point margin of victory was the most important the Bengals have had since their twice-a-year collection towards the Ravens started in 1996. Final season Baltimore defeated Cincinnati 27-3 and 38-3.

Flap-jack flipped. Go the butter, cross the syrup.

“It’s a unique workforce,” Taylor mentioned of the 2021 Bengals. “We’re allowed to construct and enhance, and we simply have a unique mentality proper now … We’re beginning to earn respect, however we nonetheless have an extended technique to go.”

Burrow threw for 416 yards and three scores, connecting most frequently together with his three ace broad receivers — rookie phenom Ja’Marr Chase (eight catches for 201 yards and a TD), Tee Higgins (seven for 62) and Tyler Boyd (4 for 39).

Amongst qualifying receivers, Chase ranked second solely to Las Vegas’ Henry Ruggs III in yards-per-catch (20.5) coming into Week 7. He averaged 25.1 per catch on Sunday.

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“He simply makes performs with the ball in his arms,” Taylor mentioned of Chase. “However a part of it’s we have now (Boyd and Higgins too). So groups simply can’t say, ‘We’re going to lock in on Ja’Marr’ as a result of we have now different playmakers.”

After Tom Brady and any take-your-pick threesome from his military of former all-pro or Professional Bowl cross catchers in Tampa Bay, Burrow and Chase-Higgins-Boyd would possibly comprise the NFL’s subsequent most reliably harmful QB and receiving trio this season.

Baltimore’s Marlon Humphrey, one of many league’s prime cowl corners, admitted afterward that the rookie, Chase, received the most effective of him: “The most important (defensive) project was on me to form of cease their prime man, and I misplaced that matchup.”

Veteran Ravens defensive finish Calais Campbell mentioned this of Burrow: “This might need been his finest sport as a professional. We made it laborious on him early, and he made some changes and did what he needed to do. You must tip your hat to him. His playmakers made performs for him, too. That workforce is proficient.”

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For his half, Burrow mentioned he was “excited” by the win and by his efficiency, excluding his reckless choose. He pointed to Cincinnati’s two convincing victories already at historic division heavyweights, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

“We’ve simply received powerful, resilient guys that don’t again down underneath strain,” Burrow mentioned. “(Baltimore) places probably the most strain on you of any workforce that I’ve performed within the league, and we actually responded at this time.”

Certainly. At this level of the season, and particularly after Sunday, you’ve received to conclude the Bengals are for actual.

BRADY AND BUCS BLISTER THE BEARS

Tom Brady threw profession regular-season landing passes Nos. 599, 600, 601 and 602 (to up his NFL file) because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bashed the Chicago Bears, 38-3.

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Rookie Bears QB Justin Fields regarded completely out of his depth, throwing for simply 184 yards, with three ugly picks.

Is it Andy Dalton or Nick Foles time in Chicago? Couldn’t damage, with the Bears now 3-4 however nonetheless alive within the NFC wild-card hunt. The Bucs are 6-1.

Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions is tackled by Kenny Young of the Los Angeles Rams during the second half in the game at SoFi Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) — Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions is tackled by Kenny Younger of the Los Angeles Rams throughout the second half within the sport at SoFi Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Picture by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photographs)

LIONS PULL OUT ALL STOPS, STILL LOSE

The Detroit Lions recovered an early onside kick, ran a profitable fake-punt cross, and ran a profitable fake-punt run.

They even fielded a speeding assault {that a} good defence struggled big-time to include. When has that ever occurred this century?

So, the Lions now not are luckless. Or pluck-less.

Simply nonetheless winless.

The host Los Angeles Rams trailed Detroit 10-0, 13-3 and 19-17 however rallied to win 28-19, within the matchup of swapped quarterbacks.

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Ex-Lion Matthew Stafford accomplished all however 13 of 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns, with out interception.

Ex-Ram Jared Goff went 22-of-36 for 268 yards and a TD towards his former mates, however was intercepted twice late, because the Lions fell to 0-7.

We are able to snort all we would like on the Lions, however first-time head coach Dan Campbell had his over-matched gamers prepared and motivated to compete towards one of many league’s prime groups.

HEY, GIVE TUA TAGOVAILO SOME CREDIT

With everybody in Miami now anticipating the Dolphins to commerce for Houston’s parked-and-idle QB Deshaun Watson by the commerce deadline per week from Tuesday, give the Dolphins’ obvious second-year lame-duck incumbent Tua Tagovailoa a hat-tip.

He started the sport smoking sizzling towards the Atlanta Falcons, and completed 32-of-40 for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns, albeit with two interceptions — in a 30-28 loss.

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EXTRA POINTS

The post-Gruden Las Vegas Raiders improved to 2-0, and 5-2 on the season, with a 33-22 defeat of Philadelphia. The Raiders are a half-game up on the idle Los Angeles Chargers atop the AFC West … Arizona remained undefeated (7-0) with a 31-5 win over Houston … Residence groups gained all however two video games in Week 7 coming into Sunday evening … Carolina amassed simply 173 yards of offence and QB Sam Darnold was benched in a depressing 25-3 loss on the New York Giants … Jets rookie QB Zach Wilson suffered a suspected PCL harm in his proper knee in New York’s 54-13 loss at New England. The prognosis? “We’re undecided but,” he mentioned afterward, including that there wasn’t a lot ache, “it simply form of looks like one thing’s a little bit off so far as simply being free, or unstable a bit.” Wilson mentioned he’s “undoubtedly” planning on enjoying subsequent Sunday towards Cincinnati. An MRI on Monday would possibly say in any other case.

JoKryk@postmedia.com

@JohnKryk