The Kansas City Chiefs have started the season 8-0 and are currently on a 14-game winning streak dating back to last season. They are also aiming to become the first-ever team in the NFL‘s history to win three straight Super Bowls, and so far are on track to achieve that milestone despite injuries to multiple key players on the team.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Domonique Foxworth recently discussed the reigning Super Bowl champions. They think that, although Kansas City is still unbeaten, they have a major issue on defense that could hurt them going forward.
Analysts Highlight One Weakness in Chiefs’ Defense
During a segment on “The Domonique Foxworth Show,” Kimes highlighted how other teams can take advantage of the Chiefs by attacking the middle of the field.
“I don’t have a lot of concerns,” Kimes said. “This is a defense that plays a lot of split safety, and if you’re an offense that can attack the middle of the field, particularly like over 10 yards, if you can go behind the linebackers, I think that there are opportunities there to be had.”
Foxworth agreed to what Kimes said and further elaborated on how the other teams are benefitting from it.
“It seems that they’re struggling this season with tight ends,” Foxworth said. “It doesn’t seem like it’s a secret because when I’m watching the games that they’re playing, it feels like the opponents are purposely strategizing ways to get Justin Reid matched up on tight ends and also just specific ways that they’re targeting the tight ends.
“The reason why I think that’s particularly important is, because in the AFC, there aren’t a ton of great tight ends, but the one team that I think we all agree is the biggest threat to the Chiefs right now is the [Baltimore Ravens], who have a couple of really good tight ends. … I do think they’re kind of weak from a personnel standpoint in that specific area.”
It’s true that star tight ends, apart from Mark Andrews, have all had productive games against the Chiefs this season. Here are some of the notable performances by tight ends against Kansas City this year:
- George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: Six receptions for 92 yards on seven targets.
- Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals: Seven receptions for 91 yards on nine targets.
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Two receptions for 59 yards on five targets.
- Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.
- Isaiah Likely, Ravens: Nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
Reid, the Chiefs’ starting safety, is allowing a career-high passer rating of 122.9 when the ball is thrown toward the player he is matched up against.
Reid has also given up three touchdowns this season, allowing a completion percentage of 84.4% and 10.8 yards per completion. He is having a bad season at the worst time possible, as the two-time Super Bowl champion will be a free agent after this year.
SEE MORE: Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart
Jaylen Watson’s injury has also come at a bad time for Kansas City. The Chiefs will hope that rookie Jaden Hicks can step up and contribute to the team if Reid continues to struggle. So far, the fourth-round pick from Washington State has played only 8% of the team’s snaps on defense this year.
Despite their struggles with tight ends, K.C. still has the league’s ninth-best scoring defense, allowing just 18.4 points per game. They also have the NFL’s third-best run defense, allowing just 83.9 rushing yards per game.
The Chiefs’ defense has historically played better in the playoffs, and hopefully, by then, Reid and Steve Spagnuolo will figure out a way to deal with the tight ends.
Kansas City Set To Face a Tricky Test in Week 10
The undefeated Chiefs will face the 5-4 Denver Broncos in Week 10. Although this is Kansas City’s home game, it will not be easy, as the Broncos have played good football this year. Denver’s defense allows only 17.7 points per game and can make things tough for the Chiefs’ offense.
Patrick Mahomes played his best game of this season in last week’s overtime win against the Buccaneers. To stay in the MVP race, he must have another big game this week against the Broncos.
Denver came away with a surprising 24-9 win in their previous matchup against the Chiefs in Week 8 of last season. It will be interesting to see how rookie quarterback Bo Nix will deal with the Chiefs’ defense, which is still one of the best in the league despite their flaws.