Chiefs’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Defending Super Bowl champs have a ‘target’ on their backs
Chiefs wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling speaksl about Kansas City’s stunning defeat to the Broncos, their trip overseas to play the Dolphins, and his connection with Patrick Mahomes.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made three Super Bowl appearances in the last four seasons, winning in 2023 and 2020. The goal remains the same this season, but after snapping a six-game win streak against the Denver Broncos, should there be any cause for concern?
Veteran wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling doesn’t believe so.
"We just turned the ball over too many times," he told Fox News Digital in an interview on behalf of Charmin.
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"You can't really win too many games with five turnovers. Our defense played lights out to be able to hold them to [24] points with five turnovers. We can't do that and expect to win games. So, we got to be better with the ball – all of us, myself included, and we won't put ourselves in that position again."
Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos intercepts a ball intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on October 29, 2023, in Denver. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
By comparison, the Broncos turned over the ball just once to defeat the Chiefs, 24-9, and snap their 16-game losing streak to their AFC rival.
But the upset, according to Valdes-Scantling, seems self-inflicted, and despite what some might call a troubling loss is something to expect when you're the defending Super Bowl champions looking to become the ninth team in league history to claim the Lombardi Trophy in back-to-back seasons.
"That's what happens after you win a Super Bowl – you're under a microscope week in and week out. So, any bad game, any bad play, they need something to talk about, something to try to tear us down."
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"Obviously, you have a target on your back from winning a Super Bowl," he continued. "You know, and that's fine. We'll take the target on our back every year if it equals us winning a Super Bowl. That's the goal and that's what we play this game for. It is what it is. We can't put ourselves in that position to be talked bad about."
The Chiefs face their biggest competition yet when they travel to Germany to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and Kansas City is hoping to get back into the win column.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
"That's our main goal," Valdes-Scantling said, "even though we’ve got to play in a different arena and this counts as one of our home games – we would love to play it in Arrowhead – but being that we have to play it over in Frankfurt, we're just excited about the opportunity to go play another football game."
Valdes-Scantling, 29, is playing in his second season with the Chiefs after four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. His best performance of the season came in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers when he had three catches for 84 yards, including a Patrick Mahomes 28-yard pass for a touchdown.
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"Pat, I know has a lot of trust in him," head coach Andy Reid said after the game, "they popped."
Valdes-Scantling agrees.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Marquez Valdes-Scantling after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
"They brought me here for a reason, and I think that my skill set is a skill set that Pat enjoys. So, being able to … showcase that ability is always important. And obviously, I've been in this league a long time and I'm a pretty intelligent football player, so he appreciates that. And we could talk about things that I see, things that he sees, not just, ‘Hey, throw me the ball.’ It's like, 'Hey, throw me the ball because this is what's happening over here and this is the coverage that they're playing.' So, having a guy like that as a quarterback, you have to enjoy it."
The Chiefs and Dolphins face off on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
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