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All season long, the question we’ve all been asking is what’s wrong with the Chiefs’ offense.
After another subpar outing at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Matt Nagy‘s group still haven’t solved the so-called fixable issues the offensive coordinator discussed weeks ago.
In 2022, Kansas City led the league in offensive yards per game (413.6) and passing yards (297.8 per game).
Their 29.2 points per game in 2022 led the league and was par for the course for a unit led by Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes and the offense did all that without Tyreek Hill leading many to believe the Chiefs’ offense would be just as good, if not better, in 2023.
However, after 13 weeks, the’ve only shown flashes of brilliance, while still lacking consistency.
To this point of the season, the offense is averaging over 50 fewer yards-per-game compared to 2022 (362.6), plus more than 40 fewer passing yards-per-game (252.7), while scoring almost a converted touchdown less per game than a year ago (22.9).
Dropping the Ball
On Sunday in Green Bay, we saw a recurring theme for the Chiefs’ offense, with the receivers dropping some deep balls.
Yes, the officials blew at least one on the final drive, while the Hail Mary play at the end of the game was borderline, but there were still some misses by KC’s young receiving corps.
Even with Travis Kelce at their disposal, we’ve rarely seen the Chiefs cut open opposing secondaries in 2023 like in seasons past.
Only 20 passing plays by the offense this year have gone for 30 yards or more according to fantasy pros.
Mahomes has 123 passes this season which have gone for 10+ yards.
The inability to make plays deep down the field is a cause for concern down the season’s stretch.
If they want to repeat as Super Bowl champions, being more proficient deep down the field will be pivotal.
That’s something one of their competitors in the conference has going for them, i.e. the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa and Hill.
One Dimensional
Without many big plays down the field, the Chiefs’ offense has relied on draw plays to Isiah Pacheco or short dump-off plays.
Mahomes has a speedster in Rashee Rice, who’s putting together a fine rookie campaign and can turn those short pass plays into big gains.
In the long term, though, those plays will get old come playoff time, and likely, opposing defences will figure out how to defend it.
The KC defense has been keeping them in games all season, but having to do it for a dozen encounters could be taking its toll.
Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense moved the ball effectively against the KC defense all night, putting up 382 total yards and 253 through the air, with Love throwing three touchdown passes.
We are long past the feel-out stage for this offense; they have to show us something down the stretch of the regular season.
If the Chiefs can’t start catching some of these deep passes, Andy Reid will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks cause Patrick Mahomes, after all, is only human.
Five weeks remain this season, with the Chiefs next facing the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead on Sunday.