Tag: 2022 Special Teams Reviews

Chiefs special teams review: Where did the unit rank during the 2022 NFL season?

Our @WesleyRoesch unveils his season-long review of the #Chiefs’ special teams unit with stats and superlatives.

2022 was a success for the Super Bowl LVII-winning Kansas City Chiefs, and special teams played partial role in that success despite some growing pains during the regular season.

When looking at the Chiefs’ special teams unit as a whole throughout the entirety of 2022, it took a step down compared to 2021. The team’s special teams ranked 16th in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA (playoffs included) in 2022, falling far below its second-place ranking in 2021.

So what changed to make the Chiefs go from a top-two squad to the middle of the pack? Several factors contributed to the drop, including:

  • Rookies: 11 made the team, with 10 playing significant special teams snaps. Many rookies played well, but there were still growing pains.
  • Fumbling issues: The Chiefs fumbled the ball seven times on returns, losing five of them.
  • Field goal inconsistency: Injuries at the kicker position plus alleged holding issues led to inconsistency with field goals for most of the season.
  • Uncertainty at punt returner: The Chiefs used four different punt returners before settling on one as the team’s go-to guy.

Despite the initial challenges, the Chiefs’ special teams unit pulled it together and performed well down the stretch, especially during the postseason. It even had a few plays that were difference-makers in the Chiefs winning the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl.

With the 2022 season at a close, this final review will detail the performance of each Chiefs special teams subunit. All stats listed below cover the regular season and postseason (20 games total) unless noted. For snap counts, full player grades and more detailed stats, visit my Google Sheet and browse each of the tabs.

Chiefs special teams film review, Super Bowl LVII: Kadarius Toney’s game-changing punt return

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down the #Chiefs’ special teams performance in the Super Bowl LVII win over the #Eagles.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions once again, and this time it was partially due to special teams play.

That’s not something anyone expected after the volatile season that coordinator Dave Toub’s unit had in 2022. Some of the Chiefs’ special teams subunits were downright bad during the regular season, with the punt return squad performing the worst.

However, it was the Chiefs’ punt return squad that put the team in position to take a larger lead against the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII, just two weeks after it did the exact same thing in the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals. So after all of this season’s trials and tribulations, the Chiefs’ punt return squad figured things out when it mattered most.

With our final Chiefs special teams film review of the 2022-23 season, we will highlight the astonishing fourth-quarter punt return by receiver/returner Kadarius Toney in Super Bowl 57. Following this review, be on the lookout for our final full-season Chiefs special teams review coming in the next couple of weeks, where I’ll dive further into the stats, snap counts and grades for individual players that I compiled during the season.

Chiefs special teams film review, AFC Championship Game: Skyy Moore gets redemption

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down the #Chiefs’ special teams performance in the AFC Championship Game win over the #Bengals.

2022 hasn’t been a great year for the Chiefs’ special teams unit, which has been inconsistent and untrustworthy for most of the season.

So, naturally, the Chiefs’ special teams had what might have been its best performance of the entire season in the AFC Championship Game.

It’s the perfect time for the unit to peak and play its best ball. Kansas City’s special teams unit was absolutely crucial in the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. All subunits put forth an incredible effort while not hindering the team at all, save for a couple of small errors.

This review will take a look at how each subunit contributed to the victory, and then will wrap up with a few extra notes. Additionally, make sure to view my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a closer look at the unit’s performance.

Chiefs special teams film review, divisional round: The good, the bad, and the future

Our @WesleyRoesch reviews the good and bad from the #Chiefs’ special teams unit vs. the Jaguars, and notes how it can succeed in the AFCCG.

As has been the case for much of the 2022 season, the Chiefs’ special teams unit was a mixed bag in their 27-20 divisional round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Some things went right while some things went very wrong, but surprisingly it wasn’t the usual suspects who succeeded and struggled this past week. We’ll go into detail about the good and bad from the Chiefs’ special teams performance against the Jags, and then discuss how Kansas City can succeed on special teams in the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In addition to this review, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into the unit’s performance.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 18: Appreciating rookie contributions

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to highlight some #Chiefs rookie special teams performances from Week 18 and the entire 2022 regular season.

After a rough Week 17, the Chiefs’ special teams unit got back on track in Week 18 in a 31-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

It’s good that special teams could be hitting their stride heading into the playoffs because the Chiefs will need to see mistake-free football from all three phases in order to make a Super Bowl run. Kansas City’s special teams was indeed mistake-free in Week 18, with some good plays being made by a few of the team’s rookies.

This week’s review will highlight the Chiefs’ rookie contributions on special teams, particularly from a few high performers. Additionally, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into the unit’s performance.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 17: Nazeeh Johnson has emerged

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to find a positive note from the #Chiefs’ Week 17 special teams performance.

The Chiefs’ first matchup against the Broncos in Week 14 was one of the best games of the season for Kansas City’s special teams unit.

In Week 17 vs. Denver, it was one of the unit’s worst games. It was so bad that the unit dropped from 18th to 24th overall in Football Outsider’s special teams DVOA rankings.

It’s not even due to poor play across the board, either, but rather silly mental errors that seem to be easily fixable. Some of these frustrating issues have been a problem for the Chiefs all season long.

Thankfully, the unit wasn’t all bad. We’ll start with the biggest positive — that rookie safety Nazeeh Johnson has been impressive on special teams in the second half of the season. Then we’ll dive into the issues that plagued the team in Week 17.

Additionally, be sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a closer look at player performances.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 16: Deon Bush, Justin Watson impress

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to break down the good and bad from the #Chiefs’ special teams performance in Week 16.

Special teams was a plus for the Chiefs in their 24-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks, with only a couple of small blunders from the unit in Week 16.

It’s a good sign that Kansas City has strung together multiple quality performances in a row this late in the season, especially up against such good competition. The Chiefs’ last two opponents — the Seahawks and Houston Texans — boast the No. 1 and 2 special teams units, respectively, in DVOA by Football Outsiders.

The Chiefs’ special teams performance against Seattle was particularly noteworthy because it featured a couple of game-saving plays from familiar faces which we’ll highlight in this review. There were also some new faces introduced to the unit which we’ll discuss (plus more) in the notes section.

Make sure to browse my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets as well for a closer look at player performances. I recently added a “totals” column in the stats section which tallies a bunch of stats that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 15: Kadarius Toney’s back on punt returns

Our @WesleyRoesch heads to the film to check out #Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney’s latest snaps at the punt returner position.

The Chiefs seem to be in a pattern where special teams will stand out one week — for better or worse — and then go quiet the next week. Week 15 was the latter.

In Kansas City’s 30-24 overtime win over the Houston Texans, the Chiefs’ special teams unit saw action but was quiet overall outside of the two missed field goals (one 51-yard field goal and one extra point) by kicker Harrison Butker.

Usually being quiet on special teams is a good thing because that means you didn’t make many mistakes. However, K.C.’s special teams unit didn’t do anything (ahem) special, either. Still, we’ll take a quick look at receiver Kadarius Toney’s reappearance on punt returns and see if anything is worth taking away from that.

Additionally, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into player performances. I added a “totals” column in the stats section this week as well.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 14: Justin Watson is team’s safest punt returner

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to check in on the #Chiefs’ improving punt returner situation.

Sometimes it takes a while for a unit to gel.

For the Chiefs’ special teams unit, it looks like it took until Week 14 to hit that point. In Kansas City’s 34-28 win over the Denver Broncos, both the Chiefs’ offense and defense showed clear issues that need to be addressed, but the special teams unit had a great, consistent day overall.

The special teams subunit that saw the most action for K.C. was the punt return squad. Normally that’d cause a Chiefs fan to squirm considering how badly that area has performed in 2022, but in Week 14 punt returns were not a hindrance whatsoever. We’ll go over that, plus some notes on the other squads as well.

Additionally, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into the Chiefs’ special teams performances this season.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 13: Isiah Pacheco’s big return

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to check out what went right and what went wrong for the #Chiefs on special teams in Week 13.

Some weeks are more eventful than others when it comes to special teams.

For the Chiefs’ Week 13 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals, it was the kick return squad that saw the most action. After having all three kick returns drop in the end zone for touchbacks in Week 12, the Chiefs’ kick return subunit fielded five of six kickoffs in Week 13.

The good news is that squad — which has had a rough season — ended up doing a pretty good job against the Bengals. We’ll go over that, plus touch on some other special teams notes afterward.

In addition to this review, be sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper dive into the Chiefs’ special teams performances.