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[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs’ coaching staff has plenty of respect for the Jaguars

The Kansas City Chiefs are riding high after Sunday’s big 37-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens. But there is no time to rest on their laurels — because in Week 5, they’ll be on the road to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on “Monday Night Football.”

“There are no easy games in this league,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told reporters on Friday. “There is no easy offense to defend.”

Spagnuolo knows what he is talking about. The Jaguars — now 3-1 — are riding a two-game winning streak. Under the leadership of new head coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville is clicking in all three phases.

“They’re really good,” declared special teams coordinator Dave Toub during his Friday media availability. “I mean, they had a touchdown last week. [Parker] Washington — the punt returner? He’s got an unbelievable burst. His get-up to full speed is really impressive when you watch tape.”

Toub is also impressed with two rookie running backs who are getting work in the return game: LeQuint Allen Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten. The latter clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at last spring’s NFL Scouting Combine.

“[He’s a] guy that we loved coming out,” added Toub. “But he is explosive and can get around you; he hits it north and south. They’ve got the total package in the return game.”

Toub also admires Jacksonville special teams coach Heath Farwell.

“[He] does a great job,” said Toub. “He was a great player — and now he’s a great coach. I coached against him when he was at Minnesota, [so] we go way back. But he’s doing a great job. He’s got those guys flying around.”

Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy sees an opportunistic Jaguars defense that will make opponents pay for mental errors.

“There’s a lot of tipped footballs,” observed Nagy. “Sometimes those tips are at the line of scrimmage with the D-line, and some of these that you’re seeing are in the intermediate levels.”

Part of this comes from the Jaguars’ rookie cornerback Travis Hunter, who also plays wide receiver with the offense; he clearly has the ability to catch the ball. But Nagy believes Hunter isn’t the only Jacksonville defender with a nose for the football.

“They adjust well to the ball — and instead of dropping the interception, they make the play,” noted Nagy. “They do a good job in zone, kind of reading the quarterback’s eyes in the middle of the field… It’s a credit to their coaching staff — and it’s a credit to the players executing it.”

According to Spagnuolo, the dynamic nature of Jacksonville’s offense begins with its coaching.

“They’ve put together a really good system,” noted the coordinator, “where they’re doing things in the pass game that move the ball — and they do some things with tempo. I think they’ve done a really nice job.”

A longtime fan of the Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Spagnuolo thinks the fifth-year quarterback looks very comfortable in the new scheme.

“You don’t usually see that right off the bat,” said Spagnuolo, “but they sure have put it together pretty good, pretty quick. You know, it’s resulted in three wins and a bunch of points.”

It helps that the Jaguars boast a trio of young skill players — not only Hunter, but wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and running back Travis Etienne, too — who are among the league’s most explosive athletes at their positions.

“I mean, throw the tape on of these guys and it’s like, ‘Wow!’” marveled Spagnuolo.

Still, the coordinator thinks that limiting the Jacksonville offense starts with stopping Etienne.

“Like all these games that we play where people are going to run the football,” he explained, “if we don’t stop that first, then it becomes a long day.”

Spagnuolo also believes that center Robert Hainsey — who followed Coen over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — is a key player in the running game.

“Anytime you can have the center in the middle of it,” remarked Spagnuolo, “and he obviously knows Liam’s system because he was with him, I think that’s been a little bit of the glue.”

While stopping the run may be job No. 1, the wide receivers still present their own set of challenges — and it starts with Thomas.

“He’s a really good player,” Spagnuolo said of the second-year wideout. “He’s a guy we’ve got to be concerned with.”

Then there is the rookie phenom Hunter. From a purely athletic perspective, he might be the league’s most electrifying player. He is definitely on the coaching staff’s radar.

“I think he gets better and better every week,” said Spagnuolo. “They’ve got the makings of a really good offense.”

Since the Chiefs are coming off a big win — and will also have another big primetime matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 6 — the team could overlook a Jacksonville squad that has struggled in recent years. But based on what the coaching staff is saying about the Jaguars, there seems to be little chance of that.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ing-staff-has-significant-respect-for-jaguars

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Xavier Worthy listed as questionable for Monday’s game in Jacksonville

Early on Sunday evening, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that wide receiver Xavier Worthy — who turned in a red-hot performance in the team’s 37-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday — is now listed as questionable (shoulder/ankle) for the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on “Monday Night Football.”

Xavier Worthy (shoulder/ankle) is now questionable for Monday Night’s game. https://t.co/urtEChWx3R

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 5, 2025

What does this mean?

Remember: Worthy was already on the team’s Week 5 injury report because he is still receiving treatment for the shoulder injury he sustained in the season opener — although he was a full participant in all of this week’s practices. (It would not be surprising if this continues to be the case for the rest of the season). But the report made no mention of an ankle injury.

We should also note that Kansas City made this announcement just over an hour after the team’s plane arrived in Jacksonville. It would not be unusual for a professional football player to experience swelling during a plane flight. In fact, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe has reported that the wide receiver’s ankle was “a little swollen” when he stepped off the plane in Florida — and that he had been declared questionable as “a precaution.” Sports Illustrated‘s Matt Verderame has reported that the team expects him to be able to play against the Jaguars.

The next word we’ll have on this will probably be around 5 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Monday, when the team releases its list of inactive players for the game. While it’s possible that Worthy will be unable to play — officially, questionable means there is a 50% chance a player will be active — it seems likely he will dress for the game.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...orthy-listed-questionable-week-5-jaguars-game

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Jaguars LIVE updates: Jaguars lead 24-21 in the fourth quarter

Week 5’s “Monday Night Football” matchup is between two teams seeking their third straight victory.

The (2-2) Kansas City Chiefs are at Duval County’s EverBank Stadium, hoping to get above 0.500 for the first time this season by collecting a win against the (3-1) Jacksonville Jaguars, who want to prove they belong in the AFC’s top tier by knocking off the defending conference champions. Kansas City is coming off lopsided victories over the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, while Jacksonville has one-score wins over the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers in the rear view mirror.

For the last several days, it’s been expected that this game would be played in heavy rain. But storms moved out of Jacksonville on Monday afternoon, leaving mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 70s at kickoff. No precipitation is expected during the game.

First quarter​

The Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred. Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen fielded Harrison Butker’s kickoff and returned the ball to the Jacksonville 30-yard line to start the drive. Running back Travis Etienne started the possession with a seven-yard run. A one-yard carry on second down set up third-and-2, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s first pass of the night, intended for Etienne, fell incomplete, setting up a punt. Nikko Remigio fielded Logan Cook’s punt, and he was tackled at the Kansas City nine-yard line for the Chiefs’ first offensive drive.

Patrick Mahomes started with a nine-yard throw to Travis Kelce, and a short toss to running back Isiah Pacheco on second down went for five yards and a new set of downs. On the next play, Mahomes connected with wideout Tyquan Thornton for 24 yards. A six-yard toss to Kelce then moved the Chiefs into Jaguar territory, though a penalty quickly brought them back to the Chiefs’ side of the 50. On second-and-9 from the Kansas City 47, Mahomes found Hollywood Brown for six yards, but he could not connect with Kelce to convert the short third down. Matt Araiza came on to punt. Jacksonville’s Parker Washington called for the fair catch at the Jaguar’s 14-yard line to set up Jacksonville’s second possession.

Lawrence started the drive by illegally throwing a pass in front of the line of scrimmage, costing the team five yards and a loss of down. After going incomplete on second down, Lawrence’s pass to Brian Thomas could only gain 12 yards on third-and-14. Remigio fielded Cooke’s at the Kansas City 26-yard line. The Kansas City offense would take over at the 29 after a three-yard return.

An end-around to wideout Xavier Worthy went for nine yards, and a simple eight-yard toss to JuJu Smith-Schuster moved the chains on the next down. Pacheco uncorked his best run of the season on the next play, rumbling for 17 yards to the Jacksonville 39. Kareem Hunt could only gain a yard in relief of Pacheco, but Brown was called for a personal foul after the play, setting up second-and-24 back at the Chiefs’ 47. A screen to rookie running back Brashard Smith gained 15 of the yards, setting up third-and-9 from the Jacksonville 38. After taking a timeout, Mahomes eluded a blitz to throw 32 yards deep to Thornton at the six-yard line to set up first-and-goal. After the play survived a Jacksonville challenge, Smith carried for four yards to the two-yard line. Mahomes found Worthy in the back of the end zone on second down, but he could not get both feet down. On third-and-goal, Mahomes found Kelce for a two-yard touchdown. Butker’s extra point opened the lead at Chiefs 7, Jaguars 0.

Allen returned Butker’s kickoff 35 yards to bring the Jaguars offense back out at their own 40-yard line. Jacksonville gained their first new set of downs with a 22-yard throw to tight end Brenton Strange to the Chiefs’ 39-yard line. After a five and three-yard carries by Etienne, the Jaguars faced third-and-2 from the Kansas City 32-yard line. Lawrence kept and narrowly scrambled for the first down. On the next play, Thomas set up first-and-goal with a 22-yard pass to the seven-yard line. After Etienne was dropped at the line of scrimmage, the first quarter came to an end with Jacksonville facing second-and-goal at the seven.

Second quarter​

A pass to Etienne gained four yards. From the three-yard line, Lawrence was knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line, setting up fourth down. On fourth-and-goal, Lawrence tried to reach across the goal line, only to see the ball knocked out of his hands by linebacker Nick Bolton and end up in the hands of defensive end George Karlaftis. The Chiefs took over at their own one-yard line.

Hunt turned back time with a 33-yard carry on first down as Kansas City escaped the shadow of their own end zone. Throws to Worthy and Brown quickly moved the possession into Jaguar territory. On first-and-10 from the Jacksonville 43, Mahomes found Thornton deep again to set up first-and-goal from the nine. On the next play, Mahomes ran the ball in himself for the touchdown. Butker drilled the extra point to extend the lead to Chiefs 14, Jaguars 0.

Allen returned Butker’s kickoff to the Jacksonville 30. Etienne gained two yards on first down, but defensive end Charles Omenihu sacked Lawrence on second down to take the two yards back. After a delay of game penalty set up third-and-15, a Chiefs pass interference penalty extended the drive. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten’s first carry went only for two yards, but Lawrence scrambled to the Kansas City 45-yard line on the next play. After Tuten lost a yard on first down, rookie Travis Hunter made his first catch — and eluded a tackle to move for the first down. On the next play, three Chiefs had a chance to catch bobbled downfield pass for an interception, only to see it fall incomplete. Tuten gained six yards to set up third-and-4 from Kansas City 29-yard line. Lawrence again scrambled for the first down and ran all the way to the 15. After calling timeout, Lawrence and Thomas could not connect in the end zone. Etienne gained eight yards to set up third-and-2 from the seven-yard line. Etienne moved the chains to set up first-and-goal. Lawrence found Parker Washington for the touchdown on the next play. Cam Little’s extra point narrowed the lead to Chiefs 14, Jaguars 7.

A touchback started the Chiefs at their own 35. Star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen sniffed out a reverse to Worthy for a six-yard loss that brought the half to the two-minute warning. On the other side of the break, Mahomes had to throw the ball away to escape pressure. On third-and-16, Mahomes connected with Hunt for only eight yards. Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams downed Araiza’s punt at the Jacksonville eight-yard line, with only 54 seconds remaining. Thomas caught a pass on first down pass to the 21-yard line. The first half came to an end after a holding call pushed Jacksonville back — followed by a six-yard sack on Lawrence.

Third quarter​

Brashard Smith returned the second half kickoff to the Chiefs 33-yard line to start the drive. Pacheco was held to no gain on first down. An eight-yard throw to Kelce set up third-and-2. Mahomes could not connect with Brown, and the drive ended with a three-and-out. Washington fielded Araiza’s kick at the Jacksonville 14-yard line, but lost a yard on the return.

Etienne started the drive with a seven-yard catch before adding an eight-yard carry on the next play. On first down, Lawrence connected with Hunter for a 44-yard pass to the Chiefs’ 28. An illegal contact penalty then gave Jacksonville another set of downs at the 23. Two plays later, the Jaguars were looking at first-and-10 from the 12. After a two-yard carry by Tuten, Lawrence punched in the touchdown with his legs. Little’s extra point tied the game at 14-14.

Smith started the drive at the Chiefs 32 after the kick return, and Mahomes and Worthy connected for nine yards on first down. After Pacheco moved the chains with a short run, the running back went for 11 yards on a sideline pass to move into Jaguar territory. A six-yard pass to Worthy and an 11-yard run by Pacheco moved the ball inside the 30. Smith took a backfield pass to 16, but Mahomes and Thornton could not connect in the end zone on the red zone first down. Mahomes carried the ball to eight-yard line to set up third-and-2. Brown caught a pass in traffic at the three to set up first-and-goal. Hunt was held to no gain on first down. Disaster struck on the next play as Mahomes was picked off by linebacker Devin Lloyd — who returned the interception 99 yards for a touchdown. Little’s extra point flipped the lead to Jacksonville 21, Chiefs 14.

Smith looked determined to tie the game by himself with a 60-yard return, but a holding call would start the Chiefs at their own 20. Mahomes quickly found 19 yards on a sideline throw to Worthy. After an incompletion on first down, the two connected again for eight yards to set up third-and-2. Mahomes scrambled to the Jacksonville 44, and the third quarter came to an end with a Pacheco run being negated by penalty. On the other side of the break, the Chiefs would face first-and-19 from their own 47.

Fourth quarter​

Mahomes overthrew Worthy in the end zone to start the final frame. A delay of game forced the Chiefs into second-and-24. Mahomes tried to go deep to Thornton on the next play, but the ball was knocked away. Mahomes scrambled on third down for 13 yards to set up fourth-and-10. Araiza came on to punt. Washington fair caught the ball at the 12-yard line to bring Jacksonville’s offense back onto the field.

Two plays into the drive, the Chiefs got a much-needed break as Trent McDuffie intercepted Lawrence at the Jacksonville 19-yard line to put the Chiefs’ offense back on the field.

Mahomes found Kelce at the five-yard line on the first play to set up first-and-goal. Hunt found the end zone on the next play. Butker’s extra point tied the game at 21.

Allen returned the kickoff to the 42-yard line where Butker actually made the tackle. Etienne started with a five-yard carry. Two plays later, Lawrence again scrambled for first down. A holding penalty on Etienne’s next carry turned a four-yard gain into nine and another first down. Lawrence was incomplete to Thomas, and a screen to Etienne lost three yards on second down. On third-and-13 from the 42, Hunter could gain only eight. Little came on for a successful 52-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 24-21 lead.

Injuries​

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy left the field with trainers after making a catch in the third quarter. He returned later on the drive.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...week-5-live-updates-score-highlights-injuries

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things we learned from the Chiefs’ Week 5 loss to the Jaguars

That wasn’t fun. It was annoying.

I think the Kansas City Chiefs are clearly the better team than the Jacksonville Jaguars. They just weren’t the better team in this game.

The Chiefs squandered a 14-point lead and then regained it with under two minutes remaining — only to lose on what has to be the most uncoordinated and awkward-looking game-winning touchdowns in the history of the sport.

Still, we should give credit to the Jaguars; they made a play when they had to, and winning ugly beats losing pretty any day of the week.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they didn’t do either. They dropped their third game of the season, losing 31-28 on “Monday Night Football.”

Here are five things we learned.

1. Right now, special teams aren’t very special​

This might have been the worst special teams performance I’ve seen in a game where the kicker didn’t miss a field goal.

However, Harrison Butker decided to take it a step further, kicking the ball out of bounds with under two minutes left to play when the Jaguars had only one timeout remaining. On top of that, the Chiefs committed so many holding penalties on kick returns that I had to double-check to make sure Jawaan Taylor wasn’t playing special teams.

At the end of the day, this performance falls squarely on special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

2. It’s hard to cover speed and mobility​

Last week I wrote this:

The Chiefs rolled zone coverage against Nabers. This week, Spagnuolo put a linebacker spy on Jackson. It will be exciting to see what he draws up next week when Kansas City travels to Florida to face a sneaky Jacksonville Jaguars team.

Spagnuolo reverted back to the comfort zone that got them in trouble against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s no secret that the Chiefs struggle to generate quick wins with their pass rush. To compensate, Spagnuolo decided to blitz the pants off the Jaguars. The problem? More often than not, the gamble didn’t pay off. The rushers failed to get home — and with their pants still firmly in place, Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence was able to find favorable matchups — which are inevitable when against a blitz.

That included blitzing the slot cornerback, which left safeties in one-on-one situations against a pair of elite athletes: Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter.

The problem wasn’t just schematic. Without the blitz, the Chiefs still couldn’t generate consistent pressure — and it was a lot easier to lock up Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins than Thomas and Hunter.

3. The Chiefs aren’t winning high-leverage situations​

We’ve all seen the graphic on Chiefs broadcasts. Last season, the team went 11-0 in one-score games and set an NFL record by winning 17 straight one-score contests.

But nobody wins every single close game forever. It’s the Law of Averages, right?

False. The Law of Averages is a gambler’s fallacy.

While randomness exists in football (the ball bouncing the wrong way, for example), most outcomes are within a team’s control, and past results don’t influence future ones. Each play — like each coin flip — is an isolated event. So even if a coin lands on heads six times in a row, it’s still a 50 percent chance the next flip lands on heads.

What’s happening to the Chiefs in these close games isn’t bad luck; it’s bad performance in high-leverage moments.

In the past, Nick Bolton would have pushed Isaiah Likely out of the back of the end zone to prevent a touchdown. Now, Chamarri Conner gets flagged for pass interference in the end zone.

In the past, the Chiefs could move the ball from their own 20-yard line and set up a game-tying field goal in 13 seconds. Now, an excellent kick return gets wiped out by an inexcusable holding penalty — and Hollywood Brown fails to get his head around, letting the ball bounce off his shoulder pads.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones with the all-out effort to stop the TDpic.twitter.com/vByAe0nhoP

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 7, 2025

The Chiefs aren’t stepping up and making plays when they have to. They’re standing there and watching as another win slips through their fingers.

4. There is no dominant team in the AFC​

This is exactly what the NFL wanted: a league full of 9-8 teams, with games coming down to the wire and parity reigning supreme. The system is built to prevent dynasties — and for years, the Chiefs have found ways to thumb their nose at those efforts.

I’m still not ready to throw in the towel on this season. It’s safe to say this team isn’t winning 14 games, but it probably doesn’t have to. The AFC is filled with teams that are just good enough to beat anyone and just flawed enough to lose to anyone.

Whether because of injuries, inconsistency or underperformance, the conference is wide open — and it’ll likely stay that way until late December.

5. This version of the rushing attack might just work​

Sure… Patrick Mahomes was still the team’s leading rusher in this game. But it didn’t feel like it was because the Chiefs couldn’t run the ball. For once, the ground game was effective.

Kansas City’s running backs combined for 15 carries and 89 yards — nearly six yards per attempt. You’ll take that any day of the week.

A big reason for that success was a more balanced usage of Kareem Hunt’s dependability, Isiah Pacheco’s burst, and the X-factor that rookie Brashard Smith brings. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress — and that’s something to build on.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...fs-jaguars-5-things-we-learned-in-week-5-loss

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

NFL power rankings Week 6 roundup: Chiefs’ slide continues

After Monday night’s 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Kansas City Chiefs’ slide in the weekly power rankings is steepening. One ranking even has Kansas City in the bottom half of its list!

Here’s this week’s sampling:

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NFL.com: 12​

(down from 9)

The Chiefs controlled Monday night’s game early, and they were seemingly regaining control late in the third quarter on the doorstep of the Jaguars’ end zone. That’s when Patrick Mahomes threw only his second pick of the season and only the fifth pick-six of his career — 99 yards back the other way for a shocking Jags touchdown. The Chiefs took the lead late, but Jacksonville drove 60 yards for the game-winning score, dropping Kansas City below .500 again. It was the kind of game that we’re used to seeing the Chiefs find a way to pull out, but it was very un-Chiefs-like in a few ways. It was a rough night on special teams with four penalties, including two critical ones in the final two minutes. There were 13 Kansas City flags all told, including a pair of third-down pass-interference calls. The last one came in the end zone, right before Jacksonville’s go-ahead score. Just an unclean night all around.

— Eric Edholm

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ESPN: 10​

(down from 7)

Fantasy surprise: RB Isiah Pacheco

Pacheco was supposed to give the Chiefs better balance on offense after missing most of last season because of a broken right leg. But he is in a funk, averaging just 7.2 fantasy points per game and 32.6 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the team in September with 130 rushing yards. The sooner Pacheco can regain his form, the sooner the Chiefs can become a fully dynamic offense again.

— Nate Taylor

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The Athletic: 15​

(down from 10)

Who have they beaten? Giants, Ravens

For the first time since 2021, the Chiefs are below .500 after the first five weeks. That year, after starting 2-3, they won nine of their next 10 games. But that seems unlikely this season with a group of wide receivers that was led yardage-wise by Tyquan Thornton on Monday night.

— Josh Kendall

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Sports Illustrated: 14​

(down from 4)

The confidence and vigor we saw out of the Chiefs in the first half against Jacksonville was scary—as was how small the Chiefs looked when Trevor Lawrence converted into Hulk Mode. This entire team looked like it spent a week in a rejuvenative Matthew Stafford airstream bus—but the effects only lasted two quarters.

— Conor Orr

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Pro Football Talk: 17​

(down from 8)

“They’re done! They’re back! They’re done!”

— Mike Florio

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CBSSports.com: 16​

(down from 10)

At 2-3, they are floundering right now. Losing late to Jacksonville makes beating the Lions this week almost a must-win game.

— Pete Prisco

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Yahoo! Sports: 10​

(down from 7)

Remember when the Chiefs won every close game? They’re 0-3 in one-score games this season. Regression is real. Losing to the Jaguars on the road isn’t a bad outcome, but all of a sudden the Chiefs are under .500 after five weeks despite Patrick Mahomes playing some great ball.

— Frank Schwab

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The Sporting News: 11​

(down from 8)

The Chiefs are finding the right offensive pieces for Patrick Mahomes as the team makes a youthful transition. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and the special teams, however, let down on a rare off night for the loss at Jacksonville.

— Vinnie Iyer

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USA Today: 14​

(down from 8)

Social media informs us that they are winless since Taylor Swift’s new album dropped. Seems like the extent of their problem(s).

— Nate Davis

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FOX Sports: 11​

(down from 7)

Maybe the Chiefs’ dynasty is really over? Or at least they’re taking a year off. After their mistake-filled loss to the Jaguars Monday night, all they have this season is wins over the 1-4 Giants and 1-4 Ravens.

— Ralph Vacchiano

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ankings-week-6-roundup-chiefs-slide-continues

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Analyst pleads with Chiefs to manage Chris Jones’ workload after last play effort

The latest​

Jaguars vs Chiefs overreactions: Lawrence back? Butker washed? | CBS Sports

Chiefs need to move on from Harrison Butker

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

Butker has been awful for the Chiefs this season, having a kicking error in all five games. He cost the Chiefs on Monday night with his inability to get a kick in bounds or into the landing zone.

The Chiefs had just worn the Jaguars down on a 12-play, 86-yard drive capped by a Kareem Hunt touchdown to take a 28-24 lead with 1:45 left. They appeared poised to survive a 12-round battle with the Jaguars.

On the ensuing kickoff, Butker couldn’t get the ball into the landing zone, as he kicked it out of bounds at the 5-yard line. Penalty on the Chiefs — and the Jaguars got the ball at the 40-yard line. All Trevor Lawrence needed was to go 60 yards in 1:45. He scored in just 1:17 in what seemed to be a stress-free drive, thanks to the good field position Butker gifted them.

This kickoff blunder adds to Butker’s struggles. He missed a kick in four straight games prior to Monday night, and perhaps his attention to detail on kickoffs has affected other aspects of his game.

The Chiefs will ride with Butker through his struggles because of his history with the franchise and his ability to turn things around. That leash is getting shorter by the week, however.

NFL Week 6 picks and score predictions: Lions stun Chiefs, 49ers upset Buccaneers in NFC showdown | CBS Sports

The Lions also have three different players who have recorded at least 200 receiving yards through five weeks and one of those players is Jameson Williams, who leads the NFL in yards per catch at 20.3.

The Lions also have a defense that can get after the passer, which is something the Chiefs haven’t really had to deal with over the past few weeks. Since Week 2, the Chiefs haven’t played a single team that ranks in the top-25 in the NFL in sacks. The Lions have 16 sacks on the season, which ranks second in the league this year. That could be trouble for Kansas City.

This game feels like it’s going to be a shootout, so I’m going to take the team that has more firepower, and for once, it’s not the team that Patrick Mahomes is playing for.

PICK: Lions 30-27 over Chiefs

Analyst pleads with Chiefs to manage Chris Jones’ workload after last play effort

The Chiefs have to play Chris Jones less snaps so he can play harder because this is unacceptable. I can’t believe I’m watching this #AchoAnalysis| #ChiefsKingdom| @ArrowheadPride pic.twitter.com/RniVWTHLIu

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 7, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest strength has become one of their biggest weaknesses | NBC Sports

Kansas City’s current winless streak in one-score games provides some evidence for those who felt the team’s 15-2 record last season did not accurately reflect how beatable the Chiefs really were. In 2024, Kansas City had a plus-59 point differential, 11th-best in the NFL despite being tied with the Detroit Lions for most wins.

This year, the Chiefs are getting a taste of their own medicine. Kansas City is 12th with a plus-18 point differential, which is better than four teams who each have only one loss so far this season. (The Chiefs’ three losses have come by a combined total of only 12 points.)

Ultimately, much like how its two-season streak of winning every one-score game felt unsustainable, it’s more likely than not Kansas City will eventually even things out and start being on the right side of tight games again. Monday was at least another step forward for the offense, which has now scored 65 points in the last two games compared to only 63 in the first three.

The Ringer’s 2025 NFL Power Rankings | The Ringer

6. Chiefs

There were so many moments on Monday night when I was expecting the Chiefs defense to force a backbreaking turnover, or for Patrick Mahomes to break a few tackles on his way to the end zone. You know, the type of thing that we’ve gone numb to during Kansas City’s dynastic run.

But as Jacksonville returned serve late in the fourth quarter and took the lead with less than a minute to go, I was smacked with the realization that this Chiefs team may not have enough top-end talent to steal wins like it once did. So far this season, the Chiefs have been a pretty normal team that just so happens to have an incredible quarterback. That kind of vulnerability is a new world for the Chiefs.

Around the NFL​

Bengals acquire Joe Flacco from Browns amid QB struggles | Yardbarker

The Bengals acquired Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Cleveland will send Flacco and a sixth-round draft pick to Cincinnati in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

The Browns benched Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel for the team’s Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to make the switch after Flacco went 16-of-34 for 184 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Cleveland’s 34-10 Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. Flacco has just two touchdown passes compared to six interceptions on the season, and threw for fewer than 200 yards in three of his four starts with the Browns.

Ravens adding veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, agent says | ESPN

Free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is signing with Baltimore Ravens on the practice squad, agent Kevin Conner told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The lack of experienced depth at safety has been an issue for a Ravens defense that has struggled mightily.

When Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton was sidelined Sunday with a groin injury, Baltimore started undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery in a 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans.

Gardner-Johnson could also help the Ravens even when Hamilton returns. By playing Gardner-Johnson deep with Malaki Starks, Hamilton can play closer to the line of scrimmage where he has made an impact in the past.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs-Jaguars: 5 things we learned in Week 5 defeat

1. Right now, special teams aren’t very special

This might have been the worst special teams performance I’ve seen in a game where the kicker didn’t miss a field goal.

However, Harrison Butker decided to take it a step further, kicking the ball out of bounds with under two minutes left to play when the Jaguars had only one timeout remaining. On top of that, the Chiefs committed so many holding penalties on kick returns that I had to double-check to make sure Jawaan Taylor wasn’t playing special teams.

At the end of the day, this performance falls squarely on special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

Social media to make you think​

"Kansas City is the better team. I don’t care what the score was."@colincowherd isn't worried about the Chiefs after losing to the Jaguars and falling to 2-3 pic.twitter.com/0cZ8kAPWRT

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 7, 2025

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[Kansas City Chiefs]

AP Mailbag: Will poor start make the Chiefs sellers at the trade deadline?

Welcome back to the Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Each week, watch for your opportunity to submit your Kansas City Chiefs questions in The Feed, which is found on AP’s home page.

After a painful loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on “Monday Night Football” — and with the 4-1 Detroit Lions coming to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 6 — let’s see what is on our readers’ minds.

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RedAngus123 asks: ​

Is it time to start trading the aging core of the team — and a few young players — for draft picks? Travis Kelce could put butts in the seats in Cleveland. Jawaan Taylor might be more suited for the New England Patriots’ offense. Chris Jones might like a change of scenery; he looked lost in Jacksonville. Leo Chenal and Trent McDuffie could bring in a haul close to the trade deadline.

Barring catastrophic injury, I don’t think there’s a scenario that would make the Kansas City a seller before the NFL’s November 4 trade deadline.

Yes… the Chiefs have been frustrating to watch. But have you seen some of the other AFC squads? Even if some of its recurring problems don’t improve, Kansas City is still likely to finish among the top seven teams in the conference. It should at least secure a Wild Card berth.

Time will tell whether Kelce and Jones eventually end their tenures in Kansas City on their own terms, but neither is going to be traded in-season. With $35 million guaranteed in 2026, Jones’ contract might be the most untradeable in the sport — outside of quarterbacks.

I would be surprised if any team had interest in trading for Taylor. Besides his high remaining salary for 2025, injury concerns haven’t gone away. Even after reportedly receiving an experimental treatment in Panama this past offseason, Taylor has appeared on every injury report this season while receiving treatment for his knee. At this point, we should probably expect that to continue for the rest of his playing career.

I predict the Chiefs and McDuffie will agree to an extension next spring, but I wouldn’t put the odds of a trade at zero. If it ever happened, it would be far more likely before next April’s draft than in the next few weeks. In that hypothetical, both sides would benefit from a broader range of interested teams during the offseason rather than being limited to select playoff contenders.

Chenal is an interesting case, because it’s unclear how aggressively the Chiefs plan to pursue re-signing him — or what his market might look like in free agency. If the worst-case scenario unfolded, Kansas City would have to consider trading him before the deadline. But as it stands, he’s too valuable to the team’s playoff hopes to consider trading him.

---

Richardmillhousenixon asks: ​

What is the Chiefs’ defensive third down conversion rate? How many times does the team get off the field? How many times has Kansas City allowed other teams to convert on third-and-long?

By almost any metric, the Chiefs are near the middle of the league on third down. Overall, Kansas City is currently tied for 13th, allowing 37.5% — or roughly three of every eight — third-down plays to move the chains. That perception was skewed this week when Jacksonville converted five of nine third-down attempts.

The five-game sample doesn’t suggest major issues on third-and-long. Per Next Gen Stats, the Chiefs rank 10th with a -0.31 expected points added (EPA) on third-down pass plays. The 6.2 yards per pass play on third down (22nd overall) is somewhat concerning, but that number also includes short passes that were never designed to convert. For example, Jacksonville’s second drive featured a third-and-14 play where the Jaguars gained 12 yards before punting.

Kansas City is also middle of the pack in allowing 4.6 yards per rush play on third down. Its +0.09 EPA against the run on third down likely reflects mobile quarterbacks — such as Los Angeles Chargers passer Justin Herbert and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence — having success scrambling in those situations.

---

Oldetyme Chief asks: ​

With so many gaffes to choose from on Monday night, how many are just things that happened that night, how many are likely to be persistent issues — and how long will it take to clean up the mess?

It’s probably best to let some of Week 5’s issues regress to the mean before panicking too much. To put it another way: it’s rare for teams to lose games where they outgain their opponent by more than 150 yards and win the turnover battle.

Penalties are the most glaring issue. Because so many calls are subjective — and therefore vary from crew to crew — they’re not always an easy or quick fix. Cognizant of a minimal margin for error against one of the league’s best offenses — the Detroit Lions — I expect the Chiefs to focus on playing more disciplined football Sunday night.

Defensively, Kansas City has been creative. Bad performances in Weeks 1 and 5 have sandwiched three inspired efforts. But there’s little doubt the team’s four-man pass rush has been ineffective. The Jaguars’ final offensive play on Monday night — the one where Trevor Lawrence fell, got back up and ran in the game-winning touchdown — is compelling evidence; I don’t foresee much improvement in this area without an outside addition. While the Chiefs have had solid game plans against mobile quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, their inability to contain more traditional passers like Lawrence and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — both of whom hurt the team with their legs — is concerning.

It’s also worth noting that Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen might be the NFL’s offensive mind best equipped to match up against the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Between Week 5 and last season’s overtime thriller (when Coen was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator), he’s now outschemed Kansas City twice in the last calendar year. It’ll be interesting to see if they meet again before Jacksonville’s scheduled trip to Arrowhead in 2028 — and what those coaching staffs look like by then.

---

KU_Lew asks: ​

How many games this year will a running back be the Chiefs’ leading rusher? Through five games, it has only happened once — against the Giants.

Against Jacksonville, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing for the third time this season. But this time, it wasn’t as concerning as it was in Weeks 1 and 2, when Mahomes accounted for more than half of Kansas City’s total rushing yards. With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both running well, Mahomes’ 60 rushing yards made up only 39% of the team’s total.

Unless the Chiefs trade for a true workhorse back — which seems unlikely given the league’s current injury situation — Mahomes may again lead the team in rushing in certain games, even when the backs are productive. As rookie Brashard Smith’s role continues to expand, Kansas City may evolve into a true running back-by-committee team, with no single back putting up standout individual numbers.

In Week 4, wide receiver Xavier Worthy led the team in rushing against the Baltimore Ravens. Once fellow wideout Rashee Rice returns from suspension (which happens on Monday), Worthy should find more success on end-arounds. That will increase the chance he will lead the team in rushing in one or two more games — on only a handful of carries.

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Thank you for reading this week’s Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Keep watching The Feed for a chance to ask your questions.

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[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Despite troubles, Chiefs remain among favorites for Super Bowl

The latest​

Revisiting 2025 preseason bold predictions for 32 NFL teams | ESPN

Original prediction: The Chiefs will have at least 12 plays that go for 40-plus yards in the regular season.

Why there’s still a chance: Kansas City has recorded two such plays this season, so this is still a long shot. Still, that’s halfway to the season total from a year ago. Plus, we’ll see whether the return of wide receiver Rashee Rice following his six-game suspension opens up more plays downfield.

Every NFL Team’s Biggest Breakout Player After 5 Weeks | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: WR Tyquan Thornton

This is a toss-up between Thornton and the team’s first-round rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons, but fewer expected the former to be such a big factor. Injuries have paved the way, but the fact is the 25-year-old ex-Patriot is averaging a league-high 20.9 yards per catch.

Super Bowl odds: Can Buccaneers, Colts, Commanders, Broncos challenge top tier? | The Athletic

Should Bills backers be concerned? For the second straight week, Buffalo lacked consistency at home against a big underdog. Three turnovers, 11 penalties and a lack of rhythm on offense contributed to the Bills’ first loss of the season.

Early-season lull aside, Buffalo’s odds remain steady thanks in part to a murky AFC playoff picture. The conference’s other biggest title contenders entering Week 5 — the Kansas City Chiefs (+1000), Ravens (+2000) and Los Angeles Chargers (+1800) — all lost and saw their odds drop.

In the NFC, the Detroit Lions (+700) are the new top team in the midst of a four-game winning streak. Rising from +1700 after Week 1’s loss in Green Bay, the Lions sustain the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, coupled with a playmaking defense that is third in both interception rate and sacks per pass attempt.

Five Quick Facts Following the Chiefs Week 5 Loss to Jacksonville | Upon Further Review | The Mothership

5. The Jaguars deserve credit for rattling off some clutch plays at the very end.

As impressive as the Chiefs’ final scoring drive was, the Jaguars found a way to match it.

Jacksonville covered 60 yards in just over one minute of game action, converting multiple third downs before finding the end zone with only 23 seconds remaining. The big play of the drive took place on the Jaguars’ side of the field, facing a 3rd-and-7, when quarterback Trevor Lawrence found wide receiver Brian Thomas for a 33-yard gain.

It was one of several clutch plays for Jacksonville on the series, and paired with some critical penalties on the part of the Chiefs, the Jaguars found a way to win it in the end.

It was a tough result for the Chiefs, who looked poised to win Monday’s game at numerous times during the contest, but they’ll now need to turn the page in a hurry with a matchup against the Detroit Lions this upcoming Sunday on deck.

Week 6 NFL QB Power Rankings: Can Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield break into top five? Raiders’ Geno Smith plummets | CBS Sports

5 – Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs QB
The magic is still within Mahomes; it’s not hard to see it when he’s on the move, single-handedly carrying the Chiefs’ ground game. But even he isn’t meant to press so hard. Kansas City’s unusually sloppy setup isn’t doing him a lot of favors. (-3)

2026 NFL mock draft: Deep QB class, but no clear No. 1 pick | CBS Sports

Pick 28 – Antonio Williams WR

Antonio Williams’ start to 2025 has been marred by a hamstring injury, but when he’s healthy, he’s Cade Klubnik’s go-to guy. He was targeted 103 times in 2024. And while he had eight drops, he consistently wins off the line of scrimmage vs. physical corners, can get open at all three levels, and has legit separation ability. He can play outside, in the slot and has punt-return ability.

Around the NFL​

Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NFL pretenders or contenders? | SB Nation

Who is more for real, the Colts or Broncos?

RJ:

The Indianapolis Colts are 4-1 through five games and appear to have gotten rid of the label that had to do with playing subpar competition. Also of note, the Denver Broncos just took down the Philadelphia Eagles and appear to have reignited discussion that they are contenders.

These are two teams who are struggling to break through the top-shelf AFC units and I think that if I had to put one there right now between the two… I’d go with Denver. Indy is a ton of fun and what they are doing is impressive, but the Broncos appear more capable of going the distance.

It is amazing that this is a real question in mid-October, though!

Joe Flacco to start at QB for Bengals in Week 6 game vs. Packers | NFL.com

Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Wednesday, just one day after trading for the veteran QB.

Cincinnati acquired Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick from Cleveland in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Flacco replaces Jake Browning, who was 0-3 as a starter in place on the injured Joe Burrow.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Mailbag Week 6: Will poor start make team a seller at deadline?

Barring catastrophic injury, I don’t think there’s a scenario that would make the Kansas City a seller before the NFL’s November 4 trade deadline.

Yes… the Chiefs have been frustrating to watch. But have you seen some of the other AFC squads? Even if some of its recurring problems don’t improve, Kansas City is still likely to finish among the top seven teams in the conference. It should at least secure a Wild Card berth.

Time will tell whether Kelce and Jones eventually end their tenures in Kansas City on their own terms, but neither is going to be traded in-season. With $35 million guaranteed in 2026, Jones’ contract might be the most untradeable in the sport — outside of quarterbacks.

I would be surprised if any team had interest in trading for Taylor. Besides his high remaining salary for 2025, injury concerns haven’t gone away. Even after reportedly receiving an experimental treatment in Panama this past offseason, Taylor has appeared on every injury report this season while receiving treatment for his knee. At this point, we should probably expect that to continue for the rest of his playing career.

Social media to make you think​

The Jags Pick 6 in the game resulted in -12.7 EPA swing for the Chiefs.

That's the highest negative swing play for any team this year. The 2nd highest of the last 2 years!

Also -42% win probability for the Chiefs.

NFL games don't come down to just one play over the course of…

— Jason Anderson (@J810Anderson) October 8, 2025

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[Kansas City Chiefs]

Eagles-Giants ‘Thursday Night Football’ discussion

The NFL’s Week 6 opens with the (4-1) Philadelphia Eagles against the (1-4) New York Giants from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Let’s talk about the game!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...les-giants-thursday-night-football-discussion

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

How to make sure Arrowhead Pride shows up in your Google search

As many of you are likely aware, Google searches are … different these days.

When you search for the latest information about Chiefs superstars like Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones – or maybe exciting rookies like Josh Simmons and Omarr Norman-Lott – the top result is an AI-generated paragraph. And far too often, there are other results that aren’t helpful at all. It can be pretty frustrating, right?

The good news is Google is offering a solution for folks who like to get their news from specific sources. If you want to help Arrowhead Pride — while also streamlining all your Google searches — there is now a way.

Simply click on this link and add Arrowhead Pride as one of your “Source preferences.” That’s all there is to it!

Back in August, the tech giant debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like Arrowhead Pride:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …

“When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.”

As some of you might know, AI searches are hurting outlets around the world and in all spaces. We’ve worked hard at Arrowhead Pride to build a brand you can trust and rely on for Kansas City Chiefs coverage. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best Kansas City Chiefs coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping Arrowhead Pride out.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...referred-sources-instructions-arrowhead-pride

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Madden Simulation: Time to tame some Lions on ‘Sunday Night Football’

STOP!​

If you want to watch the simulation without spoilers, start this video — or if you can’t see it, click here.

First quarter​

Five different receivers catch a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on head coach Andy Reid’s opening-drive script. Travis Kelce moves the Kansas City Chiefs across midfield, and Xavier Worthy hauls in a pass to set Kansas City up at the Lions’ seven-yard line. Two plays later, Kareem Hunt punches it into the end zone for the game’s first score.

The Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell wants to test the Chiefs’ strong run defense early. On the first play, Jahmyr Gibbs breaks multiple tackles for a 26-yard gain. The Lions’ offense methodically works its way downfield, converting four third downs along the way.

Before the quarter ends, Drue Tranquill sniffs out a screen pass to Gibbs and brings him down four yards behind the line for a tackle for loss.

End of first quarter: Chiefs 7, Lions 0

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Second quarter​

The Lions open the quarter with kicker Jake Bates drilling a chip-shot field goal.

On the Chiefs’ next drive, Mahomes connects with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on a dart that moves the offense into the Lions’ territory. But the drive stalls, forcing Kansas City to settle for a long field goal attempt. Harrison Butker’s kick sails wide left, giving Detroit excellent field position.

The Lions stay aggressive on offense, frequently targeting tight end Sam LaPorta. On a crucial fourth-and-one, quarterback Jared Goff hits LaPorta out of the shotgun for a big conversion.

Amon-Ra St. Brown later finds space on a curl route, putting Detroit inside the 15-yard line. On the next play, Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner comes flying in on a blitz and sacks Goff for a nine-yard loss.

Detroit quickly regains momentum, gaining 18 yards on the following play to set up fourth and short. Goff goes right back to St. Brown, who hauls in a five-yard curl route for a touchdown to give the Lions the lead.

End of second quarter: Lions 10, Chiefs 7

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Third quarter​

The Chiefs’ defense opens the second half with a statement, forcing a three-and-out. Nick Bolton blows up a screen pass to Gibbs for a loss.

On third and short, Kansas City lines up in shotgun formation, but the handoff to Isiah Pacheco is stuffed, bringing up fourth down. This time, Butker doesn’t miss: he drills the field goal to tie the game at 10 apiece.

On the Lions’ ensuing drive, Goff launches a deep shot to Jameson Williams, who makes the catch to push Detroit deep into the Chiefs’ territory. On the same play, Gibbs exits the game with an apparent injury.

End of third quarter: Chiefs 10, Lions 10

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Fourth quarter​

A handoff to David Montgomery is stopped at the two-yard line. On the next play, Leo Chenal sacks Jared Goff to force third down. The Lions can’t punch it in, settling for a short field goal from the one-yard line.

Mahomes continues to rely on Kelce to move the chains. The star tight end hauls in multiple big gains, including his third catch of 20-plus yards, putting the Chiefs inside the Lions’ 30-yard line. Moments later, Mahomes finds Kelce again — this time in the end zone — for a touchdown that gives Kansas City a four-point lead with just under 3:30 remaining.

Amon-Ra St. Brown comes up clutch on the ensuing drive, snagging a bullet from Goff on third-and-seven to reach midfield. The Lions drive to the Chiefs’ 17-yard line, but on a short checkdown pass, Kansas City’s defense reads it perfectly and makes the stop just shy of the goal line to seal the victory.

Final score: Chiefs 17, Lions 13

Notable stats​

• Patrick Mahomes 25 of 28, 271 yards, 1 touchdown
• Jared Goff 27 of 31, 249 yards, 1 touchdown
• Jahmyr Gibbs 6 carries, 23 yards, 4 receptions, 18 yards
• Isiah Paceco 6 carries, 36 yards, 4 receptions, 18 yards
• Travis Kelce 10 receptions, 140 yards, 1 touchdown
• Xavier Worthy 5 receptions, 46 yards
• JuJu Smith-Schuster 4 receptions, 52 yards
• Amon-Ra St. Brown 11 receptions, 85 yards, 1 touchdown
• Isaac Teslaa 4 receptions, 42 yards
• Sam LaPorta 3 receptions, 18 yards
• Jameson Williams 2 receptions, 56 yards
• Chamarri Conner 12 total, 7 solo, 3 TFL, 1 sack
• Jaylen Watson 7 tackles total, 4 solo
• Drue Tranquill 7 tackles total, 3 solo, 3 for loss
• Nick Botlon 7 tackles total, 3 solo, 3 for loss

In Week 7, the Chiefs remain on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where they will take on the Las Vegas Raiders for an AFC West matchup. We’ll once again see how the game plays out in the EA Universe.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/madden-nfl/183560/madden-simulation-chiefs-lions-week-6

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs and Lions offenses are polar opposites

The latest​

NFL Week 6: Key Matchups, Predictions for Chiefs-Lions and Other Top Games | SI

Key matchup: Patrick Mahomes vs. Detroit’s corners

Key stat: Mahomes is sixth with 1,257 passing yards.

Date, Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC

This game might be a race to 30 points. If that’s the case, the deciding factor will likely be whether the Lions can hold up in coverage against Mahomes.

Detroit will be without its top three corners on the depth chart from when the summer began, including Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. That doesn’t bode well against the Chiefs, who over the past two weeks have racked up 858 total yards and 65 points against the Ravens and Jaguars.

Lions first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has been blitz-happy, ranking ninth in sending extra rushers (28.8%). If the Chiefs can handle the pressure, Mahomes will have one-on-one opportunities against Avonte Maddox, Rock Ya-Sin and Amik Robertson. It’s a dangerous game, and one that might force Sheppard to play more conservatively.

Every NFL Team’s Biggest Problem Heading into Week 6 | Bleacher Report

Problem: The one-score game magic is gone

The Chiefs had famously won 17 consecutive one-score games entering this season, but that last-minute prime-time home loss to Jacksonville was their third such defeat of 2025.

Now, they’re 0-3 in one-score games.

Outlook: Patrick Mahomes has struggled on paper for several years now, but he has often made up for that in key moments. This year, he’s got a mere 84.1 passer rating and a sub-60 completion rate in the fourth quarter of one-score games. It’s not a good sign.

Chiefs OL Kingsley Suamataia on his growing confidence this season | Chiefs Wire

“Most definitely. It’s my second year (and) Josh’s (Simmons) first year.” said Suamataia, “Just trying to grasp everything I learned my first year and share it with him, especially with the plays, we have a lot of plays, but he’s taking it on well, he’s an incredible athlete, and I love playing next to him.”

The offensive line showed excellent continuity in their Week 5 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, improving the running game and protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Suamataia believes he’s found a groove in his new role at guard and his ongoing development.

“Yeah, I feel great. Just blessed to be in this situation. The coaches trust me to play guard, so I’m going to give it everything I can at it,” said Suamataia. “It’s going good, but yeah, definitely a big improvement from last year. Just growth from me.”

Chiefs will revisit some Week 1 ghosts when facing Lions on Sunday. Here’s why | The Athletic

That Week 1 game, when Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his team’s 27-21 victory? It was rough for the Chiefs’ defense.

Notably, Herbert finished 9 of 11 for 169 yards on play-action, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and also was 11 of 13 for 187 yards with two touchdowns when targeting in-breaking routes.

“The first game … obviously, we want to be perfect. But I think our eyes have gotten better,” Chenal said Friday after practice. “Because all that is (play-action) is about eyes.”

Let’s start with some numbers. If the 2-3 Chiefs hope to reroute the trajectory of their season with a win on “Sunday Night Football,” they’ll need to be most concerned with the Lions’ offensive deception.

Around the NFL​

Ravens rule out QB Lamar Jackson for second straight week | ESPN

Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, was ruled out Friday by Baltimore for the second straight week with a hamstring injury. He has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in Kansas City on Sept. 28.

Since Jackson became the Ravens’ starting quarterback in 2018, Baltimore is 4-11 (.363) when Jackson hasn’t played. The Ravens have lost their past five games without Jackson and have failed to score more than 17 points in each of those games.

Cooper Rush will make his second start for Baltimore, coach John Harbaugh confirmed after Friday’s practice.

Trey Hendrickson, Alvin Kamara headline 8 notable NFL trade candidates ahead of Nov. 4 deadline | NFL.com

Kamara leads the Saints with 283 rush yards and 360 scrimmage yards. He’s everything for this offense — and typically has been since he stepped foot in New Orleans in 2017. He’s played his entire nine-year career with the franchise and, before he agreed to a restructured contract in 2024, the star back said, “I want to be a Saint. I want to retire here.” I totally get that. It’d be weird to see him in another uniform, but he wouldn’t be the first or last great player to don different duds. New Orleans could make do in the backfield for the rest of this season with third-year pro Kendre Miller and sixth-round rookie Devin Neal, and the organization needs to start moving on from some veteran players — Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Taysom Hill also come to mind. Moving Kamara could allow the team to get some money off the books in 2026. Plus, with all of the recent injuries to running backs, Kamara could be at the top of the list for multiple teams.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Roster: Ahead of Lions showdown, team focused on their mistakes

After a string of penalties and uncharacteristic errors — both of which were on full display in Monday night’s 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars — head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes each pointed to execution and discipline as the difference between the team’s current struggles and the standard they’ve set in recent years.

“I always go back just to the basics,” said Reid of Monday’s special teams penalties, which were a big factor in the most recent of their three narrow losses. “The angles that you take are so big on special teams to put yourself in position to block. When you’re doing it in space, you’ve got to be disciplined, [so] that you don’t let your hands grab any cloth. The best way to do it is [to] go out and practice fast.”

Costly penalties have been a recurring theme in this season’s losses — something Reid acknowledged is hurting both field position and rhythm.

“We’ve got to take care of that,” he said. “That’s something we’ve got to fix. It’s getting us right now — and you can’t do that. So again, the best way to do it is you go out and practice it — and make sure you’re working on the things that have been causing the problems.”

Social media to make you think​

The Chiefs and Lions offenses are polar opposites. In KC, you have a QB who throws a ton because he’s the best player in the league handing off to average RBs. In Detroit, you have a good QB handing off at a super high rate because his RBs are stars. Game script will be crucial. pic.twitter.com/2JKs9Cos4b

— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) October 10, 2025

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[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chris Jones tells his side of the final play against Jaguars: ‘I thought it was over’

This week, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive lineman Chris Jones has caught some heat from both local and national media outlets for what many on social media perceived as a lack of effort on the deciding play of Monday’s 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On that play, Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence tripped after taking the snap at the 1-yard line, then scrambled back to his feet and ran into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

TREVOR LAWRENCE UNREAL

Go-ahead TD in the final seconds pic.twitter.com/qZ75CwU4tZ

— ESPN (@espn) October 7, 2025

While many blasted Jones online for not pursuing Lawrence, some (including myself) thought that Jones believed the quarterback was already down; his teammates had contained the play.

Hot take: Jones thought his teammates had Lawrence dead to rights so let up and was not in a position to make the play. And he’s not wrong. Optics are worse than the play. https://t.co/JMt15rb78U

— Rocky Magaña (a pleasant son of a buck) (@RockyMagana) October 7, 2025

“It’s a teaching point for me — a little adversity,” Jones said on Thursday, taking responsibility for the mistake. “I can’t think the play is over, you know what I mean? It’s a learning lesson.

“I thought it was over. I thought we had him down, so I kind of stopped and was about to celebrate — and then realized that he wasn’t down. [It’s] a teaching lesson for me: don’t stop.”

Afterward, Jones said he didn’t feel the need to address the incident with his teammates.

“I think they understand that I thought the play was over,” he said. “I didn’t quit, you know what I mean? It was just one of those instances where I thought he was down — and [then] I thought we were about to get him down again, and then [it was like,] ‘Oh my God! He’s not down.’ So they understand that it won’t happen again.”

Still, Jones admitted that watching the film of the play was difficult — because he holds himself to a higher standard.

“I kind of rate myself differently than everybody else,” he said. “So for me,. it was tough because it’s like, ‘I had the opportunity.’ And I just thought he was down.

“It’s my job not to think. It’s my job to finish. I’ll be better at it.”

As criticism of the play spread online, some noticed that the All-Pro defensive lineman seemed to have deleted his social media accounts. Many assumed he did it in response to the backlash.

But Jones denies that.

“Two days before the game,” he revealed, “I posted a Drake quote — ‘I’ll see you in the summary of 2026’ — and then I deleted my social media — before the game. I never run from constructive criticism. I’ve never been that guy.”

Jones prefers to use criticism as motivation.

“I always address it head-on; it’s like fuel,” he noted. “It’s like gas, for me personally.”

Still, he sometimes likes to take break from it all.

“I take social media breaks,” he explained. “I go through periods where I don’t need any social media.”

As far as he is concerned, the only reason to remain involved in it is to honor his brand commitments.

“Sometimes it’s not beneficial for me if there aren’t any brand deals I have contracts with,” he said. “A couple of days before the game, I called my agent and asked if I had any pending contracts with any brand deals before I deactivated my social media — and he was like, ‘Well, we’re working on it, but you can deactivate it.’”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...es-exlains-role-in-final-play-against-jaguars

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs badly need a win over the Lions, who will provide a tough challenge at Arrowhead

Still reeling from Week 5’s shocking last-minute 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Kansas City Chiefs’ schedule isn’t getting any easier. On Sunday night, they hope to get their record back to 0.500 with a win over the (4-1) Detroit Lions on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Per Next Gen Stats, the Lions rank third in expected points added (EPA) per play on both offense (+0.12) and defense (-0.14).

“They’re playing good football,” declared head coach Andy Reid this week, as his team prepared for the “Sunday Night Football” matchup. “They’re a good, solid defense flying around. Offensively, they’ve been very effective — point-wise and execution-wise. They haven’t had the self-inflicted wounds as much as some other teams. You know that they’re not going backwards, so we’ve got to make sure we take care of business and stay aggressive on both sides of the ball — and on special teams, for that matter.”

Much of the Lions’ success stems from strength in the trenches. Both their offensive and defensive lines bring star power to the matchup.

“They’re strong in both those spots,” Reid observed. “I think that’s been well documented. They’re a good offensive line — and have been together for a while. They do a good job in the run and pass game. Then, defensively, likewise, they’re solid in the pass game. They’ve got a good scheme, they’re good against the run, and they cover their gaps.”

Detroit’s offensive line supports a lethal group of skill players that includes wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Quarterback Jared Goff currently leads the NFL with a 75.2% completion rate.

For Kansas City linebacker Nick Bolton, this adds up to a challenging offense — especially now that Isaac TeSlaa has been added to the Lions’ wide receiver corps. The rookie has an impressive combination of size and speed that has helped him collect two touchdowns on just three receptions for 54 yards.

“They’re special,” said Bolton. “They have a great tight end and two good backs. Their wideouts have some depth, and they have a young guy, as well, that is adding to the mix. Their quarterback is playing great… It’s going to take everybody. All hands on deck up front — and then in the back end, mixing up some looks pre-snap and trying to force a couple turnovers when we can. It’s a great challenge for us.”

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is well aware of the damage that Montgomery and Gibbs can inflict — especially when the Lions use them together in creative formations.

“Their skill just excels,” Spagnuolo said of the duo. “They’re similar in some ways but different in others. I think No. 5 [Montgomery] is a pretty powerful runner, and I think they gear plays toward that. No. 0 [Gibbs] gets out on the edge quite a bit — and he’s a threat as a pass receiver as well. They put them both out there at the same time, and that becomes a challenge. We’ve got to tighten all kinds of things up.”

The Lions’ offense gets most of the headlines, but their defense has also been among the league’s best. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes credited the creativity of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard — a former third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills who spent eight seasons as an NFL linebacker.

“I think he does a great job of game planning with unscouted looks and doing stuff that’s specific to each and every team,” Mahomes said. “He puts his guys in positions where they can play fast and play hard. You can tell they respect him by how hard they play. I don’t know if that’s because he’s a former player — or whatever it is — but he gets the best out of his guys.

“It’ll be a great challenge for us. We’ve got to match the intensity of going up against a Detroit Lions football team and a Detroit Lions defense. It’ll be a great challenge.”

Now that their loss in Jacksonville has dropped the Chiefs to 2-3 on the season, Mahomes understands one thing very clearly: rising to this challenge isn’t optional.

“It’s extremely important,” he asserted. “There’s no way around it. This is a really good football team that we’re going to play. They play extremely hard — and they have a mentality that they’re going to come in and win a football game. So we have to match that intensity. We have to match that mentality and know that it’s going to take our best football: offense, defense, and special teams. We have to go out there and prove it on Sunday. We’ve got to start off with a great week of practice, and then come in with the mentality that no matter how it looks, we’re going to find a way to get a win.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...am-respects-challenge-lions-present-in-week-6

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs waive wide receiver Jason Brownlee

Per Monday’s NFL transactions report, the Kansas City Chiefs waived wide receiver Jason Brownlee on Monday.

Brownlee, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2023, signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad in January. He impressed in this year’s training camp and caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the preseason opener. With a suspension for Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice looming, Brownlee made the team’s initial roster.

Brownlee was active for five of the Chiefs’ first six games. He did not record a reception, but he did exceed 20% of the team’s special teams snaps three times.

A move in the Chiefs’ wide receiver room was widely expected this week because Rice is eligible to rejoin the team after serving his six-game suspension. While Rice did come off his suspension Monday, the Chiefs technically did not need to make a roster move yet.

Per friend of the site Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest, the Chiefs have received a one-week roster exemption for Rice. Assuming the team plans for him to make his return Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chiefs technically did not need to make a roster move until Saturday.

Presumably, the Chiefs are showing respect for Brownlee by waiving him early in the week to allow him to be claimed by an interested team. Should he go unclaimed on waivers, Kansas City can add him to the team’s practice squad before the practice week to prepare for the Raiders begins on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...965/chiefs-waive-wide-receiver-jason-brownlee

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

9 winners and 1 loser from the Chiefs’ Week 6 win over the Lions

Coming off an ugly loss in Jacksonville, the Kansas City Chiefs needed this one. They recorded a comfortable 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions — one of the best teams in the league — and got back to 0.500 on the season.

The offense looked competent and surgical — and this week, they’ll get one of their best players back. The defense held Detroit to under 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing. They got big stops to end drives and avoided costly mistakes.

It’s not easy to find fault with the Chiefs’ performance in this game, so I hope you’ll forgive a lopsided recap.

Here are just a few Kansas City players who stood out.

Winners​

Wide receivers Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster: Combined, these two caught all seven targets for 102 yards and two scores. Neither is likely to be the team’s No. 1 receiver any time soon — in fact, with Rashee Rice returning next week, their opportunities may shrink — but on this night, they made big plays. Brown had a 20-yard catch and Smith-Schuster grabbed a 30-yarder. Both served as efficient, reliable targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes — especially when he was improvising.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones: His statistics weren’t gaudy, but don’t be fooled: Jones is still changing games. Whether he reaches the quarterback or not, his pressure and chaos were evident on nearly every big defensive stop. Jones has that rare ability to beat an interior lineman cleanly and force a hurried throw that ends a drive.

Left tackle Jaylon Moore: Before examining advanced stats and coaches’ film, it looks like Moore’s debut went very well. He showed strength in run blocking, mobility getting downfield and pushing elite pass rushers wide around the pocket. It might have been one of the best days of his life. Early on Sunday morning, he welcomed his third child before earning his first Kansas City start. It was encouraging to see the Chiefs’ offensive line depth shine when Josh Simmons — its fantastic rookie starter — had to miss the game.

Tight end Travis Kelce: The sharp cuts? The energy? The reliable hands? There was the player we’ve grown accustomed to seeing! He caught six of seven targets for 78 yards and nearly scored before landing awkwardly near the goal line. With wideout Rashee Rice returning this week, it’ll be interesting to see how the targets shake out — but it’s reassuring to know that when the team needs him, Kelce can still be the guy.

Safety Bryan Cook and defensive back Chamarri Conner: These two were tackling machines against the Lions — a huge reason Detroit was held to just 17 points. They combined for 21 tackles — many of them near the line of scrimmage. The Lions went just 5-for-11 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down. Cook and Conner’s aggressive tackling and closing speed were key factors in getting the Chiefs’ defense off the field.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: Nobody has been better this season. You can see the comfort and confidence he’s built behind this offensive line — and the rapport he’s developed with his veteran receivers. When he scrambles, they know where to go — and good things usually happen. Mahomes hit eight different receivers on Sunday night — including all three running backs. He completed more than 73% of his passes and totaled 257 yards through the air. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient and confident. In other words: it was exactly what the Chiefs needed.

Head coach Andy Reid: All the talk about the Chiefs’ struggles this season — the sloppy play, the lack of adjustments — might have been a bit premature. Reid has his team rounding into form. The Chiefs looked dominant against one of the league’s top teams, executing on both sides of the ball. Kansas City went for it on fourth down three times and converted twice. And much to everyone’s delight, the Chiefs committed zero penalties. (Okay, technically there was one declined offsides call on Chris Jones — but still!) It was a solid game plan that was executed cleanly. Reid deserves plenty of credit.

Losers​

Kicker Harrison Butker: Another week, another missed kick. This one was ugly: a extra point pulled wide left. The Lions may have gotten a hand on it — but either way, it’s not good to see the well-paid kicker sitting at 78% on field goals and 82% on extra points.

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Please Note: The labels “winners” and “losers” are not judgments of talent or character. They simply reflect single-game performance. No disrespect is intended.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...hiefs-lions-9-winners-1-loser-from-week-6-win

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Taking risks on fourth down is paying off

The latest​

2025 NFL trade needs tracker: Every team’s top priority ahead of Nov. 4 deadline | NFL.com

BIGGEST NEED: Pass rush

The Chiefs were able to make the big plays in a massive home win against an explosive Lions offense, but the pass rush still needs aid. K.C. feasted late after Detroit got down by double-digits, but when asked to rush with just four early in the game, the Chiefs gave Jared Goff too much time. Help is required for Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.

Titans coaching search: Chiefs’ Matt Nagy and Steelers’ Arthur Smith among names to watch, per report | CBS Sports

New Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came over from the Chiefs, so he knows Nagy well. Nagy served as coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018-2021, and actually won NFL Coach of the Year in his very first season after leading Chicago to a 12-4 record and NFC North title. However, things went downhill from there, as the Bears finished 8-8 in each of the next two seasons, and then 6-11 in 2021 before Nagy was fired. He left Chicago with a 34-31 record.

Nagy never won a playoff game during his four seasons with the Bears, and his offense never finished above 21st in yards per game. Following his firing, Nagy returned to the Chiefs and won two straight Super Bowls as Patrick Mahomes‘ quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator.

10 Quick Facts Following the Chiefs Week 6 Win Over Detroit | Upon Further Review | The Mothership

3. The Chiefs’ fourth-down proficiency continued on Sunday.

Kansas City was 2-for-3 on fourth down during Sunday’s game, which included a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Worthy early in the game.

The Chiefs are now 11-for-13 on fourth down this season, marking the top success rate (84.6%) of any team with double-digit attempts.

The Ringer’s 2025 NFL Power Rankings | NFL.com

1 Chiefs

No superlative can accurately capture how much heavy lifting Mahomes has to do for Kansas City’s offense this season. He’s the Shang Tsung of quarterback play. He can do whatever his offense needs, whether it’s working within structure, extending plays, scrambling for easy yards, or throwing the ball downfield aggressively. Over the past three weeks, Mahomes has been playing with an efficiency we haven’t seen from him since the team traded away Tyreek Hill in 2022, and the Chiefs’ skill-position group is about to get stronger with the return of Rashee Rice in Week 7.

Around the NFL​

Steelers’ Rodgers, Bengals’ Flacco rare matchup of QBs in 40s | ESPN

In Thursday night’s Steelers-Bengals matchup, Rodgers and Joe Flacco will become just the second pair of opposing quarterbacks 40 or older in NFL history to start a regular or postseason game against each other, according to ESPN Research.

“I think it’s great for all the old guys,” Rodgers said. “I know that when I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the older guy, but I tend to pull for the older guys to win championships.

“I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s been great coming to my charity event. He’s been a great ambassador for the league. He’s had a great career, and it’s fun that we’re both still playing.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Odds: Patrick Mahomes is now the betting favorite for NFL MVP

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen was the favorite with odds as low as +140. Behind him, the sportsbooks have typically listed Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Baker Mayfield — who helped his case with an impressive 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon.

Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes quietly held the third-lowest odds leading into the team’s 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football.“ His 289 total yards (and four touchdowns) helped lift the Chiefs to a 3-3 record. Then the Bills fell to the Atlanta Falcons 24-14 on “Monday Night Football” — a game that included two Allen interceptions.

Social media to make you think​

The fastest-ever journey to 300 passing TDs and those that caught them pic.twitter.com/4Mg7xEw5E6

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 14, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...nes-taking-risks-on-fourth-down-is-paying-off

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

AP Mailbag: Will Rashee Rice pick up where he left off?

Welcome back to the Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Each week, watch for your opportunity to submit your Kansas City Chiefs questions in The Feed, which is found on AP’s home page.

After putting the NFL on notice with dominant win over the Detroit Lions — and with the ever-hated Las Vegas Raiders coming to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 7 — let’s see what is on our readers’ minds.

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FoxBox2021 asks: ​

Do you believe the Chiefs will let wide receiver Rashee Rice loose right away? Or will they ease him into action to protect his knee?

A few weeks make a big difference. The Chiefs could not have imagined a better scenario for Rice’s return from his six-game suspension — and a major knee injury suffered 13 months ago — though fantasy owners awaiting return on investment might disagree.

For about the first ten quarters of the Chiefs’ season, Rice was almost treated as a mythical figure — the long-awaited savior of a stagnant offense. Since the second half of Week 3’s victory over the New York Giants, however, Patrick Mahomes and the offense have more than come to life.

Kansas City certainly needs Rice to unlock the unit’s full potential, but the team no longer needs him to turn the unit around. That wasn’t the case a month ago. In addition, the two players who have largely absorbed Rice’s targets — JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce — look healthy and are playing their best football in recent memory.

In front of a home crowd against a divisional foe, expect the Chiefs to have some things dialed up for Rice in his season debut. Look for him in the red zone and on medium-range third downs. But it might take a couple of weeks — perhaps by game against the suddenly vulnerable Buffalo Bills in Week 9 — before Rice returns to the volume we saw last season.

But after the Week 10 bye, I expect Rice to be the undisputed focal point of the offense.

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HychHype asks: ​

I hear a lot of fans saying we should trade for one position or another. But are the Chiefs actually buyers at the trade deadline — and if so, what position do they truly need to improve?

I have tepid expectations for Kansas City at this year’s trade deadline. To start, the Chiefs will likely begin next offseason more than $30 million over the salary cap — and currently have only 35 players signed for 2026. That doesn’t lend itself to giving up draft capital. The team would be wiser to roll its current cap space — roughly $4.1 million — into next year.

Looking around the league, there also aren’t many obvious sellers. With leaguewide parity and a seventh playoff seed in each conference, most teams will still consider themselves contenders by the November 4 deadline.

A running back addition would make some sense. The Chiefs should be interested in any available dynamic starter — though plenty of teams share that same need. Since rookie Brashard Smith is the only back under contract for 2026, Kansas City could also explore buy-low options: players buried on depth charts who are still on rookie deals.

In a perfect world, the Chiefs would add an impact pass rusher — but at midseason, those are hard to find. The most realistic upgrade might be a rotational defensive tackle who can handle early downs and keep Chris Jones fresher for key passing situations.

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indplschiefsfan asks: ​

Is rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott still being “ramped up” after getting dinged in the preseason, or is there a reason defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo continues to avoid using him?

Unfortunately, just as Norman-Lott appeared fully recovered from his preseason ankle injury, he reportedly injured his shoulder in practice during Week 5, missing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game. After playing about 30% of defensive snaps in Weeks 2–4, he logged only 20% on Sunday against the Lions.

The Chiefs definitely need Norman-Lott’s help to relieve Jones on the interior. We’ve seen flashes — like his WWE-style sack of Jalen Hurts in Week 2 against the Eagles — but Kansas City must be cautious. He didn’t carry a heavy workload in college — and he’s already dealt with both upper- and lower-body injuries this season. Another setback could result in a lengthy absence.

Assuming health, I’ll be watching closely after the Week 10 bye. The snap count Norman-Lott sees in Week 11 might tell us what to expect for the rest of his rookie season.

---

KikoStJames asks: ​

On the SNF broadcast, multiple people said the consensus around the organization is they feel better about the overall state of the team than they did at this same time last year. Is that enough to calm the nerves of Chiefs fans after the team weathered a somewhat brutal schedule with a 3-3 record?

When Rice’s suspension was announced, many thought a 3-3 start would be acceptable — though most probably envisioned different wins and losses. Losing close games stings, but the context matters.

The product on the field should calm some nerves. The current version of the Chiefs’ offense might actually be more electric than the Super Bowl LVII-winning 2022 unit. Mahomes’ passer rating on Sunday was 132.2 — his highest mark in nearly three years. With his top weapon returning, he could soon be surrounded by the most complete supporting cast of his career.

That said, maybe we should slow down on the national media’s sudden lovefest. Defensive concerns remain. The Chiefs’ defense has allowed +0.07 EPA per rushing down — currently the third-worst figure in the NFL.

Kansas City has indeed weathered a brutal early schedule, but the road doesn’t exactly ease up. Six of the team’s remaining 11 games are against 2024 playoff teams, and five are against opponents with four or more current wins.

Before that gauntlet begins, Kansas City needs to build on Week 6’s success this Sunday against the Raiders. Despite their 2-4 record, Maxx Crosby and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are capable of frustrating Mahomes. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty will have studied how Detroit’s backs gashed the Chiefs in the first half last week.

We should feel encouraged — but sustaining success is harder than rediscovering it. The Chiefs’ middling start leaves them with very little margin for error the rest of the way.

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Thank you for reading this week’s Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Keep watching The Feed for a chance to ask your questions.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-7-will-rashee-rice-pick-up-where-he-left-off

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs remain mum on Josh Simmons’ continued absence

In his opening remarks to reporters during Wednesday’s media availability, Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid had unexpected news — but said little about it.

“As far as the Josh Simmons situation goes, I’m not going to comment on it today,“ said Reid. ”[General Manager Brett] Veach is handling everything there — and we’ll leave it at that.“

What, exactly, is the situation surrounding the team’s starting left tackle?

At this point, we can only speculate.

In the final injury report before its Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions, Kansas City had no injury designations.

That changed roughly five hours before Sunday’s kickoff, jump-starting a mystery that remains unsolved as of Wednesday afternoon.

T Josh Simmons has been added to the injury report. He is questionable for tonight’s game (Not Injury Related – Personal). https://t.co/qCeTgJJDcN

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 12, 2025

Starting left tackle Josh Simmons was added to the injury report with a personal designation just before 2 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Sunday.

An hour later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo clarified that Simmons was “dealing with a family matter back home in California.” Just after 5 p.m. — about 45 minutes before the Chiefs were to announce their inactive players for the game — James Palmer reported Simmons would be out for the matchup.

This apparently has just come up, because everyone on the Chiefs staff wasn't aware of the situation. https://t.co/yS7Q41yZm2

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 12, 2025

Before Wednesday’s practice, Reid could not be persuaded to give more details, refusing to even say whether Simmons would be available for that day’s practice. We only confirmed Simmons had been absent from practice — officially listed as not injury related-personal — with the release of Wednesday’s injury report.

In his turn at the podium, quarterback Patrick Mahomes followed his head coach’s lead.

“I’ll keep conversations between us,” Mahomes said of his recent contacts with his left tackle. “I’m always praying for him. I pray for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else private between us.”

On Sunday — recalling defensive tackle Chris Jones’ mad dash back to Kansas City after his aunt’s funeral before the Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens — reporters were hesitant to rule out the possibility that Simmons would be back before kickoff. Now, however, it’s clear that Simmons’ situation is different.

Fortunately for the Chiefs’ offense, swing tackle Jaylon Moore played well while filling in for Simmons against the Lions.

So far, Simmons’ career trajectory has been one to remember. He is valuable to Kansas City well beyond 2025, so we can expect the team to use whatever resources are needed to help him.

Stay tuned.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-remain-mum-on-josh-simmons-continued-absence

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Patrick Mahomes-Maxx Crosby bond is steeped in respect and friendship

As the old adage reminds us, players can become best friends when they’re off the football field — but the moment they step between those lines, they become enemies.

That’s the perfect way to describe the relationship between the Kansas City Chiefs’ MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes and the Las Vegas Raiders’ star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Any time these two modern greats face off, it’s sure to be a fun matchup — and one that is steeped in mutual respect, too. Crosby calls it “ultimate respect.”

“I know greatness when I see it — and I’ve been around a lot of greats,” Crosby said of Mahomes on this week’s edition of his SiriusXM show. “I’ve been around some of the best athletes and players to ever play the game — and I know he’s that. And every time I get to go out there, just the energy is different. I don’t know how to exactly explain it, but it’s been like that for a long time now. And so he knows what type of time I’m on, and I know what type of time he’s on.”

Mahomes has just as much admiration for the player who will be trying to put him on the ground during Sunday afternoon’s division matchup on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

“It’s like, when I talk to him outside of football, you wouldn’t even see what happens on the football field,” the quarterback told reporters on Wednesday. “But he’s a type of competitor like me. When you go on that football field, it’s whatever it takes to win; you’re going to leave everything on the football field. I have a ton of respect for that. I mean, those are the guys that you want on your team — because they play with that mentality.”

Mahomes has long spoken of his friend’s relentless effort. , he had nearly identical praise for the Raiders’ sack artist:

“You have to know where he’s at on every single snap,” he offered ahead of last October’s Chiefs-Raiders matchup, “because he plays extremely hard every single snap — and he’s extremely talented. To have a guy be that talented — and to have that high of a motor? That’s special.”

Even more impressive to Mahomes, Crosby is rarely affected by the usual tactics used to neutralize elite pass rushers.

“If he gets chipped — or whatever it is — he doesn’t let that bother him,” he added. “He doesn’t let that affect him. He just keeps playing extremely hard every single snap. It’s a great challenge for us to go up against him and that defense.”

On Wednesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also acknowledged the friendly — and unmistakably intense — rivalry between the two players.

“He is 100 miles an hour every play,” marveled Reid of the Las Vegas pass rusher. “He and Patrick? I think they’re friends, actually. They compete against each other — and that’s the beauty of the sport.”

Yes… that’s the beauty of sports — and life, too.

We should all be so lucky to find like-minded individuals who share our passions and push us beyond our limits whenever we’re around them.

Whatever you call them — frenemies, rivals, or pals — one thing is certain: Mahomes and Crosby make each other better.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-crosby-rivalry-steeped-in-respect-friendship