Chiefs’ Biggest Weaknesses Heading Into the Stretch Run:
- Lewis Green
- Dec 4, 2024
- 5 min read
The Chiefs played on Friday in Week 13 and headline Sunday Night Football in Week 14, which means we’re smack in the middle of a long week. And you know what that means: more content from Arrowhead Arena. Yay!
In this piece, I’m reaching into my bag of pessimism to highlight some of KC’s biggest, most glaring weaknesses as we head down the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. Chiefs fans, you’re welcome. As for the coaching staffs of KC’s opponents: please look elsewhere. The Chiefs are perfect. They have zero flaws. Move along.
Alright, let’s get into this sad sack of worries.
Corner-back-2 (boundary):
The Chiefs have a pressing issue at cornerback—specifically at outside corner—and it’s been evident since Jaylen Watson went down with an ankle injury in Week 7. Before that unfortunate game against the 49ers, Kansas City’s defense allowed 217 passing yards per game. From Week 8 onward (up to Week 13 as I write this), that number has ballooned to 248 passing yards per game.
At first glance, the 31-yard difference may not seem significant. However, consider this: in Weeks 1-6, the Chiefs faced elite quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert. Now? They’re giving up 340 passing yards to Aidan “The Nosebleed” O’Connell. The bottom line? The Chiefs’ secondary is leaking like a sieve, making Bryce Young look like prime Russell Wilson and O’Connell like peak Big Ben in consecutive weeks. This doesn’t exactly scream “playoff-ready.”
The Specific Problem
Nazeeh Johnson and Christian Roland-Wallace. These are young, developing players fighting for their NFL careers. I respect their effort and wish them the best moving forward, but right now, they’re simply not playing at the level Kansas City needs. Against weaker opponents, the Chiefs can get away with it, winning low-scoring games while masking these deficiencies. But come playoff time, with these gaping holes in the secondary, this problem becomes unfixable.
Another issue? The defense is asking Trent McDuffie to do too much. He’s the best slot corner in the league, and while he’s great outside, having him shadow players far bigger than him—like Brock Bowers one-on-one without help—is setting him up for failure.
The Solution
In-House Fix:The Chiefs should give Joshua Williams a real shot. While he’s been inconsistent, Williams has shown potential. He has the size and length to play on the boundary and match up against bigger receivers, something Johnson and Roland-Wallace struggle with. Keep McDuffie outside for manageable matchups and deploy Chamarri Conner in the slot when the situation calls for it.
External Fix:If there’s anything left in the tank for veterans like Xavien Howard or Patrick Peterson, the Chiefs should consider signing one of them to shore up the outside. This would allow McDuffie to return to his natural position in the slot full-time, where he can dominate without being overextended.
If Kansas City wants its defense to return to an elite level and make a deep playoff run, these adjustments can’t come soon enough.
Offensive tackle play:
Let’s be real—Patrick Mahomes can mask just about any deficiency. We’ve seen him win an AFC Championship with Marcus Kemp as WR1. We’ve seen him carry a team with one of the league’s worst defenses to the brink of a Super Bowl. And who could forget the 13-second game, where he overcame some of the worst cornerback play (hello, Mike Hughes) imaginable?
But there’s one thing even Mahomes can’t overcome: a broken offensive line. Remember the Tampa Super Bowl? Of course, you do. That game was a grim reminder that not even the best quarterback on the planet can function without at least competent protection. While the current O-line isn’t as catastrophic as it was in 2020, it’s far from perfect—and it’s becoming a major problem.
The Problem
Kingsley Suamataia isn’t ready, plain and simple. The kid’s barely old enough to buy a beer, and it shows. Wanya Morris can be serviceable when healthy, but he’s playing hurt and is far from okay—in the worst way. Then there’s Jawaan Taylor, whose $25 million-a-year contract makes him one of the most overpaid tackles in the league. Sure, Taylor can put together solid pass-protection performances, but he gets flagged far too often and still gets bullied by stronger defenders.
This isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a recipe for disaster. Against the Raiders on Thanksgiving, Mahomes was sacked five times and took repeated hits. Those kinds of games don’t just wear down your quarterback physically—they throw off the entire rhythm of the offense.
The Solution
Enter DJ Humphries. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Humphries isn’t a stud, but he doesn’t need to be. If he can simply be average in pass protection, it might be enough to allow the Chiefs to stabilize their line and give Mahomes the time he needs to work his magic.
This also gives Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia the chance to sit, recover, and improve for the future. There’s no shame in taking the time to develop young talent, but the Chiefs can’t afford to roll them out in such a critical stretch of the season.
The second key? Andy Heck, the Chiefs’ offensive line coach, needs to focus on instilling discipline in Jawaan Taylor. The penalties have to stop. Taylor’s physical tools aren’t the issue—it’s his consistency and mental game. Tightening up his protection and cleaning up the flags could make a world of difference.
If the Chiefs can sort out their tackle play, the rest of the offense can click into place. But without fixing this glaring issue, the path to a three-peat becomes infinitely harder.
Mr. Field goal man: Kicker.
Let’s keep this simple: Harrison Butker is hurt. He’s expected back for the playoffs, but that’s still a ways off.
So far, the kicker position hasn’t been an issue, and full credit goes to Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright for stepping in admirably. But let’s face it—this is the Chiefs we’re talking about. They live for ridiculously close games, and you know what matters in close games? Yep! field goals.
The Chiefs' interim kickers have done their job so far, but the margin for error gets razor-thin as the stakes rise. A missed field goal or extra point in December—or worse, January—could be the difference between a win and a loss.
Then there’s the big question: How well will Butker perform when he’s back? He’s coming off significant surgery, and while we hope he’s the same ice-cold, clutch kicker we’ve seen in the past, there’s no guarantee he’ll return to form immediately. It’s something to monitor closely because, like it or not, the Chiefs' Super Bowl hopes may hinge on the health and accuracy of their kicker as it has countless times before.
For now, let’s hope Wright and Shrader can hold the fort until Butker’s return—and that when he does come back, he’s ready to deliver when it matters most.
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