It’s week 8 of the NFL season and the 3-4 Washington Commanders will be facing a 4-3 Kansas City Chiefs team on the road at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday at 8:15 pm EDT. The Chiefs had
a rocky start to the season, losing their first two games to the Chargers and Eagles, but have been getting better every week and won 4 of their last 5 games.
On offense, the Chiefs are coached by HC Andy Reid, the primary playcaller and architect of the offense, as well as OC Matt Nagy, former HC of the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs offense is fundamentally a West Coast Offense, but is really a unique offense that changes every year and borrows a lot of the best principles of offenses around the league and college football, including (since Mahomes took over as QB) a lot of Air Raid concepts, with a high rate of RPOs and screens. In addition to aging future Hall of Fame TE Travis Kelce, the Chiefs primary skill position players are WR Rashee Rice, WR Xavier Worthy (who functions primarily as a deep threat), and RBs Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, both of whom function as power backs with a very downhill running style. Rashee Rice was suspended the first 6 weeks due to his role in a multi-car crash in the offseason, but made his debut last week with 7 receptions for 42 yards and 2 TDs in the first half of a blowout win against the Raiders, but was rested along with many other starters in the 2nd half due to the nature of the blowout. Expect Rice to be the focal point of the Chiefs passing attack.
On defense, the Chiefs are coached by Steve Spagnuola, one of the best DCs in the NFL. The Chiefs often use two high safeties to take away the deep passing game, but are creative at disguising their coverages. The Chiefs also utilize a fair amount of man coverage, are good at disguising blitzes, and have the 6th-highest blitz rate in the NFL. The Chiefs also have a lot of talent on defense, including All Pro DT Chris Jones, All Pro CB Trent McDuffie, and standout DE George Karlaftis.
I asked Maurice Elston of Arrowhead Pride five questions to better understand the state of the Chiefs and what to look for in this game.
1) Although the Chiefs are only 4-3, they have won four of their last five games, including an impressive blowout win against the Lions. Why did the Chiefs struggle to start the season, and what has allowed them to turn it around?
The early struggles were mostly about timing and chemistry. Offensively, the Chiefs were missing key pieces right out of the gate — Rashee Rice was suspended, Xavier Worthy went down on the third offensive play of the season, and the team was working in two new starters on the left side of the offensive line. It took time for Patrick Mahomes to trust that protection and for the line to gel.
On defense, losing a veteran presence like Justin Reid created some growing pains in communication, especially in a young secondary where Trent McDuffie is already viewed as the veteran voice. Over the last month, though, everything has started to click. The offense is now fully healthy, Mahomes is more comfortable staying in the pocket, and the running game has benefited from more snaps under center — which suits Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt’s styles. On defense, improved communication and continuity have led to more consistent play across the board.
2) Patrick Mahomes has about as many rushing yards as any of the Chiefs’ running backs this season, which is both a credit to Mahomes and a red flag for the RBs. Why is Mahomes rushing so much, and what is stalling the Chiefs’ designed run game?
Early in the year, Mahomes was running more out of necessity than design. With the offensive line still adjusting and the run game struggling to find rhythm, he often had to create plays with his legs just to keep drives alive. Over the last two games, though, we’ve seen real progress. The Chiefs have adjusted their run schemes, using more snaps under center, and it’s allowed Pacheco to look more like the downhill runner we saw as a rookie.
That improvement has helped open up the play-action game, giving Mahomes cleaner looks downfield. I expect his rushing numbers to dip as the running backs settle in, but Mahomes will always use his legs when the situation calls for it — especially late in close games when he’s looking to make something happen.
3) Tell us about Rashee Rice and how he changes the Chiefs’ offense.
Rashee Rice completely changes the dynamic of this offense. He’s probably the most complete receiver on the roster — strong after the catch, physical in traffic, and capable of winning on all three levels of the field. His chemistry with Mahomes is undeniable, and we saw it immediately in his first game back.
What makes Rice especially valuable is his ability to thrive in the short and intermediate game while defenses have to respect the speed of Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thorthorn deep. That spacing opens up the middle of the field for Rice to operate, and his quickness after the catch turns simple plays into explosive gains. Combine that with the athleticism of the Chiefs’ tackles and guards on screens, and this offense suddenly looks much more versatile.
4) Who is one Chiefs player on offense and one on defense that Washington fans probably don’t know much about but should?
On offense, Brashard Smith is the name to know. The rookie seventh-round pick from SMU has rare burst and versatility. He played wide receiver for most of his college career before switching to running back, so he brings soft hands and excellent agility to the backfield. Each week, his role in the offense has expanded, and he has the kind of big-play ability that can change a game.
Defensively, rookie cornerback Nohl Williams has been a standout. Drafted in the third round, he’s shown poise beyond his years — physical at the line, calm when the ball’s in the air, and sticky in man coverage. His emergence has allowed the Chiefs to move Trent McDuffie inside to the nickel, where he’s even more effective as a blitzer and slot defender. Williams might still be under the radar nationally, but that won’t last much longer.
5) How should Washington go about game-planning this matchup on both sides of the ball?
The best way to slow down the Chiefs’ offense is to keep it off the field. That means Washington needs to establish the run early, control the clock, and shorten the game. Sustained drives that chew up time will limit Mahomes’ possessions — and that’s often the most effective “defense” against him.
When facing Kansas City’s defense, Washington should look to exploit matchups against the Chiefs’ linebackers and safeties in man coverage. That’s where Kansas City can be most vulnerable, especially against tight ends and running backs in space. If Washington can isolate those defenders and take advantage of mismatches underneath, they’ll have their best chance to move the ball consistently.
A companion article to this with my answers to Maurice’s questions will be linked here as soon as it is available.
Thanks again to Maurice Elston for taking time out of his day to answer our questions about the Chiefs.
