The Chiefs allowed 26 points to the Jaguars in Week 1.

Analysis: After Nick Foles (collarbone) exited the game, rookie sixth-round pick QB Gardner Minshew took over and performed admirably with an 88-percent completion rate, 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Allowing that stat line in addition to 11.0 YPA to a rookie isn't a good sign for the Chiefs secondary, especially considering they also allowed 5.1 YPC to the Chiefs' backfield. Oakland looked to have a capable offense in their Week 1 win over the Broncos, and RB Josh Jacobs looked…read more

S Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and is expected to play Sunday versus the Jaguars.

Analysis: One of the Chiefs' main issues last season was they were always ahead -- usually by a lot -- causing teams to take high-risk throws to get back into the game. That recipe left the Chiefs with the second-most yards allowed per game (405.5) but also the eighth-most turnovers (27). The team made a sizable offseason investment in their defense by adding Mathieu, DE Frank Clark, who had 13 sacks last year, and CB Bashaud Breeland. The Jaguars don't present a matchup that's overly threatening, but…read more

S Tyrann Mathieu suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers, but he's expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Analysis: Mathieu is one of the key offseason additions for the Kansas City defense alongside DEs Frank Clark and Alex Okafor. The Chiefs tied for the league lead with 52 sacks last season, but otherwise ranked 31st in total defense (405.5 YPG) and 24th in scoring defense (26.3 PPG). The more minor offseason signings of CBs Bashaud Breeland and Morris Claiborne (suspension) seem unlikely to significantly shift the balance in a secondary that allowed 273.4 passing YPG in 2018

The Chiefs allowed 38 points and 464 yards of total offense against the Seahawks in Week 16. They will face the Raiders in Sunday's regular season finale.

Analysis: Kansas City was unable to force any turnovers and their three sacks didn't do enough to perturb QB Russell Wilson. The Chiefs rank 31st in total defense (413.1 YPG) and 29th in scoring defense (27.9 PPG), as they have had trouble slowing down even mediocre offenses. One of those offenses awaits in Week 17, yet the Raiders managed to put up 33 points in their previous encounter this season. Kansas City excels at rushing the passer (49 sacks) while Oakland ranks near the bottom of the league with…read more

The Chiefs enter their Week 16 matchup with the Seahawks ranked 31st in total defense (409.4 YPG).

Analysis: The Chiefs are giving up an average of 35 points over the last four games, though the 54-51 loss to the Rams does inflate that number a bit. Still, they rank 28th in scoring defense (27.1 PPG) for the season, and especially struggle against the run, allowing an average of 5.0 yards per carry. That's problematic against the Seahawks' run-heavy offense. Seattle leads the league in rushing (154.9 YPG), while QB Russell Wilson has thrown 31 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. The Chiefs'…read more

Kansas City surrendered 321 total yards of offense during Sunday's 27-24 win over Baltimore.

Analysis: Sunday's win marked the first time Kansas City held its opponent below 30 points since Week 10's 26-14 win over Arizona. Needless to say, the feat isn't something that will be widely celebrated, but perhaps the Chiefs can use it as momentum for Thursday's pivotal divisional showdown with the Chargers. While the Chiefs will receive the bulk of the attention heading into the contest, the Chargers' offense isn't too far behind the league's top offensive unit. Los Angeles currently boasts the…read more

Kansas City surrendered 442 yards of offense during last week's 40-33 win over Oakland.

Analysis: It's a bit troubling to see Kansas City play down to the competition, but that's what can happen when owning a Swiss cheese defense. If the Chiefs aren't careful, they could knock Cincinnati out of last place in total defense. They're certainly teetering the line as it already is. If Kansas City is going to make a run at the Super Bowl, it better hope the defense rights the ship before the season sinks away.

Kansas City boasts the league's 30th-ranked total defense (414.7 YPG) entering its Week 13 matchup with Oakland.

Analysis: The Chiefs' defensive struggles have been well-documented throughout the season. Regardless of what is causing the problems, Kansas City has proven to be unreliable on weekly basis. Fresh off a bye, the Chiefs will look to use the showdown with Oakland as a bounc- back game following their narrow loss to the Rams in Week 11. The Raiders have plenty of offensive issues themselves, but the Chiefs have surrendered at least 23 points in each of their divisional tilts this season.

The Chiefs have the 30th-ranked total defense (414.7 YPG) entering their Week 12 bye.

Analysis: The Week 11 matchup with the Rams lived up to the hype with the 54-51 result in favor of Los Angeles, but the Chiefs defense still recorded three sacks and two takeaways, including a fumble return for a touchdown by DE Allen Bailey. Monday's effort isn't a complete aberration for Kansas City this season as they have struggled against elite offenses, also allowing 37 points to Pittsburgh and 43 to the Patriots. Thankfully the Raiders feature no such offense, and have actually failed to top 10…read more

The Chiefs boast the league's 29th-ranked total defense (410.7 YPG) entering Monday's tilt with the Rams.

Analysis: The Chiefs have effectively masked their defensive struggles thanks to the emergence of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Perhaps those deficiencies will be brought to the national stage in Week 11, however, as the Chiefs will face their toughest challenge to date. With an abundance of weapons, Jared Goff and the league's third-ranked scoring offense (33.5 PPG) shouldn't find difficulty in exploiting Kansas City's gaping defensive holes. Unless you play in a 32-team league, there are probably better…read more