The Kansas City Chiefs’ play-action game has blown up, going from dead last in the NFL in 2025 to leading the league just three games into the 2026 season. Last year, their offense was stuck, and they got next to nothing from their running backs. Flash forward to now, and their play-action passing yards have surged from a paltry 396 in all 17 games of 2025 to an unbelievable 312 yards in just three games this year. Yeah, you read that right.
Kenneth Walker: The Game Changer Nobody Saw Coming
This turnaround isn’t some magic trick, though it sure feels like it. The big offseason move was signing running back Kenneth Walker. Look, last year, the Chiefs couldn’t generate explosive runs and their running backs were a black hole. Bringing in a good back was the easiest way to give this offense a jolt, and it’s paid off massively. Any sort of run game was going to make things better, but the improved ground attack has done way more than just that, opening up the play-action calls that are now dominating. Patrick Mahomes is absolutely cooking on play action this year. Next Gen Stats confirms it: on 36 play-action dropbacks, he’s got a 71% completion rate, 348 passing yards, 3 TDs, and only 1 interception. That’s a 69% success rate, with 11 passes flying over 20 yards. “Absurd efficiency” is an understatement, folks. He easily tops the NFL in this area.
Unlocking the Offense: How They’re Doing It
So, what’s actually making Mahomes’ play-action game so lethal? It starts with getting him on the run, and the bootleg has been a huge part of that. Kansas City is doing a killer job protecting the backside of those bootlegs, keeping Mahomes clean so he can unleash throws from any angle. Getting Rashee Rice involved in the middle of the field is pure gold. Play action helps them get Rice on crossers, and by condensing the formation, he doesn’t have to fight off press coverage, giving him a leverage advantage. He stays off contact, and Mahomes can throw a laser to get Rice going in space.
And can we talk about Travis Kelce? This style of offense has totally unleashed him. He’s always been great at finding soft spots, but now he’s getting deeper downfield than ever before. He’s also benefiting from being closer to the line of scrimmage more often, which gives him free releases to find those sweet spots between linebackers. When you condense the formation like this, it makes it super tough for defenses to play man coverage. The Chiefs are just winning the leverage battle every single week with their passing concepts. Mahomes’ accuracy on these downfield throws off play action is insane. You see plays where he short rolls, literally runs himself into a defensive lineman’s vision, and then throws a fade-away on a 24-yard downfield pass with pristine accuracy and touch. He can hit any throw on the field, from any angle, whether it’s a fastball to Rice or a soft lob. That touch he’s showing this year? It’s just incredible. Every downfield pass hits a player in stride, no conflict, just perfect execution.
The Chiefs are riding a serious wave of momentum early in the season, showing the rest of the league that their offense is far from stagnant. This new focus, powered by Kenneth Walker and Mahomes’ elite play-action, means they are a major problem for every team coming up. You just know other defensive coordinators are already scrambling to figure out how to slow this down.
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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