The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense is back to looking elite, but if you’re thinking it’s all about Patrick Mahomes slinging it deep from the shotgun, you’d be dead wrong. This isn’t the Chiefs offense we’ve seen before. They’ve pulled off one of the wildest turnarounds, transforming what was their biggest weakness into a full-blown strength that’s making the rest of the league scratch their heads.
This Under-Center Flip Is Wild
You remember how they used to operate, right? Well, get this: a year ago, the Chiefs were practically allergic to lining up under center. They were the absolute worst team in the NFL from that formation, averaging just 45.1 yards per game, putting them second-to-last. Passing from under center? Forget about it. They averaged a pathetic 3.0 yards per pass attempt, dead last in the league. It was bad, like, really bad.
So, what did they do? They decided to double down! They started doing *more* of what they were terrible at, and what do you know, a year later they’re leading the NFL in rush yards per play at 6.3 in under-center formations. That’s a half-yard better than the second-place team! Plus, they’re now ranked second in pass yards per play (9.5) from that same formation, which is more than triple their efficiency from last season. It’s a completely different look, with big-time throws from Mahomes and gashing runs from Kenneth Walker making that under-center scheme unstoppable.
What’s Up With That Pass Rush?
While the offense is cooking, there’s a definite question mark hanging over the pass rush. They’re ranked 27th in pass rush win rate, only generating pressure by beating opponent pass protection within 2.5 seconds about 45% of the time. That’s not exactly inspiring. The concern really bubbled up after their comeback win against the Las Vegas Raiders. They only pressured Kirk Cousins on 34.6% of his pass drops, and let’s be real, Cousins is probably the least mobile passer they’ve faced all season.
Coach Andy Reid addressed it, saying, “We’ve done a good job of keeping the quarterback busy back there, though, with pressure, which is important. Hands down, we want to have sacks. But the pressure on the quarterback ends up being an important thing, and I think our guys have been generating that.” It’s a fair point, but it’s hard to ignore they haven’t had a single sack since Week 1. That’s a trend that’s gotta change for a team with championship aspirations.
Briningstool’s Blocking Prowess Could Change the Game
Look out for the tight end room, because Briningstool is quietly making some noise. He’s been the clear No. 3 tight end behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray, and while his pass blocking needs some work (he’s allowed one pressure on just two pass-blocking attempts), he’s proven himself as a beast in the run game. In fact, Pro Football Focus has him leading all Chiefs tight ends in run-blocking grade. That includes both Gray and the legendary Kelce! With the running game becoming such a massive part of their offensive identity, expect Briningstool to carve out a much bigger role, especially after the Week 5 bye with injuries reshaping the roster. Keep an eye on Cyrus Allen and other players who need to step up too; depth is always key.
So, the Chiefs are rolling with a wild, revamped offense that nobody saw coming. The biggest question mark right now is how that pass rush sorts itself out, and if the Briningstool factor can keep that newfound running game churning. It’s going to be a fun stretch to watch how this team continues to evolve.
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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