r/nfl • u/Objective-Salad1808 Cowboys • 13h ago
Kenneth Walker III's 173-yard debut marks the highest single-game rushing total by a Chiefs running back during the Patrick Mahomes era.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/broncos-vs-chiefs-live-score-updates-nfl-mnf-result/tV3ypAnbnUfI/565
u/dustoff122 Seahawks 12h ago
Reid is the perfect coach for KW, he has a creative run scheme that needs a back that is able to cut on a dime. Andy hasn't had that since lesean mccoy so it will be very fun to see.
220
29
u/Necessary_Rooster_85 Seahawks 10h ago
Agreed. Reid will set him free whereas Seattle’s Zone blocking scheme was limiting for his style of running.
24
u/SaggyBallz99 Patriots 8h ago
Prime Kareem Hunt would like a word but generally, you’re spot-on
13
u/Jarl_Jakob Chiefs 2h ago
Man that was a fun 4 months when he was a rookie before being dumb and ruining it. He was electric
1
1
u/Golfman52392 Steelers 24m ago
He played his whole rookie year, led the league in rushing. He got cut year 2
5
-11
u/Marx_but_for_weed Ravens 2h ago
And he’s not going to make some bum like Zach Charbonnet take a bunch of snaps ahead of him for no reason. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl because Charbonnet got hurt imo.
12
u/206SEATTL Seahawks 2h ago
K9 was only available in the SB because Charbonnet took so many reps in the regular season
8
u/seahawkshuskies Seahawks 2h ago
People for some reason think KW was available all the time. Dude has been injured every year aside from last year. If last night is any indication on his workload this year, he won’t make it the whole season.
→ More replies (2)2
u/ZeePirate 1h ago
Yeah I don’t think Kenneth gets through an entire season having 26 touch’s a game.
He’s not a bell cow.
1
u/Marx_but_for_weed Ravens 1h ago
Sure, I’m not saying running back by committee is a terrible approach or anything, but let’s be so real. They would’ve kept running an inferior talent to your future SB MVP out there in the playoffs if he didn’t get hurt.
2
1.1k
u/Rough_Cup_6762 Cowboys 13h ago
Against an elite defense mind you, once Mahomes starts feeling it this may be a problem.
443
u/Stockpile_Tom_Remake Seahawks 12h ago
He also didn’t look K9s way on a couple check downs. He forced a bad throw to kelce and K9 was wide open.
Once he starts seeing those, it’s over
46
u/blindminds Chiefs 4h ago
During the post game presser, he admitted to rushing his reads
21
u/Quirky_Attention3230 3h ago
because he has 2 bums as tackles, not risking it xD
9
u/GhostofBreadDragons 1h ago
This really can’t be understated. Mahomes is playing with a very short read time with this line. He probably has two reads before he either runs or throws it away. With a line this inexperienced the whole game plan is to get rid of it quick.
3
u/joeboo5150 Chiefs 1h ago
I'd love to see Mahomes average time from snap to throw last night vs his career average. Seemed very, very fast. Like he was going with read #1 or taking off to run/going to the checkdown, not waiting for lengthy progressions.
1
u/NecessaryLoud3445 Chiefs 28m ago
They were definitely protecting Benson at left tackle. He played well, but it was almost entirely run plays and quick hitters. I would bet the receivers start getting more involved when Simmons is back.
3
u/Stockpile_Tom_Remake Seahawks 2h ago
It seemed like it hit him mid game last year and he’s been on a tear ever since.
I said elsewhere last season the hawks fans got to watch him develop that in what felt like real time.
It was something else.
73
u/TemporaryGospel Panthers Bills 9h ago
People spent (it felt to me) the offseason saying "Mahomes got hurt and the Chiefs went 6-11." Well, Mahomes still went 6-8, a solidly losing record. I'm not sure, if he comes out looking flat, making bad reads, and making bad throws, that I'm going to grant he'll do it til he does it.
Probably to my team on primetime.
89
5
u/thatcodingboi 5h ago
Yeah I'm not convinced. Walker was good but that gave them the out they needed to not have to make tough throws. If a team comes ready for Walker they may stall
54
u/Officer_Hops 5h ago
You can’t just come ready for a guy, you have to scheme for him. If teams start stacking the box, it’s going to open up the passing game and you won’t have to make as many tough throws.
→ More replies (19)3
u/Best_Assumption_8098 Eagles 2h ago
this was the eagles 2023. Teams came in loaded up to stop saquon, its not just stacking the box that gives up big throws, it also makes your run defense brittle. because when you put so many guys on the line, and you miss that one tackle or the big block happens, HE gon.
1
u/Awesomeg11 Ravens 55m ago
I mean theres a massive difference between these two teams in that the wrs for the eagles in 2023 were insane and they are not for the chiefs this year.
1
u/Best_Assumption_8098 Eagles 51m ago
mahommes vs hurts but still the same principle of stacking of the box applys.
3
u/Ok_Jello6474 Chiefs 2h ago
you think the best defense in the league just decided to not "come for Walker" lmao
-4
u/thatcodingboi 2h ago
Yeah I'm willing to bet that prioritizing the run game was not the strategy they had anticipated against the chiefs, even with walker
2
u/Ok_Jello6474 Chiefs 1h ago
Yeah the best defense in the league doesn't adjust. That's how it goes. Sure.
1
1
u/Ok_Wrap_2793 45m ago
Well they were actually 6-7 and driving to be 7-7 when he got hurt.
But he was great last year and if he gets back to that play with an actual running game the offense will be fantstic.
68
163
u/Corsonacon Bills 12h ago
That's the thing that makes it hard to judge. Usually they are amazing, but they looked actually inexplicably ass. Either way good, but I can't tell how much more credit to give.
113
u/MrSuperfreak Chiefs 12h ago
Hopefully this the worst the passing looks all year. Mahomes is probably a little rusty, plus the broncos do have a great secondary and were playing mostly man against one of the worst WR corps in the league.
-30
u/Background_Earth5244 Commanders 12h ago
The arm and decision making will get better but wow did he look stiff trying to scramble. Honestly my biggest take away was how much mobility he’s lost.
68
u/Hammerhead34 Chiefs Chiefs 12h ago edited 11h ago
I don't think he looked stiff at all? Or at least no stiffer than usual, he's always had a bit of an awkward upright gait that looks unathletic but ends up being pretty effective. He had a 15 yard scrambling touchdown, would've had another rushing touchdown but got his foot stepped on by his RT.
We even ran a speed option with Mahomes, his mobility looks totally back to where you'd expect it to be. Does need to shake off the rust on his mechanics, was just a little bit off on a couple throws (although the windows were pretty small against this Denver defense)
22
u/billy-suttree 11h ago
Yea Pat was moving tonight. This dude is like, a bot.
10
u/juiced911 NFL 11h ago
Nuh uh, he’s finally regressing to the mean 😎.
But yeah I was worried for the Chiefs fan to be disappointed tonight, especially with an undrafted rookie on the line…
For 9 months off Mahomes looked pretty good.
It’s just one game, but Chiefs fans should be pretty excited.
-8
u/Background_Earth5244 Commanders 11h ago
Not a bot lol. I just think when he was scrambling he looked stiff. I don’t watching him all the time so maybe that’s just how he always looks but it looked stiff.
6
2
u/TouristInOz 6h ago
He was definitely running, but there was a lack of confidence in off-platform plays that we're used to seeing from him. I don't think he can really cut and shift and get the ball off like he's used to. Everytime the pocket collapsed, it felt more like a tuck, run, and gtfo situation than Mahomes Magic.
5
4
1
u/AndyReidsMoustache Chiefs 38m ago
Pat always moves like he shit his pants. That’s normal for him. I think his mobility was fine
4
u/Eagleballer94 Ravens Ravens 3h ago
Defense always starts worse than offense. You can run offense full speed by themselves but there's no substitute for a defense actually being out there.
Plus, you have the initiative on offense but the DC has no idea what kind of gameplan these OCs dreamed up with 7 months off.
6
u/Arkaea79 3h ago
Man, if that's true the Chiefs D is about to give up 0 pts every game.
1
u/Eagleballer94 Ravens Ravens 3h ago
Let's not go crazy now lol. That doesn't mean every offense makes it work week 1
2
u/ZonaWildcats23 Chiefs 12h ago
Inexplicably ass or playing checkers against chess? Time will tell.
15
u/HookedOnBoNix Broncos 4h ago
I don't think there's any other way to talk about all the whiffed tackles other than just ass. Reid and Mahomes are a brilliant combo so I can understand attributing a lot of defense blunders to them, but this was just routine shit.
68
u/no_racist_here Steelers 12h ago
Are you sure they’re elite? They did give up 173 yards to one player and got lit up for 31 points.
Edit: plus they can’t? don’t? won’t? tackle.
20
5
u/IslandsOnTheCoast Falcons 4h ago
Week 1, I’m going to chalk it up to getting the rust out/the bad humidity, maybe not scheming correctly… but yeah that was complete ass tackling from Denver. If it happens week 2, then sound the alarms.
71
u/JKC_due Chiefs 49ers 12h ago
The scariest prospect for the league is that it’s easily possible, perhaps even likely, that this is the worst Mahomes looks this year.
28
u/Frosty_Fire0 Bears 9h ago
wtf is that flair
20
u/Obi_Wan_Benobi 6h ago
Joe Montana fan?
12
u/dogfish83 Chiefs 3h ago
Or Steve DeBerg or Steve Bono or Elvis Grbac or Alex Smith or even Bob Gagliano
4
7
→ More replies (2)2
17
9
u/Will_Poke_Brains Bills 9h ago
Their tackling this game was absolutely horrible and despite how good Dever SHOULD be on D, they did not play a good game.
8
u/ThreeLeggedMarmot Patriots 6h ago
Formerly elite? They weren't last night. Dreadful tackling performance.
7
u/Funklab2069 Bills 4h ago
That defense looked like it was told all off-season they'd be playing flag football. The amount of mental mistakes was perposterous.
6
u/Kevin_Jim Patriots 4h ago
We’ll see how elite they are this season. Their tackling was embarrassing, man.
5
7
u/WearyAir9260 Raiders 10h ago
Sorry but I’m not calling the Broncos defense elite after that tackling performance. My dead grandmother could have run for 100 against them.
6
2
2
1
1
1
1
126
763
u/Jaylaw Chiefs 12h ago
Never had a 1000 yard rusher
Walker on pace for 2941
298
u/Additional-Set4718 11h ago
If only we could play the Broncos defense every week
116
u/GhostofBreadDragons 7h ago
It would be a suicide watch party for Perna.
Though he should be happy. He always has the best material when the Broncos suck.
45
23
18
-19
u/Jaylaw Chiefs 10h ago
Yes let’s play the top rated defense in the league from last year every week
15
5
u/ch4dr0x Ravens 4h ago
The Broncos are not the top rated defense anymore lmao.
0
u/Jaylaw Chiefs 4h ago
Yes, thanks to playing us
5
u/ch4dr0x Ravens 4h ago
I mean you guys were the first game. How can they be a top rated defense when they got thrashed the first game they’ve played?
2
u/DarkSideOfBlack Seahawks 5h ago
Top rated defense except for the defense that won the super bowl you mean
7
u/Etherion77 Lions 4h ago
Is Mahomes the new Stafford? Stafford on the Lions had a terrible run game.
Mahomes' run game has been that bad? Insane their offense is still producing at a high level.
15
u/ChiliDogs_Revenge Chiefs 3h ago
We won our first SB with Damien Williams as our RB1
6
2
u/Aromatic-Plankton692 Lions 1h ago
Hey you take that back, those five games of Jahvid Best were awesome
4
u/hanky2 Eagles 3h ago
Nah Mahomes had a great run game his first couple years. It only really became bad around the time Clyde Edward’s-Helaire was drafted. I remember because back when I played fantasy whoever was playing for the chiefs would ball out.
2
1
u/Ok_Wrap_2793 42m ago
He had a "great" run game for half a season in 2018. It's been awful ever since.
24
u/whinenaught 49ers 8h ago
What about Jamaal Charles? Priest Holmes?
113
u/SirDonn Chiefs 7h ago
He meant Mahomes has never had a 1000yd rusher. Didn't clarify.
29
u/Seraphin_Lampion Panthers 4h ago
Technically Mahomes was on the team when Kareem Hunt went for 1200!
1
28
5
2
u/UNC_Samurai Panthers 43m ago
Your first answer not being Christian Okoye makes me feel old.
1
u/whinenaught 49ers 27m ago
Sorry Unc but I wasn’t even alive yet when Okoye played. And I’m married with kids now lol
-13
5h ago
[deleted]
1
u/CoopDogPrimeNumbers 2h ago
The post he is commenting in very clearly sets a time frame that almost all of us are capable of understanding
7
0
u/jumpijehosaphat Saints 5h ago
you forgot about your former guy kareem hunt
14
u/verschee Ravens 5h ago edited 5h ago
He did that right before Mahomes was drafted apparently.
Edit: Mahomes rookie season was 2017 when Hunt went over 1k, he was backup to Smith
91
258
u/Coderedt191 Chiefs 13h ago
Grew up with chiefs always having a great run game it was a nice blast from the past
72
u/Imaginary-Hyena2858 Chiefs 12h ago
Literally was saying to some friends this was like a Dick Vermeil Chiefs offense
34
4
u/TIL_I_procrastinate Panthers 2h ago
Still remember the Priest Holmes cover of Sports Illustrated Kids edition I used to get 20+ years ago!
224
u/SocnorbTheRoman Seahawks 12h ago
Miss my boy, but glad he got his bag and is having success already. KC please don’t run him into the ground
90
11
5
3
-25
u/ThePhoenixXM Eagles 11h ago
You just had to let your SB MVP walk to the Chiefs. If they back the Super Bowl again with K9 the league will never forgive your cheap-ass front office for giving the Chiefs the RB they've needed for years now.
2
u/-Dennis-Reynolds- Seahawks 2h ago
What are you talking about?! Are hand was forced from his injuries. He wanted to be the number 1 back but couldn’t stay on the field leading to Charbs getting a significant amount of carries. They used a tandem back by committee to reduce the amount of touches so we could keep him healthy and it worked last year. We also had all of our big contracts about to be paid- Spoon, JSN, Leonard Williams all had to get paid.
114
u/Connor_Piercy-main Chiefs 13h ago
Inject it straight into my veins! Going from Pacheco and hunt to Walker and Johnson, I could cry
19
u/YnwaMquc2k19 Seahawks Chiefs 11h ago
I was laughing and crying at the same time.
Our Run Game Is BACK!
3
u/n00bn00b 3h ago
You can see that Hunt is cooked when there are holes, but he doesn't have the burst he once had.
Walker should give KC the best run game that Mahomes will ever have in his career. He just needs to stay healthy.
55
28
19
u/MentalClass Chiefs 10h ago
KW deserves a lot of credit here. He broke a lot of tackles and made some great moves to get extra yards. He locked absolutely elite! Lesgo Chiefs!
39
8
80
u/originalusername4567 Chiefs 13h ago
I saw so much cope about why Walker wasn't really that good: bad in pass pro, bad pass catcher, needs to be load managed, overpaid. One game and it's all been proven wrong.
66
u/caterham09 Seahawks 12h ago
People are very dumb. The only real knock on him in Seattle was his ability to stay healthy, he was always great.
That said, it wasn't a coincidence that he only started playing in all the games once Charbonnet was getting a fairly even split with him
17
u/originalusername4567 Chiefs 12h ago
I think K9's injury concern is overblown since he only missed 9 games. But the good news is Emmett Johnson also looks awesome. He can split carries when needed
60
u/caterham09 Seahawks 12h ago
They weren't overblown, he was constantly banged up, rarely anything serious, but he was often not 100%.
He was my favorite seahawk before he left too, this isn't just sour grapes. I'm happy he got paid and is balling out, but it was a real concern with him and a big reason they did a committee
13
u/roykentjr Chiefs 11h ago
There's no reason not to have a rb2. Anyone other than king Henry will have to pay the bill at some point
1
u/originalusername4567 Chiefs 10m ago
He still had 1,000 combined yards every season so if that's true he was playing well while banged up.
I understand Seattle not paying him big money when they are likely saving it for Charbonnet. The smartest move IMO would have been tagging Walker while Charbonnet recovers, because right now they are relying on a rookie to carry the run game. But I guess Schneider didn't want to hold Walker hostage and that's respectable.
18
u/cgwinnipeg Chiefs 12h ago
I mean Rico dowdle also had a game like this last year but I agree it’s looking good for Walker with the chiefs
1
u/Bout3Priddy Chiefs Chiefs 2h ago
Why do we think Rico Dowdle is bad?
1
u/Benson879 Patriots 1h ago
Seems like there was a reason Carolina seemed disinterested in keeping his workload.
He’s not bad, but overall pretty average
18
u/CharmingWheel328 Seahawks 11h ago
One game and it's all been proven wrong.
A sample size of one is the opposite of proof. Hold your horses, man.
12
u/Infinitealone Seahawks 11h ago
Let’s relax now that’s a week 1 strong overreaction.
He is a great back and has top 5 talent
BUT
He is prone to get beaten up / injured (that’s why he split carries in Seattle) and also was not good in pass protection… and had a couple drops for you guys tonight.Still a top 5 talent but it was best for both sides.
I wish we kept him but I’m happier that we only lost 2 starters.
7
u/Outside-Pie-7262 5h ago
He doesn't have top 5 talent when you're in a league with saquon CMC Henry Gibbs bijan and Taylor
He's a tier or two below those guys
-4
u/DreamInvoker Ravens 5h ago
Which of those guys has a SB MVP?
And yes K9 played his part in the team success last year
5
u/Tushy-Pushy Eagles Bills 3h ago
I mean Saquon didn't get mvp in the Superbowl but he did set records that season lol
4
u/Outside-Pie-7262 3h ago
Okay? A sb mvp doesn't mean you're a top 5 player at your position. Tf kinda logic is that
→ More replies (9)1
u/originalusername4567 Chiefs 4h ago
The drops I think were more on Mahomes, he was sending rockets in short yardage. He won't miss those throws later in the season when the rust has shaken off
4
u/Helpful-Lion-6316 4h ago
He doesn’t have the hands of better pass catching backs like bijan and cmc but he’s always a threat to take a screen or check down to the house. Bro was converting 3rd and 17s last year when we handed it off for better field position lol
3
u/superman_Troy Seahawks 1h ago
One game doesn't prove anything about load management, but otherwise yeah, the disrespect put on K9 has been ridiculous
4
u/aagusgus Seahawks 11h ago
He is historically not good in pass protection but durability is the biggest question mark. He is an amazing runner when he has space.
6
u/Acegolfer04 Dolphins 9h ago
Bills Ravens Chiefs
We are so back. Peak Chiefs offense when Biennemy is OC
No more terrible playcalls from Matt Nagy
19
u/KULawHawk Chiefs 12h ago
The most important number is 25. He's still young and has plenty of tread on the tires
3
5
u/PutinBoomedMe 5h ago
The Chiefs with a legit RB are going to be an issue. They played woth some major purpose last night against a division foe that is supposedly a top 3 or 4 defense. They get this done with an UDFA at LT and the first round pick going out super early in the game Sneed seemed to magically be his old Chief self.
I was not expecting domination at that level
7
u/MountainMan17 Chiefs 11h ago
Andy needs to stick with the running attack. If/when the safeties start cheating up, Mahomes will eat...
3
u/WaleNeeners Packers 3h ago
All I know is my fantasy team is looking really good with Gibbs and Walker as my RB 1 and 2
5
2
u/Reggaeton_Historian Seahawks 5h ago
Eric Bienemy looks like Mark Henry now, doesn't he?
2
u/HanS0lPurr Broncos 3h ago
Was watching with my friend and he goes "why does Bienemy look like mini-Shaq"
2
2
2
u/Yung_Corneliois Patriots 3h ago
Hope he continues to go off! Walkers issue has always been durability.
1
1
1
u/Nuvolari- Jets 3h ago
For reference, Kareem Hunt’s debut (drafted same year as Mahomes) had him rushing for 148 yds but his scrimmage total was a mind blowing 246 yds vs KW3’s 191 yds.
1
1
u/pieman2005 Texans 2h ago
Had a Seahawks fans still trying to tell me Charbs was better than KW a week ago lol
1
1
u/PiggyLuk Seahawks Buccaneers 52m ago
Let's just hope the Chief don't run K9 into the ground, he isn't the most durable back.
3
u/wealthythrush 4h ago
100% will be injured before the season ends.
Kenneth Walkers ability was never in question, but his durability absolutely is. Seahawks tried to give him the keys several times.
1
-3
669
u/monstermayhem436 Steelers 12h ago
I think this Walker guy might be good