News Chiefs Team Notes

Chiefs-Cowboys snap counts: Vets take lead in short-rest Week 13 loss

gettyimages-2248787105.jpg


The Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-28 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Let’s look at how the Chiefs used their players in this game:


Starters (offensive): TE Travis Kelce, LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Mike Caliendo, RT Jawaan Taylor, WR Marquise Brown, WR Rashee Rice, WR Xavier Worthy, QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Kareem Hunt.

Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Chris Jones, DE Michael Danna, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Nick Bolton, LB Leo Chenal, DB Chamarri Conner, CB Jaylen Watson, CB Trent McDuffie and S Bryan Cook.

Did not play: QB Gardner Minshew

Inactive: CB Kristian Fulton, WR Jalen Royals, RB Elijah Mitchell, CB Christian Roland-Wallace, G Trey Smith, OL Esa Pole and TE Noah Gray.

The big takeaway​


The game in Dallas occurred four days after the Chiefs won 23-20 in overtime against the Indianapolis Colts. In that narrow victory, the offense ran a season-high 92 total plays. This season, the team averages 61 plays per game.

Untitled.jpg

Off the short week, Kansas City’s offense leaned on its veteran players. In the case of tight end Travis Kelce — who was on the field for a season-high 92% of snaps — it was out of necessity. Second tight end Noah Gray suffered a concussion against Indianapolis and did not play against the Cowboys.

Second-year tight end Jared Wiley made his season debut after being a healthy scratch for 11 games, playing the second-most snaps at the position (9) — but that was only 15% of the unit’s plays.

Kareem-Hunt-WK13.jpg

In the backfield, running back Kareem Hunt still led the position by taking the field for 74% of the Chiefs’ running plays following a game where he registered 30 carries (on 80% of the running plays) against the Colts. Running back Isiah Pacheco returned to the lineup for the first time since his knee injury, playing only 13% of the running calls. Hunt carried the ball 14 times, while Pacheco collected three rushes.

Kansas City’s defense may not have played a season-high number of snaps in Week 12, but defensive tackle Chris Jones played 88% of the defense’s snaps, including 94% of the pass plays; both marks are top-2 results for Jones this year. Against Dallas, he played 79% of the snaps, which was still more than his season average (74%).

Veteran safety Mike Edwards also played an impactful role after being elevated from the practice squad in response to defensive back Christian Roland-Wallace’s injury. Starting safety Bryan Cook left the game early, forcing Edwards to play 62% of the snaps in his season debut.

Offensive takeaways​


With the return of Pacheco, the backfield rotation tightened. That squeezed rookie running back Brashard Smith’s playing time.

Brashard-Smith-Wk13.jpg

Smith played a season-low 7% of offensive snaps, including just 3% of pass plays. He carved out a niche role in the offense earlier this season, but it appears Smith has lost any momentum he held as a playmaker for the Chiefs. Even though the Cowboys’ defense was vulnerable to catch-and-run plays, Smith was never used to attack that soft spot. He’s averaged 10.6 yards after catch over 19 receptions this year.

In Dallas, he played just 4% of the special teams’ snaps — despite a 33-yard kickoff return. Look for his special teams role to increase if he has a diminishing role on offense.

Defensive takeaways​


Against the Cowboys, two young defenders were on the field more usual — each for a different reason.

Gillotte-Wk13.jpg

Rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte played 47% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps, the highest snap rate he has recorded since Week 7. He was on the field for 54% of running plays; that’s the second-highest mark this season behind the blowout victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. His high-energy presence against the run helped eat into veteran defensive end Charles Omenihu’s reps in run defense; he played just 35% of run snaps, the third-lowest rate of his season.

Jaden-Hicks.jpg

Second-year safety Jaden Hicks was thrown into the fire due to the injuries of Cook and Roland-Wallace. He played 85% of the defense’s snaps, the highest rate he has played in a game since last year’s regular-season finale. In Dallas, Hicks flashed the playmaking he displayed as a rookie, breaking up two passes and recording a quarterback hit.

While Hicks managed the larger workload on defense, he maintained a significant role on special teams. He played 86% of snaps for the third phase, the second-highest mark he has recorded in 2025.

Data​

Offense​


OffenseAllPassRun
Total60
(100%)		37
(100%)		23
(100%)
Mike Caliendo60
(100%)		37
(100%)		23
(100%)
Creed Humphrey60
(100%)		37
(100%)		23
(100%)
Patrick Mahomes60
(100%)		37
(100%)		23
(100%)
Kingsley Suamataia60
(100%)		37
(100%)		23
(100%)
Travis Kelce55
(92%)		34
(92%)		21
(91%)
Rashee Rice54
(90%)		34
(92%)		20
(87%)
Xavier Worthy53
(88%)		31
(84%)		22
(96%)
Josh Simmons41
(68%)		21
(57%)		20
(87%)
Kareem Hunt40
(67%)		23
(62%)		17
(74%)
Jaylon Moore34
(57%)		24
(65%)		10
(43%)
Jawaan Taylor28
(47%)		13
(35%)		15
(65%)
Marquise Brown26
(43%)		16
(43%)		10
(43%)
Wanya Morris19
(32%)		16
(43%)		3
(13%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster19
(32%)		11
(30%)		8
(35%)
Isiah Pacheco16
(27%)		13
(35%)		3
(13%)
Tyquan Thornton14
(23%)		11
(30%)		3
(13%)
Jared Wiley9
(15%)		7
(19%)		2
(9%)
Robert Tonyan6
(10%)		3
(8%)		3
(13%)
Brashard Smith4
(7%)		1
(3%)		3
(13%)
Hunter Nourzad3
(5%)		2
(5%)		1
(4%)

Defense​


DefenseAllPassRun
Total66
(100%)		40
(100%)		26
(100%)
Trent McDuffie66
(100%)		40
(100%)		26
(100%)
Jaylen Watson66
(100%)		40
(100%)		26
(100%)
Nick Bolton65
(98%)		39
(98%)		26
(100%)
Chamarri Conner63
(95%)		38
(95%)		25
(96%)
Drue Tranquill59
(89%)		34
(85%)		25
(96%)
Jaden Hicks56
(85%)		37
(93%)		19
(73%)
Chris Jones52
(79%)		33
(83%)		19
(73%)
George Karlaftis50
(76%)		32
(80%)		18
(69%)
Mike Edwards41
(62%)		25
(63%)		16
(62%)
Charles Omenihu37
(56%)		28
(70%)		9
(35%)
Leo Chenal34
(52%)		19
(48%)		15
(58%)
Ashton Gillotte31
(47%)		17
(43%)		14
(54%)
Michael Danna26
(39%)		12
(30%)		14
(54%)
Mike Pennel22
(33%)		12
(30%)		10
(38%)
Jerry Tillery20
(30%)		10
(25%)		10
(38%)
Derrick Nnadi19
(29%)		9
(23%)		10
(38%)
Bryan Cook12
(18%)		9
(23%)		3
(12%)
Nohl Williams7
(11%)		6
(15%)		1
(4%)
Joshua Williams1
(2%)		0
(0%)		1
(4%)

Special Teams​


Special TeamsSnaps
Total28
(100%)
Leo Chenal24
(86%)
Jack Cochrane24
(86%)
Jaden Hicks24
(86%)
Kevin Knowles II24
(86%)
Jeff Bassa19
(68%)
Cooper McDonald19
(68%)
Joshua Williams19
(68%)
Nohl Williams19
(68%)
Robert Tonyan14
(50%)
Matt Araiza9
(32%)
Harrison Butker9
(32%)
James Winchester9
(32%)
Nikko Remigio8
(29%)
Tyquan Thornton8
(29%)
Chamarri Conner6
(21%)
Mike Edwards6
(21%)
Nick Bolton5
(18%)
Michael Danna5
(18%)
Ashton Gillotte5
(18%)
George Karlaftis5
(18%)
Derrick Nnadi5
(18%)
Jerry Tillery5
(18%)
Drue Tranquill5
(18%)
Jared Wiley5
(18%)
Mike Caliendo4
(14%)
Creed Humphrey4
(14%)
Jaylon Moore4
(14%)
Wanya Morris4
(14%)
Hunter Nourzad4
(14%)
Kingsley Suamataia4
(14%)
Josh Simmons2
(7%)
Brashard Smith1
(4%)

All Snaps​


All SnapsOffDefSTTotal
Total60
(100%)		66
(100%)		28
(100%)		154
(100%)
Matt Araiza0
(0%)		0
(0%)		9
(32%)		9
(6%)
Jeff Bassa0
(0%)		0
(0%)		19
(68%)		19
(12%)
Nick Bolton0
(0%)		65
(98%)		5
(18%)		70
(45%)
Marquise Brown26
(43%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		26
(17%)
Harrison Butker0
(0%)		0
(0%)		9
(32%)		9
(6%)
Mike Caliendo60
(100%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		64
(42%)
Leo Chenal0
(0%)		34
(52%)		24
(86%)		58
(38%)
Jack Cochrane0
(0%)		0
(0%)		24
(86%)		24
(16%)
Chamarri Conner0
(0%)		63
(95%)		6
(21%)		69
(45%)
Bryan Cook0
(0%)		12
(18%)		0
(0%)		12
(8%)
Michael Danna0
(0%)		26
(39%)		5
(18%)		31
(20%)
Ashton Gillotte0
(0%)		31
(47%)		5
(18%)		36
(23%)
Jaden Hicks0
(0%)		56
(85%)		24
(86%)		80
(52%)
Creed Humphrey60
(100%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		64
(42%)
Kareem Hunt40
(67%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		40
(26%)
Chris Jones0
(0%)		52
(79%)		0
(0%)		52
(34%)
George Karlaftis0
(0%)		50
(76%)		5
(18%)		55
(36%)
Travis Kelce55
(92%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		55
(36%)
Kevin Knowles II0
(0%)		0
(0%)		24
(86%)		24
(16%)
Patrick Mahomes60
(100%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		60
(39%)
Cooper McDonald0
(0%)		0
(0%)		19
(68%)		19
(12%)
Trent McDuffie0
(0%)		66
(100%)		0
(0%)		66
(43%)
Jaylon Moore34
(57%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		38
(25%)
Wanya Morris19
(32%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		23
(15%)
Derrick Nnadi0
(0%)		19
(29%)		5
(18%)		24
(16%)
Hunter Nourzad3
(5%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		7
(5%)
Charles Omenihu0
(0%)		37
(56%)		0
(0%)		37
(24%)
Isiah Pacheco16
(27%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		16
(10%)
Mike Pennel0
(0%)		22
(33%)		0
(0%)		22
(14%)
Nikko Remigio0
(0%)		0
(0%)		8
(29%)		8
(5%)
Rashee Rice54
(90%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		54
(35%)
Josh Simmons41
(68%)		0
(0%)		2
(7%)		43
(28%)
Brashard Smith4
(7%)		0
(0%)		1
(4%)		5
(3%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster19
(32%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		19
(12%)
Kingsley Suamataia60
(100%)		0
(0%)		4
(14%)		64
(42%)
Jawaan Taylor28
(47%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		28
(18%)
Tyquan Thornton14
(23%)		0
(0%)		8
(29%)		22
(14%)
Jerry Tillery0
(0%)		20
(30%)		5
(18%)		25
(16%)
Robert Tonyan6
(10%)		0
(0%)		14
(50%)		20
(13%)
Drue Tranquill0
(0%)		59
(89%)		5
(18%)		64
(42%)
Jaylen Watson0
(0%)		66
(100%)		0
(0%)		66
(43%)
Jared Wiley9
(15%)		0
(0%)		5
(18%)		14
(9%)
Joshua Williams0
(0%)		1
(2%)		19
(68%)		20
(13%)
Nohl Williams0
(0%)		7
(11%)		19
(68%)		26
(17%)
James Winchester0
(0%)		0
(0%)		9
(32%)		9
(6%)
Xavier Worthy53
(88%)		0
(0%)		0
(0%)		53
(34%)
Mike Edwards0
(0%)		41
(62%)		6
(21%)		47
(31%)

Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride obtains snap count data from the NFL’s game stats and information system, which allows us to break out snap counts by run or pass on offensive and defensive plays. Because GSIS data ignores plays that were nullified by penalties, total offensive and defensive snap counts will vary from other sources, which get their data from NFL Gamebooks
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...nts-vets-take-lead-in-short-rest-cowboys-loss
 
Chiefs News 11/29: Chiefs graded a ‘B’ for loss to Cowboys

gettyimages-2248787717.jpg

The latest​


NFL Thanksgiving grades for Week 13: Cowboys ace test, Packers earn ‘A-‘ | CBS Sports

B – Chiefs
After seven straight years of reaching at least the AFC title game with Patrick Mahomes, this might have been the dagger that finally ends Kansas City’s playoff streak. This loss epitomized the Chiefs’ entire season: The team that always finds a way to win close games lost another close game. After going 12-0 in one-score games last year, the Chiefs are 1-6 this year. The defense couldn’t get a single stop in the fourth quarter and they failed to stop the Cowboys’ on almost every key third down that came up. On the offensive side of the ball, Patrick Mahomes was impressive, but the offense also disappeared at times. The unit punted on four straight possessions during a span that ran from the second quarter to the third quarter. There were also some ugly drops and two questionable punts in the second half that came on fourth-and-5 or shorter in Cowboys territory. It’s been a nightmare season for the Chiefs (6-6), and at this point, they only shot they’re going to have of making the playoffs is if they win out, and even then, it won’t be guaranteed.
Click to expand...

Chiefs Quote of the Day

“We’ve got to put it all together for four quarters in this league. That’s something we’ve been great at in the past. But it’s not the past. Now it’s the present. You have to be able to do that week-in and week-out. Even last week, we weren’t consistent — and we won the game. So, it’s just being consistent throughout an entire game, bringing the right mindset [and] the right energy. It’s something that we’re going to have to do the rest of the way out.”

— Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Click to expand...

Chiefs’ locker room was different after loss to Cowboys. So was Patrick Mahomes | The Athletic

This was minutes after the Chiefs’ 31-28 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, and Karlaftis turned away from his locker to face reporters, preparing himself not to offer excuses for his team’s latest close loss.

“We’ve got to dig deeper, got to do more, got to look at ourselves in the mirror,” Karlaftis said. “Now is where this team is going to figure out what we’re made of.”

Look around the rest of the locker room — and at Karlaftis, too — and there might be more reasons to doubt the Chiefs can actually pull themselves out of the 6-6 hole they’ve already dug this year.

Ahead of Karlaftis was rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, who exited the game with a wrist injury. He already had a cast on by postgame, his arm also supported by a black sling. Next to him was right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who suffered a strained tricep. That left him checking his phone afterward while sporting a black sleeve that covered his elbow and upper arm.
Click to expand...

Top Draft Needs of Every NFL Team in 2026 Entering Season’s Home Stretch | Bleacher Report


Top Scheme Fits on B/R Big Board

Jadarian Price, Notre Dame (No. 37)

Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M (No. 72)

Kaytron Allen, Penn State (No. 98

The Isiah Pacheco era could be over at the end of the 2025 season. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal and his waning production and health could make him a risky player to re-sign. The Chiefs drafted Breshard Smith in last year’s draft, but he’s more of a pass-catching specialist.

Jeremiyah Love is obviously the top back in this year’s class, but the Chiefs won’t even likely have a chance to draft him. Brett Veach might also be hesitant to draft a first-round running back after Clyde Edwards-Helaire. However, Love’s backfield mate has worked his way up to RB2 status on our big board.

Le’Veon Moss would pair well with Smith as well.

“Moss is a tough runner who excels when his shoulders are squared to the line of scrimmage, working downhill. He runs well behind his pads between the tackles. He powers through arm tackles and pushes piles with his strong leg drive,” B/R scout Dame Parson wrote of the Aggie running back.
Click to expand...

Around the NFL​


Bears beat Eagles in Philly as boos rain down on Lincoln Financial | ESPN

The only team that entered Week 13 with a better record in one-score games than the Chicago Bears (6-1) was the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2), who were tied with the Broncos for the most one-score wins in the NFL.

So naturally, this pivotal NFC showdown ended in relatively close fashion, with the Bears beating the Eagles 24-15 to record their fifth straight win.

After only 12 games in the Ben Johnson era, this win is the most impactful and biggest for the franchise in years. Chicago remains in first place in the NFC North and is one step closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Friday’s win went a long way in changing the conversation about whether the Bears are as good as their record. They beat the defending Super Bowl champions on the road and legitimized their place in the NFC hierarchy.
Click to expand...

Daniel Jones injury: Colts QB dealing with fractured fibula, per report | CBS Sports

Jones initially appeared on the Colts’ Week 12 injury report with a calf injury. Prior to the Colts’ game against the Chiefs, CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reported that Jones in fact was dealing with a fibula injury while adding that he was not in jeopardy of missing that game.

Despite the injury, Jones played in the Colts’ Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He went 19 of 31 for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 23-20 overtime loss. The Chiefs failed to sack Jones, but he ran the ball just three times for 16 yards.

“It was just something that was hanging over, realized it last week,” said Jones, who was a full participant in practice. “Just trying to get treatment and make sure I’m in the best spot that I can be.”

Jones also made it clear that he has every intention of playing in the Colts’ upcoming home game against the Houston Texans.

“I’ll be ready to go on Sunday,” he said. “Obviously, (I) was out there last week. I’m good to go.”
Click to expand...

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​


5 things we learned from the Chiefs’ dissappointing loss to the Cowboys

2. The Chiefs are tired

The Chiefs are not bad. They are exhausted.

They are not worn out from playing on a short week. They are worn out from playing in three straight Super Bowls — and battling through one nail-biter after another.

You could see it on quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ face as he sat on the sideline watching the game slip away. This team looks like a legion of warriors who’ve been out on an endless campaign without reinforcements.

Since 2018 (including the playoffs), the Chiefs have played 149 games. That’s 18 more than half of the league’s teams. That’s more than a whole extra season of tough games won and lost — and in those high-stakes, win-or-go-home matchups, Kansas City’s players pushed their bodies to unimaginable extremes.

I don’t think this team has lost the will to fight. But there is only so much a human body can take before it fails the spirit within it.
Click to expand...

Social media to make you think​

Chiefs were 11-1 last year with a point margin of +54.

They're 6-6 this year with a point margin of +73.

¯_(ツ)_/¯

— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) November 28, 2025
Click to expand...

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

Click to expand...

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-11-29-chiefs-graded-a-b-for-loss-to-cowboys
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top