Chiefs

Why Chiefs’ Rashee Rice broke free vs. Ravens — and how KC’s coaches schemed him open

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice had a huge first game, catching seven passes for 103 yards in KC’s 27-20 home victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

In this video, KC Star reporter Jesse Newell and Brett Taveau (author of the Chiefs book “Unpacking Greatness” and a longtime high school offensive coordinator) take a closer look at how Rice was able to free himself on so many routes last Thursday.

He had some help. Rice benefited from strategically placed teammates, a surprise personnel choice and flawed hip placement during his big day at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

He also made some of his own luck, reading coverage like quarterback Patrick Mahomes to clear himself in the Ravens’ secondary.

Jesse Newell
The Kansas City Star
Jesse Newell covered the Chiefs for The Star until August 2025. He won an EPPY for best sports blog and previously was named top beat writer in his circulation by AP’s Sports Editors. His interest in sports analytics comes from his math teacher father, who handed out rulers to Trick-or-Treaters each year.
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