Is Chiefs K Harrison Butker finally healthy? | KCSN Daily 11.22
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Lost in the excitement from the win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11 was that Chiefs K Harrison Butker recorded a perfect game. It was Butker’s first game since returning from his Week 1 ankle injury where he didn’t have a single miss on both field goals and extra points. He was flawless on his six total attempts.
Asked about whether Butker was finally healthy and back to normal, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub didn’t go as far as to suggest that.
“Yeah, he had a real good warm-up, and he looked good,” Toub said. “I don’t know if he’s ever going to be 100% this year, really — I told him to stop talking about it really. He was out there; he had a great warm-up and he looked good, and he performed. It was good to see, and he was happy, and everybody was happy.”
Special teams have been a weakness for K.C. so far this season and the idea that Butker might not be fully healthy at any point this season is concerning. His field goal percentage (72.7%) is currently at a career-low, while his extra point percent (90%) is the second-worst mark of his NFL career.
For now, we can only hope that Week 11 wasn’t an anomaly and that it’s an indication that things are trending in the right direction for Butker.
KC Laboratory - Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is running away with the NFL MVP Award:
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane break down the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and how the Chiefs have a commanding lead in the AFC West. The guys also talk about Patrick Mahomes and his compelling case for NFL MVP.
NFL Futures Odds:
A quick update on where Chiefs players stand in future betting odds for the NFL’s end-of-season awards via our friends at Draft Kings Sportsbook:
MVP: 1. Patrick Mahomes (+250)
OPOTY: 7. Travis Kelce (+1600)
DPOTY: T-4. Chris Jones (+2500)
OROTY: 5. Isiah Pacheco (+1800)
DROTY: T-8. Trent McDuffie (+6500)
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel catches up with The Athletic's Nate Taylor to ask him his 5 Burning Questions following the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Quotable:
“You know what, I thought he did a great job of allowing the game to come to him. He was patient. He’s just one of those guys – early on he’s not as patient because he just wants to take the ball and go run into something, but you love that about the kid. But I thought as the game went along, I thought he got in a rhythm. On top of that, our offensive line did an outstanding job. But you know one thing that I’m going to mention to him, and I’ll say it here, is anybody can do something once. It’s about putting consistent behavior on tape. And, so we’re going to need that from him, so he has to continue to evolve, he has to continue to grow but on top of that I know (Running Backs) Coach (Greg Lewis) Lew is going to do an outstanding job with him as he has always done with that entire (running back) group. We’re expecting him to continue to be Isiah Pacheco.” - Eric Bieniemy on rookie RB Isiah Pacheco’s performance in Week 11
“Yeah listen, they got after it in this past game. (Defensive Line Coach) Joe (Cullen) does a great job with them – Joe and (Assistant Defensive Line Coach) Terry (Bradden). You’d like to get teams in games where it’s one dimensional. That’s where I thought in the first half – I talked with the guys at halftime about it – we let them stay in a two-dimensional game – they could run it (and) they could throw it. It wasn’t a good half. And then, in the second half, I thought we got back to making it one dimensional and even though that guy (Chargers QB Justin Herbert) can throw it. I thought we were in good shape until that long pass play. But, our D-line had a lot to do with how it changed in the second half, both in the run and the pass.” - Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on the defensive line
Quick hits:
From Canton, Ohio: The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 28 modern-era semifinalists for the class of 2023. That group includes former Chiefs Jared Allen, Albert Lewis and Darrelle Revis. They’ll reduce this list to 15 finalists before selecting as many as five modern-era players for the 2023 class, which will be announced in February at the NFL Honors ceremony.
From the NFL: The league announced nominees from all 32 NFL teams for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. In just his second NFL season, Chiefs LB Nick Bolton has been chosen as the team’s nominee for the award.
From the sports business world: There is more chatter about the Chiefs’ future home being in Kansas. Kansas City Business Journal reports that a co-owner of Sporting KC is the driving force behind new legislature earmarking profits from legalized sports betting to help build stadiums and attract sports teams to the state. This might be one way that Kansas could attract the Chiefs once their lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires in 2031.
Important dates ahead:
Sunday, Nov. 27 at 3:25 p.m. CT - Week 12: Chiefs vs. Rams - GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Missouri
Soul of KC Holiday Raffle & Toy Drive:
The Soul of KC Holiday Raffle & Toy Drive is back for another year. Through your raffle ticket purchases, the KCSN foundation will be able to get presents for Operation Breakthrough’s Christmas Store. Last year, we raised nearly $14,000 to benefit kids in the Kansas City community.
Raffle tickets can be purchased through the @KCSportsNetwork Venmo. You can find a list of prizes in the graphic above.
1 ticket = $20. 10 tickets for $100. Tickets will be on sale through December 6. Winners will be drawn LIVE on the KC Sports Network YouTube channel at halftime of the December 11 game when the Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos.