Chiefs rookies shine in Week 1 loss
Plus transactions, latest KCSN podcasts, Substack articles and more Chiefs news.
Charles Goldman
Lost in the Kansas City Chiefs’ disappointing Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions was the fact that the 2023 NFL draft class looked quite good in their debut.
Second-round pick Rashee Rice probably had the most noticeable performance. He managed three receptions on five targets for 29 yards and his first career NFL touchdown grab. He said that securing that six points was gratifying because it let him know that he’s exactly where he belongs.
“It boosts my confidence a lot just to know I’m out there with (Patrick) Pat (Mahomes),” Rice said. “I feel like being on the field with those guys lets me know I can solidify myself to be on the field with those guys all the time.”
Rice wasn’t the only rookie to manage a great performance on Thursday night’s season opener. Chamarri Conner got his first career start, playing the nickel cornerback spot for Kansas City. In just nine defensive snaps, Keondre Coburn managed a tackle and a tackle for loss.
First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah had two total pressures, both quarterback hits and inches from being sacks.
The performances of these three players will go largely unnoticed because the results of the game were not as the team had hoped. However, they’re learning a valuable lesson about having a short memory with their first loss in the NFL.
“Just recover, get back in the playbook, and get ready to go down and win with our team in Jacksonville," Rice said.
10 Takeaways From Chiefs 21-20 NFL Season-Opening Loss vs. Lions:
A reality check? Mahomes thinks so.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes admitted that he was a little embarrassed after the loss to the Lions in Week 1. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone as he has the spirit of a competitor and he always wants to come out on top. Was this a reality check for the team entering the 2023 NFL season? Yeah, it very well could be for some new players on the team.
“It’ll be good for the young guys to know that we’re not just going to walk in and win the game,” Mahomes said. “You’re going to have to play good football, we’re going to play every team’s best shot. I’ve preached it to them all preseason, but they know now. We’re going to Jacksonville next week and that’s going to be a good football team so hopefully guys learn from it, get better and this one loss doesn’t turn into two.”
You have to have a short memory when you play in the NFL in both your wins and your losses.
Be the hunters and not the hunted
Derrick Nnadi helped anchor the defensive line without Chris Jones on the field. Even with an impressive performance sans their best defensive player, Nnadi wasn’t satisfied without the win. He said it was back to the drawing board ahead of Week 2 against the Jaguars.
“Personally, I feel like the reality is we beat ourselves,” Nnadi said in the locker room after the game. “There were a lot of things – a lot of plays that could have been made on the field offensively, defensively, a lot to learn from. The only way we can go is up. We’ve got to learn from this and know that everyone is hunting for us. Instead of being the hunted, we’ve got to be the hunters. We’ve got to learn from this and keep it moving.”
A lack of killer instinct was the issue in this one perhaps? They’ll work to correct mistakes and recapture what it means to be the hunter as they head on the road to Jacksonville seeking their first win of the season in Week 2.
KCSN Postgame - Chiefs Drop NFL Season-Opener vs. Lions:
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Hayley Lewis, Craig Stout, and Tucker Franklin go live following the Kansas City Chiefs season-opener against the Detroit Lions to break it down and give their reactions.
Week 1 stats at a glance:
Pressures allowed: 25 pressures on 45 dropbacks
Dropped passes: 4 (third-most in a single game for Chiefs since 2012)
Third down offense: 5-for-14 total. 0-for-7 in the second half
Field goals: Chiefs 2, Lions 0
The Process with Shawn Barber - Dante Hall discusses decorated career:
Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber sits down with former Chiefs great Dante Hall to talk about his illustrious career in Kansas City, what made him the player he is, and look ahead to the 2023-24 season for the Chiefs.
Quick Hits:
- Andy Reid opened up about Travis Kelce’s injury.
- Seth Keysor took a look at Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney’s struggles.
- A look at the Chiefs’ Week 1 snap counts against the Lions.
- Our Tyler Brown’s postgame story following the Week 1 loss to the Lions.
- The Athletic’s Nate Taylor went in-depth about how Patrick Mahomes is inspiring music artists.
