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Tom Brady named three teams in particular that could pose a threat
Surprising WR earned Chiefs’ top PFF grade in loss to Lions | Chiefs Wire
Kansas City’s starters only played in the first quarter, allowing second and third-string players to see meaningful snaps as they vie to earn spots on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.
When Pro Football Focus released their grades for the preseason tilt, fourth-year wide receiver Cornell Powell was revealed to be Kansas City’s top performer after a spectacular showing in the loss.
Powell’s 91.3 grade was well-earned and reflected his outsized impact on the Chiefs’ effort against Detroit, where he caught one pass for 64 yards and scored a touchdown.
Can anyone keep the Chiefs from another Super Bowl? Plus, a mind-blowing MLB stat | The Athletic
Are the Chiefs really going to three-peat as AFC champs?
Before we get to the choice, let’s briefly break down both sides:
Yes: This team has the NFL’s best quarterback, arguably its best coach and a solid defense. They won the Super Bowl despite lacking receivers, and they’ve since upgraded there. The stars are signed to good contracts. This may be an easy choice, frankly.
No: The AFC outside of Kansas City is so, so good. Baltimore will be good again. So will Cincinnati and Houston. Miami and Buffalo have the talent to win it. The Chiefs have played 41 games over the last two seasons. Three-peats are hard.
Austin’s model predicts Kansas City to have the most wins in the AFC at 11.3. Cincy and Baltimore trail with 10.2 projected wins apiece. See the full list here.
Full 2024 NFL season win-loss record predictions for every team: Eagles, Steelers underachieve; Rams impress | CBS Sports
DraftKings win total: 11.5 (over -115)
Brinson projected record: 12-5
The unfathomable finally happened in 2023: The Chiefs went under their win total for the first time since Andy Reid took over in Kansas City way back in 2013. And they promptly won the division and then won the Super Bowl. Naturally. Now KC is trying for a three-peat, and in order to bolster the offense, Reid and GM Brett Veach added Hollywood Brown in free agency and Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft. Patrick Mahomes now has some actual vertical threats who will pair perfectly with Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice eating up underneath. Losing L’Jarius Sneed on defense hurts for sure, but this unit has quietly been awesome the last few years and shouldn’t drop off much. Steve Spagnuolo deserves a ton of credit for helping develop some excellent young picks, and Veach as well for finding it and retaining most of it. I could see the Chiefs not putting their foot on the gas all season to save up for the playoffs. Or maybe they just bash everyone on offense to let people know.
2024 NFL season: One potential first-time Pro Bowler from each team | NFL.com
Trent McDuffie
CB · Year 3
With L’Jarius Sneed heading to the Titans this offseason, McDuffie becomes the CB1 for the reigning Super Bowl champs. One of the rare first-team All-Pros who hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl, McDuffie boasts the kinds of physical traits, acumen and drive that make great corners. Now that Sneed is gone, will Steve Spagnuolo move McDuffie around to match him against opposing WR1s, or will he keep the corner on one side of the formation? If Spags lets his top corner travel, we’ll truly see McDuffie’s lock-down skills on display.
The Chiefs Charity Game Celebrated its 40th Anniversary on Saturday | The Mothership
The event – which has partnered with a variety of charitable organizations over the years – has raised more than $15 million over its four decades of existence, with approximately $7 million being raised over the last 13 years alone.
Annually the first preseason game of the year at GEHA Field at Arrowhead, the Chiefs Charity Game, which celebrated its 40th edition on Saturday, has grown into the marquee event of its type in the NFL, but like most great institutions, its beginnings were humble.
In fact, the concept behind the event has its roots in a simple conversation between local business leaders who were eager to make a difference for children in Kansas City.
Around the NFL
Los Angeles Chargers welcome Justin Herbert back to practice | ESPN
Herbert had been on the sidelines in a walking boot for two weeks, though at the time of the diagnosis, he was expected to be ready for Week 1, the team said, after completing a “gradual return to play protocol” process.
“It felt great,” coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked what it was like to see his starter back under center. “It felt like music should be playing, I thought I heard music, voices of angels maybe. It felt great.”
Harbaugh has been steadfast, throughout the injury process, that Herbert wouldn’t miss a beat in adapting to a new offense, saying last month that it was still “full steam ahead” without him.
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs ‘trending the right way’ to play Week 1 | ESPN
Campbell expects the second-year star to return to practice next week following Detroit’s final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 24.
“He’s trending the right way,” Campbell said ahead of Tuesday’s practice. “Wish we had more practice with him, but as far as the health of it, he is healing and he’s on schedule to be back and get his legs back under him and we’ll see where he’s at.”
Gibbs, 22, exited the Aug. 12 night practice early to be evaluated for a leg injury, although it was unclear what happened on the play.
As a rookie in 2023, he played a pivotal role in the offense while rushing for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 316 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.
Raiders QB battle: Gardner Minshew named starter over Aidan O’Connell; Antonio Pierce explains decision | CBS Sports
After two preseason games and the team’s entire offseason program, head coach Antonio Pierce said he would make the decision to name either journeyman Gardner Minshew, who they signed to a two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed this offseason after playing five seasons with the Jaguars (2019-2020), Eagles (2021-20022) and Colts (2023), or 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell as the Raiders’ starting quarterback to begin the 2024 regular season.
“Yeah, we’ve seen enough reps,” Pierce said postgame Saturday. “Two games, like we talked about. Our guys are not playing in the third preseason game, our starters, so we’ll sleep on it and make a decision in the next couple days.”
It didn’t take long for Pierce to come to a conclusion after the Raiders’ home game against Dallas, a 27-12 defeat. He named Minshew the starter for the 2024 regular season on Sunday and, per NFL Media, has already told both players of his decision.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs News: Second cornerback position ‘might be a committee’
Head coach Andy Reid was asked about the competition before practice on Monday, giving an update on the battle between Watson, Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson.
“We got some guys that can play,” Reid acknowledged. “We need to see Jaylen get out there; if he can play, then he’ll play and see where he’s at. Some of those other guys have grown and shown some good stuff. We’ll just see how it goes.
“It might be a committee over there, but there is some talent there.”
The group’s unavailability this preseason has contributed to the Chiefs’ lack of an answer. On top of Watson recovering from a labrum injury, Johnson has missed practice and game snaps due to lower-leg injuries since camp started. Preseason Week 2 was Johnson’s first live action since the 2022 preseason, and Reid noticed Johnson do well in his return.
“I actually thought he did a pretty good job,” Reid described. “He was a little bit sore coming out of it, but I thought he played well. His man coverage stuff was good.”
