Nothing about this week’s match really should have surprised us.

The Kansas City Chiefs played a closer game than they should have by letting a lesser opponent hang around, but ultimately found a way to win. There were plenty of notable Chiefs performances to recap on Sunday, and you’ve probably guessed most of them already:

Winners

Kicker Spencer Shrader: Harrison Butker’s injury could have been a factor against Buffalo last week if the defense had been able to stop Josh Allen. This week it wasn’t theoretical. Shrader stepped up and hit all of his kicks – three field goals and three extra points – to stay perfect on the season in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense gave him a chip shot to win the game well, as the broadcast provided a statistic showing that he had never hit a game-winner in college or in the NFL. No swearing here: Shrader provided the kicks to keep Kansas City’s season on track.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: When teams try their hardest against the Chiefs, one man makes the difference between an embarrassing loss and a win over me. That man overcame five sacks and gained 269 yards with three touchdowns. But he also made the biggest play of the day, setting up that winning kick on a 33-yard run. Mahomes has done this so many times, but we shouldn’t take it for granted.

Wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Worthy: The veteran who catches everything and the rookie continues to grow in his role. What I think stands out the most is the amount of trust everyone is building with Mahomes. They combined for 12 targets, many on critical third downs. When the quarterback can handle the ball and trust these two to take action, this offense works even when everything isn’t ideal.

Tight end Noah Gray: Another week, another couple of touchdowns for Noah Gray. He’s in the best moment of his career as a receiver, and once again he’s doing “Travis Kelce things” with Travis Kelce. Gray was fantastic against the Panthers, catching all of his targets for 66 yards, including a 35-yard catch and run, in addition to the two touchdowns.

Running back/kick returner Samaje Perine: He doesn’t really seem to have the speed to break away from defenders, and he’s behind Kareem Hunt (and soon Isiah Pacheco) on the depth chart. But when given opportunities, Samaje Perine has produced some chain-moving catches and runs; he now has 15 first downs for the Chiefs in 2024. This week, he added a 56-yard kick return that turned the field on the opening drive and led to a touchdown.

Losers

Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images

The Chiefs’ secondary: There weren’t many big plays allowed for Bryce Young and the Carolina offense, but once again the Chiefs defense struggled to get off the field. The pass rush didn’t really get home, despite quick pressure and some flashes. But time and time again, Young was able to get the ball to an open receiver in time. We have talked about complementary football, and there is no better example. The pass rush can’t get home if the coverage doesn’t hold up (and vice versa). It feels like losing Jaylen Watson was a bridge too far for this group at this point. Chamarri Conner appears to be struggling, as does Nazeeh Johnson. Joshua Williams isn’t getting any snaps and Bryan Cook isn’t making much action in coverage. Trent McDuffie is not unbeatable this year and they have all been flagged for too many penalties. This game was especially exciting because the secondary as a whole kept the Panthers in it.

Offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor: The big news of the week: DJ Humphries signs with the Chiefs to strengthen the tackle position. The least surprising news of the week: Both incumbent tackles struggled against the Panthers. Three more penalties, five more sacks and eight quarterback hits have fans already counting down the days until the rookie gets a chance.

Remark: Applying the labels “winners” and “losers” is not intended as a judgment on the talent or character of these players. It’s just a simple way to judge their performance in one game. No disrespect intended.