The Kansas City Chiefs, currently grappling with an uncharacteristic 2-3 start to the season, are set to face a significant challenge as they prepare to take on the Detroit Lions this Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The Chiefs have consistently put themselves in position to lose games, characterized by sloppy, undisciplined mistakes and a defense that has been downright abysmal. The contest with the Lions will be a test of their mettle. Unforced errors have been a bane of the Chiefs’ existence this season. The Lions have consistently played make-free ball.
The Chiefs’ secondary has been the most attacked unit on the entire roster, and especially in coverage, most apparent in the season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Andy Reid has long been an advocate for executing at a higher level. Unfortunately, his squad has failed to reach this benchmark over the first month-and-change of the season. Despite improvements in their offense, the Chiefs have made critical mistakes, including two momentum-changing turnovers that have contributed to their current standing.
That’s despite the fact that each of Kansas City’s three losses this season has been by one score. During their most recent loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the players’ lack of discipline was on full display. They set a season-high by committing 13 penalties for an astounding 103 yards! Their key players, Jaylen Watson, the cornerback and Chamarri Conner, the safety, were both called for pass interference penalties. This loss added another huge wrinkle to the team’s defensive focus.
Or the Chiefs’ pass-rush unit, which has been 2nd-straight area of concern, placed 24th with a win rate of only 37%. This abysmal offensive showing has attracted the ire of fans and analysts across the board. Reid’s incredulous expressions during the game against the Jaguars reflected his disbelief at the officiating. The team understands that it must focus on self-improvement.
Even accounting for all those hurdles, the Kansas City offense has shown clear and pronounced growth from the very early-season struggles. Patrick Mahomes, the team’s quarterback, acknowledged that execution is crucial as they prepare for tough matchups ahead.
“We’re just not making winning plays in certain moments,” – Mahomes
The Chiefs came inches away from turning around their luck in the loss column in their Week 2 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. When they got within six yards of taking a 17-13 lead with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter. A season ago, they showed the battle-tested nature this group has seen in ’21 by winning 11 one-score games—the most in a single season in league history. This history is a testament to their power when done right.
Correcting those errors and making sure players are ready to go Reid has a pretty solid feel for when things have gone wrong.
“That’s something we’ve got to fix. It’s getting us right now. You can’t do that. The best way to [fix it] is you practice it and make sure you get yourself working on those things that have been causing the problems.” – Reid
During their practice in preparation for their matchup against the Lions, Mahomes preached the importance of bringing that intensity while executing. He even got into the quality of their next opponent.
“This is a really good team that we’re going to play — and they play extremely hard,” – Mahomes
As the Chiefs get ready for the Lions, Mahomes emphasized, it’s all about bringing that same intensity.
“We have to match that intensity, that mentality and then know it’s going to take our best football. We have to go out there and prove it on Sunday.” – Mahomes
Defensive tackle Chris Jones noted that self-inflicted wounds have largely been the cause of their three losses this year.
“We gave this game away on so many mistakes by us,” – Jones
As the Chiefs approach this critical game against Detroit, they must address their issues head-on if they hope to turn their season around. Whatever the result of this tense matchup, it will certainly determine what path they take in their campaign from here on out.
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