The Kansas City Chiefs have beaten the New York Jets in four of their five meetings since 2011, with the most recent being a controversial 23-20 win in 2023. That game saw Michael Carter II’s game-clinching interception negated by a phantom penalty on Sauce Gardner and wasted one of the best performances of Zach Wilson’s career.
In this matchup, the Chiefs will be heavy favorites despite having lost two in a row following a 5-0 start.
Let’s break down the Chiefs’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
The Jets have Patrick Mahomes to reckon with this week, and he’s having a solid season as he’s posting a quarterback rating of 99.7; his best since 2022.
Mahomes has 12 touchdowns and four interceptions and is coming off a good game against the Broncos where he passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Behind Mahomes is a familiar face: Jets 2025 starter Justin Fields. Seventh round rookie Garrett Nussmeier is the number three.
Offensive Line
The Chiefs’ interior line is the same as last year led by pro bowlers Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith at center and right guard respectively. Smith has a team-high five offensive penalties.
Kingsley Suamataia completes the interior trio at left guard, although he’s already been benched twice this year, including on Sunday where he was suddenly replaced before pre-game warmups by Mike Caliendo. That fuelled rumors that was was being disciplined by the coaching staff but Andy Reid denied this.
Caliendo, who also started four games last year, has struggled in pass protection. Suamataia is expected to be back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game.
The tackle positions have seen some changes as last year’s starting right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, was released in March and the starting left tackle – 2025 first round pick Josh Simmons – is on injured reserve.
Jaylon Moore, who started a handful of games last year, is currently starting at right tackle, while the left tackle is undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson, who is one of five undrafted rookies on the roster. Moore has given up a team-high three sacks, but Benson – while yet to surrender a sack – has given up the most pressure on the team.
Moore missed week seven’s game, so former New York Giant Joshua Ezeudu started at right tackle in that one.
The other backups are center Hunter Nourzad and another undrafted rookie; tackle Diego Pounds.
Running Backs
The Chiefs’ big offseason acquisition on offense was the reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. The move has been a resounding success as he rushed for 100 yards in four of his first five games as the Chiefs started 5-0.
Since then, he’s averaged just three yards per carry, though. Even so, he’s just 10 yards off the league lead with 770 rushing yards. He has also caught 22 passes.
There are two rookies backing up Walker – fifth round pick Emmett Johnson and the undrafted Jaydn Ott. Ott hasn’t played yet, though.
The Chiefs also have a fullback – Ben VanSumeren – on the roster. However, they will also use defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga in short yardage situations. He has even carried the ball twice.
Pass catchers
The Chiefs’ top pass catching option has once again been tight end Travis Kelce, who has 410 receiving yards to lead the team.
The leading pass catcher among the wide receivers is the speedy Xavier Worthy, who has 27 catches, albeit that he’s only averaging 8.5 yards per catch.
Despite some injury concerns and legal issues, Rashee Rice is now back in the lineup for the Chiefs. He has 20 catches in five games this year.
Tyquan Thornton was also starting at wide receiver, but he’s now on injured reserve.
The backups are Jalen Royals, Andrew Armstrong, Nikko Remigio and fifth round rookie Cyrus Allen. Royals has seen the most action from this group.
At tight end, Noah Gray is a solid contributor who gets plenty of playing time. Jake Briningstool and Jared Wiley round out this group.
Defensive Line
The Chiefs’ defensive line is anchored by pro bowler Chris Jones, although he is having a down year statistically with just half a sack, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. He had 7.5, 12 and 25 last year.
George Karlaftis, who had six sacks last year, has a team-high two sacks and also leads the team with 16 quarterback hits (just one less than the rest of the team combined) and six tackles for loss. Karlaftis also has a team-high with eight passes defensed. In fact, these all eight of these came in the last five games. Prior to that, he had 17 in his first 67 NFL games.
Tonga is the other starter at defensive tackle with Felix Anudike-Uzomah the other starting defensive end.
Kansas City has been operating a three-man rotation inside with first round rookie Peter Woods getting plenty of playing time. However, Woods has been ruled out with a neck injury so Bryson Eason may need to step up. Last year’s second round pick Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the PUP list.
The backups on the edge are second round rookie R Mason Thomas and Ashton Gillotte. Undrafted rookie Jack Pyburn is also on the roster.
Linebackers
Nick Bolton remains in a full-time role with Drue Tranquill on the field most of the time. Last year, Bolton had 154 tackles and Tranquill added 103.
They’ve been productive this year, too, with Bolton on 68 tackles and Tranquill on 53 tackles, including five tackles for loss.
Jack Cochrane gets playing time in three-linebacker sets, while Jeffrey Bassa has seen limited action. Cooper McDonald has yet to play any defensive snaps, though.
Defensive Backs
The Chiefs suffered a loss a few weeks ago when their top cornerback L’Jairus Sneed was placed on injured reserve. Sneed was also the team’s primary slot corner, so they’ve been using Christian Roland-Wallace in that role for the past few weeks.
Nohl Williams and first round rookie Mansoor Delane are the current starters on the outside, although Kristian Fulton started in place of Delane on Sunday. Delane has a shoulder issue which is likely to limit him for the rest of the season but he was expected to return against the Jets. However, he has been ruled out, so Fulton will presumably start again.
Melvin Smith and fourth round rookie Jadon Canady are also available to provide depth at cornerback.
The starting safeties are Chamarri Conner, who had 117 tackles last season, and offseason signing Alohi Gilman. Jaden Hicks has also been getting playing time in three-safety sets. He also started the first three games with Conner out.
Undrafted rookie safety Xavier Nwankpa has played five snaps so far this season.
Special Teams
Former pro bowl kicker Harrison Butker is having a rough year with six missed field goals already and Justin Tucker waiting in the wings on the practice squad in case he should falter again.
Punter Matt Araiza is having his best year statistically in his third season with the Chiefs, though.
Remigio is the team’s return specialist, although Johnson ends up sharing the work on kickoff returns. Remigio, who is yet to achieve a 50-yard return as he is halfway through his third season, is officially listed as questionable.
Bassa and Nwankpa are the team’s most productive players in kick coverage this season, but last year they were led by McDonald and Cochrane. Canady and Nwankpa have been the primary gunners.
