Coming off Week 5’s disappointing 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Kansas City Chiefs hope to get back to 0.500 as they host the Detroit Lions on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for “Sunday Night Football.”
Here’s what I’ll be wondering as the game gets underway.
1. Can the Chiefs find success against the Lions’ backup defensive backs?
The Lions’ defense has transitioned smoothly from former coordinator Aaron Glenn to Kelvin Sheppard. The structure remains largely the same: plenty of man coverage and four-man rushes. The defensive line is built around stout run
defenders who can win at the line of scrimmage, while Sheppard had added more zone disguises on third down. Against the Baltimore Ravens, the Lions mixed in deeper zones to limit explosive plays.
Detroit’s defensive personnel is very strong through the middle. At defensive tackle, Tyleik Williams and D.J. Reader can reset the line of scrimmage by absorbing double-teams. Linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell find ways to stay clean, making tackles and holding up in man coverage. Aidan Hutchinson remains one of the league’s premier one-on-one pass rushers.
But there are some problems in the secondary. Starting outside cornerback D.J. Reed is on the Reserve/Injured list. On Friday, outside corner Terrion Arnold was declared out for Sunday’s game. Safety Kerby Joseph — an elite centerfielder — is questionable with a knee injury. Brian Branch — who can rotate between the slot and safety — is questionable with an ankle injury. Neither safety practiced on Friday.
This leaves veteran Rock Ya-Sin and Amik Robertson as the boundary corners. Both have held up well so far, but they haven’t faced Patrick Mahomes.
This is where Kansas City can strike. Look for the Chiefs to isolate wide receiver Xavier Worthy downfield against these corners. Robertson is smaller — which mitigates Worthy’s lack of size — while Worthy’s speed advantage over Ya-Sin is significant. The same goes for Tyquan Thornton, who has quietly emerged as a reliable vertical threat.
This feels like a week when Kansas City can generate explosive plays through the air — something they’ve done far better in 2025. They’ll need that big-play element to keep up with Detroit’s high-powered offense.
2. Can Patrick Mahomes find lanes against a three-man rush with a spy?
Against the Ravens, Detroit’s defense notched seven sacks on Lamar Jackson. To do it, Sheppard relied heavily on three-man rushes with a spy, collapsing the pocket from all angles while using deep zone coverage behind it. The goal was simple: force the quarterback to hold the ball until the spy could finish the play.
A similar approach could be coming for Mahomes. His ability to scramble has been crucial to the Chiefs’ offensive success this season, raising the unit’s floor when plays break down. But the Lions’ front is disciplined and rarely loses rush integrity. While Mahomes always seems to find a lane, this matchup will present a real test of his pocket navigation.
The good news for Kansas City is that its offensive line is far superior to Baltimore’s. Even if Mahomes is hemmed in, he shouldn’t face the same level of pressure. The question is how effective he can be when he’s forced to stay in the pocket and win from structure — especially if the Lions successfully bait him into holding the ball longer than usual.
3. What can the Chiefs do to generate pressure on Jared Goff?
The Lions’ offense is nearly flawless. It can run the ball as well as anyone in the league, whether it’s David Montgomery pounding between the tackles or Jahmyr Gibbs breaking runs to the edge. Amon-Ra St. Brown has played like a top-five receiver, thriving over the middle against both man and zone coverages. Sam LaPorta has evolved into a complete tight end who blocks and separates. Jameson Williams stretches the field vertically. Even with some interior turnover, the offensive line — anchored by right tackle Penei Sewell — remains dominant.
There could, however, be one weakness. Left tackle Taylor Decker was held out of practice all week with a shoulder injury. Both he and his usual backup Giovanni Manu are questionable for the game. If neither can play, recently-activated practice squad tackle Dan Skipper could step in.
When quarterback Jared Goff is protected, he operates with elite rhythm, anticipation and timing. But under pressure, he’s a different player. That’s been the case throughout his career: when forced off his spot, Goff’s lack of mobility — and his poor off-platform arm strength — is there for everyone to see.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, their four-man pass rush has been a weakness all season. Chris Jones hasn’t played at his usual All-Pro level, George Karlaftis isn’t generating quick wins and the defensive line depth remains thin. Without help, Kansas City’s rush simply doesn’t threaten quarterbacks.
That puts the onus on defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to manufacture pressure with creative blitzes and simulated looks. He’s one of the best in football at doing just that, but Detroit has the weapons to punish aggression. If St. Brown or LaPorta gets isolated against a single defender, either one can turn a short pass into a big gain.
To counter, I’d like to see cornerback Trent McDuffie shadow St. Brown wherever he lines up. The star receiver moves between the slot and outside, so McDuffie’s versatility makes him the best matchup option. I’d also like to see more of rookie corner Nohl Williams, allowing the Chiefs to lean into man coverage. Keeping McDuffie on St. Brown could prevent the mismatches that hurt Kansas City on Monday night in Jacksonville, when Chamarri Conner and the linebackers were left exposed in coverage.
