Chris Jones, who just hit 32 in July, has been completely blanked on the stat sheet in the Chiefs’ last two losses. Yeah, you read that right. Zero official tackles, zero QB hits, zero sacks, absolutely nothing , in back-to-back games. That’s a massive problem for a team that’s now dropped two straight and relies on its defensive front to make plays.
Jones’s Scary New Normal
It’s not just the last two games, either. Through seven games this 2026 season, Jones’s numbers are a far cry from what we expect from a dominant defensive tackle. We’re talking a mere 13 total tackles, only one tackle for loss, three QB hits, and a truly shocking half-sack. A half-sack for Chris Jones through seven games! The guy has been a game-wrecker for years, a truly elite talent. Is turning 32 in July hitting harder than anyone thought? This is an elite player looking completely lost right now.
League-Worst Pass Rush for the Champs?
This isn’t just a “Jones problem,” though. His individual struggles are bleeding into the entire Kansas City defense. As a team, the Chiefs have managed a paltry eight sacks through seven games this season. That averages out to just over one sack per game, which is, frankly, embarrassing for any NFL squad, let alone one with their reputation. Their sack rate? A dismal 3.69 percent of opponent dropbacks. Only Philadelphia has a lower sack rate in the entire league.
Meanwhile, other teams are absolutely feasting on quarterbacks. Minnesota is leading the charge with a 12.32 percent sack rate, and guess who’s right behind them at No. 2 with a formidable 9.65 percent? Our good old Chicago Bears. The same Bears who just came into Lumen Field and handed our Hawks a brutal 34-17 loss. Chicago is proving they can get to the quarterback, and the Chiefs are doing the exact opposite.
Head coach Andy Reid tried to put a positive spin on things in his Monday news conference, saying, “when you rush four, you want to get somebody home, obviously. That’s what [defensive line coach] Joe [Cullen] strives for, and the guys strive for, and we’ve been doing a good job with getting pressure on. You’ve just got to get to the quarterback. We had a lot of blocked balls, which was great, you’ve got to be relatively close to get those.”
“Getting pressure on” and “getting to the quarterback” are two *very* different things, Coach. “Blocked balls” are a small consolation when you’re getting gashed on the scoreboard and your star defensive tackle is putting up donut after donut.
This isn’t just about a couple of losses for Kansas City. It’s about the entire identity of that Chiefs defense. If Jones isn’t getting home and the team’s sack rate is bottom-two in the NFL, how long until their season starts spiraling? Seattle fans know a thing or two about needing a pass rush, and what’s happening in Kansas City right now should be a huge wake-up call for the rest of the league. It’s clear they need to figure out how to get to the QB, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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