Despite dealing Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill to Miami in March, the Chiefs offense hasn’t missed a beat in 2022. With this season’s more diversified fleet of receivers, QB Patrick Mahomes has established himself as the favorite for league MVP, per OddsChecker.
In the offseason, Kansas City signed free-agent receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson and drafted Skyy Moore. Before the trade deadline, it acquired speedy Kadarius Toney from the Giants.
The Chiefs only returned one wide receiver, Mecole Hardman, from last year’s team. Hardman, who has missed the last month with an abdominal injury, is set to return Sunday against Denver, head coach Andy Reid said.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Mahomes said the addition of so many more playmakers has sparked the offense and made him an even better QB.
“It was either Tyreek or Travis [Kelce],” he told reporters about the 2021 offense.
In 2022, Kansas City has eight players with 200 or more yards receiving, with tight end Travis Kelce (1,257 yards) and Smith-Schuster (877) leading the way.
In brutally cold conditions in Week 16, Mahomes targeted nine different players. It wasn’t a great day for the offense, but the Chiefs defeated the Seahawks 24-10.
In a Week 15 win at Houston, Mahomes again targeted nine different players, with five catching three or more receptions.
Statistically, Mahomes is having his best season since 2018, his first year as starter, when he threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns. In 2022, Mahomes has thrown for 4,720 yards and 37 touchdowns.
In 2021, Kansas City averaged 396.8 yards and 28.2 points per game. In 2022, the Chiefs average 420.6 yards and 29.2 points.
As the regular season nears completion, the Chiefs offense seems as primed as ever for the playoffs.
