The Kansas City Chiefs offense might be rolling, but they’ve got a red zone problem that’s straight up jarring. It’s a glaring weak spot for an otherwise high-powered team: their touchdown percentage on rushing plays inside the five-yard line is the second-worst in the entire league, sitting at a brutal 18.2%. That’s just two touchdowns on 11 attempts!
Red Zone Woes Are a Real Headache
You read that right. When “Walker” has carried the ball 11 times from inside the five, he’s only punched it in for a score twice. Think about that: more than three times as often, the opponent is celebrating a stop in the backfield than the Chiefs are celebrating a touchdown. He’s been stopped at the line of scrimmage or for a loss on seven of those 11 attempts. It’s an absolute nightmare. Only the Steelers are worse, and they’ve only had one attempt inside the five all season. This isn’t just a blip, it’s a trend that Mike Macdonald’s defense would feast on if they faced it. This kind of inefficiency from mere yards out is the stuff that stalls drives and leaves points on the field. They need to figure out how to get that thing across the goal line, pronto.
The Receiver Rumor Mill Gets a Twist
While the red zone game needs serious work, the Chiefs’ receiver room has been a whole drama in itself. First off, a reunion already happened with wide receiver Justin Watson signing to the practice squad; he even snagged one offensive snap and three special teams snaps after getting elevated for the win against the Chargers. Then there’s the ongoing Tyreek Hill saga, which feels like it’s “looming” but honestly isn’t as inevitable as it used to be. And don’t forget the trade rumors swirling around Hollywood Brown, who hasn’t really popped off for the Eagles this season.
But one potential Chiefs reunion is now officially off the table, at least for the time being. Three-time Super Bowl champ Mecole Hardman, who was most recently with the Bills until they cut him in August, has signed onto the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad. He only appeared in two games for Buffalo last season, handling two punt returns and one kickoff return. The Colts also added veteran punter Thomas Morstead after their punter Rigobert Sanchez had to leave Sunday’s loss to Tennessee with a foot injury. Morstead was with San Francisco last season, averaging 43.6 yards on 44 punts.
Noah Gray Steps Up Big in Week 6
Amidst all the red zone frustration and receiver talk, one guy really stepped up in the Week 6 win over the Chargers: Noah Gray. With Kelce dealing with an ankle injury that limited his effectiveness and availability, Gray absolutely made the most of his opportunities. He matched Kelce’s receiving output with 53 yards on the day, hauling in every single one of his three targets. The dude even flashed some serious post-catch skills on a wild 31-yard rumble. When your main guy is a bit hobbled, you need others to step up, and Gray did exactly that.
The Chiefs might be “rolling,” but that glaring red zone problem needs to get fixed ASAP. With Hardman off the board for now, and other rumors swirling, they’ve got some decisions to make to keep that offense truly humming. They’ll be looking to clean up those short-yardage struggles and build on Gray’s strong performance as the season rolls on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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