There’s reason to feel confident the Kansas City Chiefs can build on their 4-0 start and return to postseason glory. They’ve had a strong start to the season, but the team needs to address a few areas over the bye week to stay atop the AFC standings.
Here are the three things the Chiefs most need to improve on for the rest of the campaign:
1. Third-down defense
This season, the Chiefs allow 37% of third-down conversions, ranking 13th in the NFL.
The Chiefs’ pressure rate is middle of the pack (24%), but on third down, they
rank 25th (40%). The team has only one third-down sack this year: defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s strip sack of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in Week 1.
The pass rush is the clearest path to getting off the field more often. Defensive tackle Chris Jones needs to be more disruptive on pass downs, because defensive ends George Karlaftis and rookie R Mason Thomas seem to be muddying the pocket from the edge at a good rate.
2. True pass protection
The Chiefs’ offense has operated well by leaning on the run game and its effect on the defense with play action from under center. It’s been refreshing to see, but Kansas City still needs to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes time to operate on straight dropbacks.
So far this season, the pass blocking has been subpar in true pass sets. Rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson has allowed six pressures (three quarterback hits) over 48 true pass sets, according to Pro Football Focus. That means the Chiefs drop back into a traditional pass play an average of only 12 times per game.
As opponents get tougher, Mahomes will need to win games by throwing the ball when the defense knows he can. The return of left tackle Josh Simmons (back) — regardless of how the right tackle position is handled — feels like the only path to significant improvement here.
3. Playmaking from pass catchers
We probably aren’t making a big enough deal of wide receiver Tyquan Thornton likely missing the entire regular season with a dislocated ankle. He’s been the pass-catching group’s biggest playmaker so far, but that says little given how well this team’s pass offense has performed this year.
Whether the run game opens it up or Mahomes puts passes on the money, the receivers haven’t been asked to do much more than execute the play so far this year. Without Thornton (and No. 1 target Rashee Rice (hamstring) in the short term, potentially), the offense desperately needs receivers like Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals and rookie Cyrus Allen to step up and make plays themselves.
Whether it’s Royals’ run-after-catch ability or Allen’s route running, the offense needs to use these players to their strengths while Worthy likely sees an increase in overall target share. The former first-round pick needs to look the part moving forward.
That said, the pass-catching group’s playmaking may be impossible to elevate without a trade or free-agent signing. The NFL trade deadline is November 10, between Weeks 9 and 10 of the season. Look for general manager Brett Veach to make a move as he has in previous years, whether it was wide receiver Kadarius Toney in 2022 or DeAndre Hopkins in 2024.
