Chiefs News: Andy Reid ‘wants to use all’ wide recipients versus bills

A central curiosity that comes out of Kansas City Chiefs ’23 -14 Divisional Round Playoff victory against Houston Texans was the use of the team’s wide receiver space.

Rookie Xavier Worthy was the only width that recorded a catch, ending with five receptions in 45 yards. Veterans Hollywood Brown, Deandre Hopkins and Juju Smith-Schuster combined only four incomplete goals, with only Brown on the field for more than half of Kansas City’s 49 offensive snaps.

Before Wednesday’s practice, head coach Andy Reid refused any bearing on the ultimate snap counts or measurement.

“That’s how it worked,” Reid explained. “We will use them all. They are all great players. There is only one ball, so it happened to go in the other direction. Not for any reason did not come their way – they are all part of it. “

The other direction it happened that the ball was going to the tight end of Travis Kelce – which turned back with a vintage state line of seven catches in 117 yards and a touchdown.

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

When he spoke after Reid, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Kelce’s monster performance attributed to the heavy attention players like Brown and Hopkins so.

“The attention was paid to (Brown and Hopkins),” the league remembered the league, “and they made sure to put a shell over the top of these guys. It allowed the middle of the field to be open to Travis. This is how you should do in this league.

“Every time certain matchups work for you, you go to them. You still want that opportunity, thought, and I think we’ll try to be better this week, giving them more and more options downfield. “

Mahomes also described a way Brown had an impact on the game, even without registering a catch. In the second quarter, the two narrowly missed on a deep pass that would have put chiefs in the red zone. On the next spectacle, Mahomes Kelce found the run for a 49-yard win for the Houston 6-Yard line. Three plays later, Chiefs scored their first touchdown in the afternoon.

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

“Even in the one where we didn’t end it – it down the field – scared that kind of them,” Mahomes noted. “The next spectacle, Travis hits one over the middle and makes a great spectacle happen. It’s kind of versatility of the offense – just finding the day what works best. “

Hopkins also spoke before Wednesday’s practice. The veteran denied that his limited use was injury -related and he was not one of the four bosses listed on Wednesday’s original injuries.

“I’m doing well,” Hopkins declared.

Brown returned last month after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury. Reid noticed the benefit of having almost all of the team’s offensive weapons available over the past few weeks, but reiterated that a deeper space results in fewer options for individual numbers.

“The last few weeks have been big,” the coach said. “Everyone has been up and ready to go. It has not been a problem that way. They all come in and get a chance to play. As far as the passport goes, it just depends on where the ball is on its way. We have full confidence in them all. They are all really good players. “