Things are dire for the NFL’s decade-long dynasty.
The nine-time defending AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs are 6-7 and out of the running for the division title.
However, one former Washington State Cougar — one of four on the Chiefs’ roster — has emerged as a bright spot in a dark time.
Rookie left tackle Esa Pole made his first career start in the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday Night Football.
Pole, filling in for an injured Wanya Morris, allowed just three pressures through 42 pass-blocking snaps on two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The undrafted rookie did so while matching up against a Texans’ defense that ranks sixth in the NFL with 36 total sacks.
Pole’s efforts drew praise from his head coach, Andy Reid, in both the postgame news conference and a Monday session with reporters.
“So after the game, I mentioned I was proud of him (Esa Pole) because he had no reps in practice for the most part and then just a couple of fill-in things. I thought he did a nice job for what he was asked to do,” Reid said Monday. “We just picked him back up here, and he again had limited reps and jumps, and I mean, he’s a rookie. He jumps in and did some pretty good things against what I think is a pretty good football player.”
Pole signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL draft, got released prior to the season and landed with the New York Jets’ practice squad.
Kansas City picked him back up to their practice squad shortly after that and signed him to the active roster on Dec. 3.
Here’s how the other locals, including former Cougs, Idaho Vandals and a Moscow Bear, fared in the NFL’s Week 14.
Idaho
LB, Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons: The veteran linebacker made six total tackles (two solo) in a 37-9 loss to the Seahawks.
LB, Christian Elliss, New England Patriots: The Patriots were on a bye week.
LS, Hogan Hatten, Detroit Lions: Hatten snapped for four field goal attempts (3-for-4) and five extra points (5-for-5) to account for 14 points in the Lions’ 44-30 win over the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.
CB, Marcus Harris (Cal), Tennessee Titans: The rookie cornerback recorded four total tackles (three solo) and forced one fumble in the Titans’ 31-29 win over the Browns.
WSU
S, Jaden Hicks, Kansas City Chiefs: The second-year safety played just 11 snaps in the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football.
CB, Jaylen Watson, Kansas City Chiefs: The veteran cornerback tallied two solo tackles in a 20-10 loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football.
QB, Gardner Minshew, Kansas City Chiefs: The backup QB and Washington State’s most recent bowl-game winning quarterback (2018 Alamo Bowl vs. Iowa State) did not play in the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football.
N, Chau Smith-Wade, Carolina Panthers: Smith-Wade and the Panthers were on their bye week.
DT, Daniel Ekuale, Pittsburgh Steelers: On the injured reserve with an ACL injury, he was also suspended without pay for five games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. He did not play in a 27-22 win over the Ravens.
LB, Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders: Luvu made three total tackles (two solo) with one pass defensed in the Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Vikings.
LB, Brennan Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders: On the injured reserve due to a foot injury, he did not play in a 24-17 loss to the Broncos.
S, Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals: Thompson tallied seven total tackles (three solo) in the Cardinals’ 45-17 loss to the Rams.
LB, Daiyan Henley, Los Angeles Chargers: The team captain made seven total tackles (six solo) with one pass defensed and a QB hit in the Chargers’ 22-19 overtime win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
OL, Abraham Lucas, Seattle Seahawks: The starting right tackle was part of a unit that permitted the Falcons to achieve just two sacks and allowed the Seahawks to post 31 second-half points in a 37-9 victory over the Falcons.
WR, Kyle Williams, New England Patriots: The rookie receiver, who has scored touchdowns on two of his five career catches, was off the gridiron during the Patriots’ bye week.
CB, Cam Lampkin, Los Angeles Rams: On the practice squad, he did not play in a 45-17 win over the Cardinals.
OL, Esa Pole, Kansas City Chiefs: The rookie made his first career pro football start, protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blindside in the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football. The rookie allowed three total pressures on 42 pass-blocking snaps.
QB, Cam Ward (Miami), Tennessee Titans: This year’s No. 1 overall pick completed 14-of-28 passes for 117 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and the Titans survived a Shedeur Sanders-led Browns comeback attempt in their 31-29 victory.