Chiefs-Steelers snap counts: How workforce coated for Chris Jones’ absence

In Week 17, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs recorded a 29-10 highway victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 postseason seed.

Let’s contemplate how Kansas Metropolis used its gamers because it set a brand new franchise file for regular-season wins.

Starters (offensive): WR Marquise Brown, TE Travis Kelce, LT Joe Thuney, LG Mike Caliendo, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Xavier Worthy, QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Isiah Pacheco.

Starters (defensive): DT Tershawn Wharton, DT Mike Pennel, DE Michael Danna, LB Leo Chenal, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Trent McDuffie, CB Joshua Williams, CB Christian Roland-Wallace, S Bryan Cook dinner and S Justin Reid.

Didn’t play: QB Carson Wentz.

Inactive: DB Chamarri Conner, LB Joshua Uche, OL C.J. Hanson, T D.J. Humphries, OT Ethan Driskell, DE Malik Herring and DT Chris Jones.

The massive takeaway

In Wednesday’s matchup, defensive sort out Chris Jones was on the sideline with a calf damage.

As we see right here, Jones persistently performs at the very least 70% of the snaps — sometimes greater than 80%. Nobody else on the line of defense will get almost as a lot work. Due to this fact, going into the sport, one of many greatest questions was how the Chiefs would substitute Jones if he didn’t play.

Right here’s the quick reply: by virtually doubling the current use of defensive sort out Tershawn Wharton. Like Jones, Wharton is usually used extra typically on passing performs — so on that foundation, it’s not terribly shocking.

Nonetheless, it will have been affordable to foretell that defensive finish Charles Omenihu would have seen a pointy enhance in use in Jones’ absence — however as proven right here, that isn’t what occurred. Whereas it did enhance over earlier video games, it seems to be extra like Kansas Metropolis was merely persevering with to ramp him as much as his 2023 use: between 50-70% of the defensive snaps.

In his first recreation taking part in for the Chiefs, defensive sort out Marlon Tuipulotu was in for 18% of the snaps.

We additionally see one thing attention-grabbing with defensive ends George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

On Christmas, Karlaftis’ use dropped under his regular vary of use, whereas Anudike-Uzomah’s jumped upwards. Was this in response to Jones lacking time? That appears probably.

In any other case, defensive linemen Michael Danna (52%), Derrick Nnadi (25%) and Mike Pennel (16%) have been all of their regular ranges of use.

Offensive takeaways

For less than the third time this season — and the primary time for the reason that Chiefs’ Week 11 highway loss to the Buffalo Payments — the offense (45%) was on the sector for fewer snaps than the protection (55%). The offense’s go/run ratio of 64/36 was proper within the workforce’s regular vary.
Left guard Joe Thuney continued to play at left sort out, whereas reserve offensive lineman Mike Caliendo once more took his place at left guard. They — together with middle Creed Humphrey, proper sort out Trey Smith and left sort out Jawaan Taylor — performed each offensive snap. Wanya Morris (2%) was in for one.
Tight finish Travis Kelce (88%) was in his regular vary, whereas his No. 2 Noah Grey (42%) was considerably under his regular use. A part of this was as a result of Peyton Hendershot (5%) was again from the Reserve/Injured listing, however the workforce additionally averaged 1.36 tight ends for each play, which was the season’s lowest determine.
It appears this was as a result of the workforce might lastly shift its emphasis towards the wideouts. Kansas Metropolis averaged 2.63 large receivers for every play — the season’s highest determine. Xavier Worthy (88%) led the group, adopted by JuJu Smith-Schuster (53%), DeAndre Hopkins (44%), Marquise Brown (42%) and Justin Watson (34%). (That was a season-high for Brown — and a season-low for Watson). Nikko Remigio (2%) had one offensive snap.
Whereas working again Isiah Pacheco (34%) began the sport, Kareem Hunt (49%) had considerably extra snaps. Samaje Perine (17%) continued for use largely within the passing recreation.

Defensive takeaways

Whereas gamers like cornerback Trent McDuffie (85%) and security Justin Reid (84%) are sometimes on the sector for all the defensive snaps, each acquired a while off within the fourth quarter. This allowed gamers like cornerback Keith Taylor (32%) and observe squad security Deon Bush (14%) to get extra snaps.
Security Jaden Hicks (70%) and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (67% — virtually all of it within the slot) each had their highest use charges of the season. Cornerbacks Joshua Williams (55%) and Nazeeh Johnson (47%) each performed virtually all of their snaps on the surface.
Linebacker Nick Bolton (78%) additionally acquired a while off within the Steelers’s closing drive, permitting reserve Cam Jones (8%) and observe squad participant Swayze Bozeman (10%) to get some work on protection. Drue Tranquill (73%) and Leo Chenal (40%) have been each of their regular ranges of use.

Knowledge

Offense

Protection

Particular Groups

All Snaps

Editor’s Be aware: Arrowhead Delight obtains snap rely information from the NFL’s recreation stats and knowledge system, which permits us to interrupt out snap counts by run or go on offensive and defensive performs. As a result of GSIS information ignores performs that have been nullified by penalties, whole offensive and defensive snap counts will range from different sources, which get their information from NFL Gamebooks