The Kansas City Chiefs defense faced more than a few problems in its Sunday game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Kansas City’s coverage problems were not limited to the Raiders’ star tight end, Brock Bowers. Of the 200 receiving yards achieved by Bowers and fellow tight ends Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas, Mayer and Thomas brought home 114. Kansas City was able to make enough timely stops to scrape by with a win, but the Chiefs defense needs to reevaluate how consistently its coverage can handle multiple receivers.
Bowers’ well-established role as a formidable tight end makes him anobvious target for the Chiefs’ defense. With five of 11 targets thwarted, whether by coverage, pressure, or inaccurate throws, Bowers came away with a manageable catch rate of 54.5%. Timing tells us more. Bowers came away with two first downs in the second quarter, 18 and 16 yards respectively, but only one in the third for four yards.
The KC defense had some good outcomes in the third against Bowers, with throws his way on third-and-seven and third-and-11 falling incomplete. In the fourth quarter, however, his two catches amounted to 41 yards, starting with a costly 21-yard third-and-11 conversion. For the second, quarterback Kirk Cousins was able to avoid a sack before finding Bowers for a 20-yard touchdown. Pressure must go hand-in-hand with coverage that can hold up when the quarterback escapes.
Mayer’s eight catches out of ten targets reveal just how dependable he is for the Las Vegas Raiders. He finished the game with 82 receiving yards, just four receiving yards behind Bowers. He secured 51 yards before halftime and 31 afterward, as well as producing first downs every quarter. Two were in the first for 10 and 15 yards, one in the second for 17, one in the third for 11, and one in the fourth for 11.
Kansas City did have sporadic successes. Mayer was short of the marker with a seven-yard reception in the second quarter on third-and-eight, but he remained essential as the stakes continued to climb. His 11-yard reception converted third-and-six, keeping a comeback opportunity for the Raiders alive. The KC Chiefs defense would do well to guard against double-teaming Bowers without factoring in the coverage someone like Mayer requires.
Despite his limited opportunities, Thomas wrapped the game with a 100% catch rate and significant consequences for the Chiefs. The results he produced with so few chances matter more than the impressive-looking catch rate. While he was the least-targeted tight end of the trio, Thomas delivered a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter, which raises serious questions for the Chiefs’ defense. He was wide open. How much of the success of that play was due to a clever offensive disguise, and how much was due to a failed defensive assignment? He also delivered a first down in the third quarter on third-and-two.
All five successful Raiders third-down conversions are attributable to Bowers, Mayer, and Thomas. Beyond their combined yardage, these players managed to repeatedly extend Raiders possessions. The Chiefs defense managed to contain Bowers at patchy intervals, but it’s not enough to just assign more defenders to the star tight end. Thomas provided the torque to get them off to an early start, Mayer delivered consistent momentum throughout the game, and Bowers made the late catches that kept them in the race up through the end. The trio’s performance wasn’t enough to secure a Raiders win at Allegiant Stadium this time, but it was too close for comfort. A defense facing a combination like that needs more than intermittent answers.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
