As we review the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season, four statistics help explain how the defense performed. Each number highlights a specific issue — and the broader takeaway that followed.
1. Chiefs earned sacks on 6% of third-and-longs
Despite generating pressure on 51% of third downs that required seven or more yards, the Chiefs’ defense recorded sacks on just 6% of third-and-long pass attempts. That figure ranked 29th in the NFL, per NFL Pro.
The inability to finish on critical downs proved costly in losses to the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys,
and it remained an issue throughout the season. Kansas City finished with 35 sacks, tied for the seventh-fewest in the league, while the defense allowed conversions on 44% of third downs, ranking 29th overall.
Even with aggressive blitzing — the Chiefs sent more than four pass rushers at the third-highest rate in the NFL — the pressure rarely disrupted quarterbacks. The defense lacked a consistent, difference-making blitzer in the secondary, a role previously filled by former safety Justin Reid.
2. Chiefs allowed 4 yards per rush on first down
Kansas City’s run defense delivered when it mattered most in 2025, particularly at the start of drives. On first down, the Chiefs allowed just four yards per rush, the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL.
That early-down success helped keep games competitive. In a 23-20 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City held running back Jonathan Taylor to 58 rushing yards by consistently stacking the box. In a win over the Detroit Lions, the Chiefs limited Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to 89 combined rushing yards, repeatedly forcing second-and-long situations.
While Kansas City did not always close out drives after winning first down, stopping the run provided a stable foundation for a defense that kept many games within reach.
3. Chiefs allowed 3.7 yards of separation per target
NFL Pro measures the distance between a receiver and the nearest defender at the moment of the catch or incompletion. The Chiefs finished with the seventh-highest average separation allowed per target at 3.7 yards.
Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz-heavy approach naturally increases exposure in coverage, but Kansas City struggled to disrupt passing games regardless of scheme. Linebackers frequently failed to tighten throwing lanes over the middle, and the safety group covered less ground than in previous seasons.
A more consistent pass rush would help cover those issues, but improved anticipation and instincts in the secondary remain necessary to limit space downfield.
4. Chiefs totaled the second-fewest missed tackles in the NFL
Only the New England Patriots (71) recorded fewer missed tackles than the Chiefs (75) in 2025. For context, the Cincinnati Bengals led the league with 170 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Reference.
Kansas City consistently limited yards after contact, an important trait for any defense. However, reducing the need for tackles altogether proved just as important. The Chiefs forced only 14 takeaways, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, and broke up the seventh-fewest passes in the league.
Reliable tackling remained a clear positive, but without more disruption and takeaways, the defense fell short of elite status.
