Humphrey Snap Woes Plague Chiefs in Denver
Kansas City center Creed Humphrey struggled with low shotgun snaps during the Chiefs' loss to the Broncos.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey had multiple low shotgun snaps to Patrick Mahomes during Sunday's game against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The Chiefs went three-and-out on their first drive, and Humphrey had another low snap later in the first quarter.
Why it matters
Snapping accuracy is a foundational element of the offense, and Humphrey acknowledged at a Friday news conference that the issues are affecting Kansas City's attack. Former Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz has publicly dismissed crowd noise as the cause.
Humphrey logged at least two low snaps to Mahomes in the first quarter at Denver, according to the game reports, including one on the third play of the opening drive. The cause of the issue has not been publicly established, and the team has not said when it expects the problem to be resolved.
The players
Creed Humphrey
Kansas City Chiefs center and a longtime starter on the team's offensive line, whose shotgun snaps to Patrick Mahomes have been inconsistent.
Mitchell Schwartz
Former Chiefs offensive lineman who has publicly argued that crowd noise, rather than technique, was behind Humphrey's snapping problems.
The details
Humphrey was seen on CBS Sports cameras practicing shotgun snaps with offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad after a Chiefs punt, and a practice snap sailed over Nourzad's head. Humphrey later addressed the snapping problems at a Friday news conference, saying they are affecting the offense.
Timeline
Friday: Humphrey addresses the snapping issues at a team news conference.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Chiefs lose to the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, with low snaps early in the game.
Roadmap
Humphrey's snapping issues break from a track record in which he was among the most reliable centers in the league, making this a notable change for an offensive line anchored by his consistency. The debate over whether crowd noise or technique is responsible reflects a broader question about how stadium environments affect NFL offenses on the road.
Fantasy managers who roster Mahomes or Chiefs offensive players should watch whether Humphrey's snapping steadies in the coming weeks. Snap accuracy can influence the Chiefs' early-down efficiency, which in turn affects their scoring output.
The takeaway
Consistency at the center position is easy to overlook until it breaks down, and Humphrey's struggles show how quickly a single snap can disrupt an entire drive. Watching whether he corrects the issue will be a useful signal of the Chiefs' offensive stability.
Further reading
For more on the teams and players shaping the season, browse our Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wichita Eagle.
