Chiefs-Bears rapid reaction: Suamataia settles in, offense shines

On a last-second play, the Chicago Bears defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 29-27 on Friday evening, dropping the Chiefs to 0-3 for the 2025 preseason. However that’s not what we’ll bear in mind in regards to the preseason finale.

Now, that’s what we would have liked to see within the go safety!

The No. 1 story surrounding the Chiefs since their disastrous efficiency in Tremendous Bowl LIX has been the state of their offensive line. Much like how normal supervisor Brett Veach rebuilt the road following Kansas Metropolis’s Tremendous Bowl LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he made a number of key strikes this offseason, hoping to show a transparent weak point into a possible energy.

Veach signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive deal with Jaylon Moore in free company — after which within the NFL Draft, acquired Ohio State standout Josh Simmons after he slipped within the first spherical attributable to his school harm. After what he noticed in Week 18 final season in opposition to the Denver Broncos, head coach Andy Reid gave Kingsley Suamataia almost each coaching camp and preseason rep at left guard.

In St. Joseph, Simmons turned the spotlight of coaching camp — and his three preseason performances have proven he could possibly be on his method to incomes the draft-night reward because the heist of the category. After two shaky preseason outings, Suamataia held up nicely in go units in opposition to the Bears, a very powerful growth of Friday evening’s matchup.

It’s price noting that Simmons, Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Jawaan Taylor performed each snap with Patrick Mahomes, solidifying the road for Week 1 and confirming Moore as Kansas Metropolis’s swing deal with for 2025.

At the very least for 3 sequence of 1 preseason sport, the explosive offense certainly seemed “again.”

With correct safety, Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense lastly seemed like that previous, explosive Chiefs offense — the one that might gentle up the scoreboard early and immediately put video games out of attain.

Early within the sport, Kansas Metropolis featured rookie Brashard Smith, showing to be a weapon Reid will discover inventive methods to implement, opening issues up for the crew’s seemingly limitless arsenal. Mahomes’ 58-yard completion to Tyquan Thornton felt just like the breath of contemporary air he has been in search of for a very long time.

Tight finish Travis Kelce confirmed to reporters that he got here to coaching camp lighter, and on Friday evening, he confirmed glimpses of that pre-2024 Kelce as he caught two passes for 32 yards. Working again Isiah Pacheco seemed like his previous self, operating so violently down the left sideline that he crashed headfirst right into a wall and rubbish can.

Kansas Metropolis’s brass has believed for a very long time that if Mahomes felt protected — and his playmakers had been wholesome — he would return to MVP type. On Friday evening, the quarterback appeared like he was lastly taking part in free. He was one Kareem Hunt drop away from ending 3-for-3 on landing drives.

So, is the Chiefs’ offense again? It wants to hold over into the common season — however within the ultimate preseason sport, it certain seemed prefer it.

With key gamers again on the sphere, there have been higher vibes for Steve Spagnuolo’s protection.

Final week in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, the Chiefs selected to relaxation defensive deal with Chris Jones, linebackers Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill and cornerback Trent McDuffie. Saying “it didn’t go nicely” could be an understatement.

The starters returned for the ultimate exhibition look in opposition to the Bears. With the help of a fumbled snap and a false begin penalty from the Bears, the protection started with a three-and-out. The following Chicago drive lasted six performs earlier than a punt — and on its third drive, the Chiefs held the Bears to a subject objective.

Kristian Fulton noticed his first motion of the preseason, recording 5 tackles and showing wholesome sufficient to be prepared for the beginning of the season in two weeks. On the ultimate drive in opposition to the defensive starters, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams discovered a gap in protection, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus for an enormous achieve. Later, rookie receiver Rome Odunze shook security Bryan Prepare dinner for a 37-yard pickup.

That led to the one Chicago landing in opposition to Kansas Metropolis’s first crew. However in any other case, it was a significantly better effort general — particularly in opposition to the run — after every week wherein it appeared just like the protection by no means obtained off the bus.