Kansas City dropped their first preseason game of the 2026 campaign to the Los Angeles Rams, falling 20-12, and get this: Harrison Butker was the *only* Chief to put points on the board. Yeah, you read that right. All twelve points came from his foot, not from any offensive drives finding the end zone. The offense picked up some yards, sure, but consistently stalled out or shot itself in the foot, making it clear they’ve got some serious work to do.
Rookie QBs and Penalties Killed Drives
The offensive struggles were real, even if rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier showed flashes. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 98 yards, which isn’t terrible, but it never translated to six points. Rookie running back Emmett Johnson led the team on the ground with 59 yards over 12 attempts, and he even had a touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty. That’s just soul-crushing for a young guy trying to make a statement! Early in the game, a pass from Justin Fields to Brashard Smith got a quick first down, but then an offensive pass interference call on Jalen Royals killed that drive. Later, Fields connected with Armstrong for 17 yards, another first down, but again, a penalty put Kansas City behind the sticks and forced another punt. Even second-year tight end Jake Briningstool, who led Chiefs receivers with an unbelievable 29 catches over three receptions, couldn’t get them into the end zone.
Jaden Hicks Is An Absolute Playmaker
While the offense sputtered, the defense brought some serious energy, especially third-year safety Jaden Hicks. The guy was flying all over the field, racking up seven total tackles and adding a clutch pass breakup to stop an early drive in the red zone. Hicks wasn’t done, either, recording a tackle for loss and a quick tackle on a short completion to help halt a Rams drive later on. Nohl Williams started the game right with a third-down pass breakup, forcing a three-and-out. Felix Anudike-Uzomah also created pressure off the edge that resulted in a holding penalty. They buckled down inside the 10-yard line on one Rams possession, forcing a field goal, and started the second quarter with another three-and-out. The defense held strong after giving up an 11-yard run to the Rams in the third quarter, which is good, but they eventually broke, letting up 20 points.
What’s next for the Chiefs? They have to figure out how to finish drives. Butker can’t be the only guy putting up points. Coach needs to light a fire under this offense and get those rookies like Nussmeier and Johnson some real reps without the flags flying. We need to see them consistently move the ball and punch it in. Look for the D to keep building on Hicks’s incredible start, but the offense absolutely has to step up in the next preseason game. These early evaluations matter, man, and this game left more questions than answers on offense.
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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