Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t start out 2023 as well as they would have liked. But although the Chiefs lost their first game to the Detroit Lions, it was only by a single point, 21-20, and it came without defensive end Chris Jones and tight-end Travis Kelce. Check out an NFL Betting Man 2023 profile and offense and defense analysis of the defending Super Bowl Champions.

2023 KC Chiefs Profile

Head Coach

Andy Reid 

Offense Starters

• QB – Patrick Mahomes
• RB – Isaiah Pacheco 
• WR – Kadarius Toney
• WR – Marques Valdez-Scantling
• WR – Skyy Moore
• TE – Travis Kelce
• LT – Donovan Smith
• LG – Joe Thuney
• C – Creed Humphrey
• RG – Trey Smith
• RT – Jawaan Taylor

KC Offense Analysis

Patrick Mahomes is great, but Mahomes requires a healthy Travis Kelce to get it done. Patrick didn’t get that in the loss to the Detroit Lions. 

Kelce is listed as questionable in NFL Week 2. If Travis plays, the Chiefs will have a better shot of beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. But if he doesn’t, KC could start the season 0-2.

The problem with the offense is that there is no option 2 in the passing attack. Kadarius Toney had a key missed catch, Mahomes sent the ball directly into his hands, that the Lions ran back for a pick 6.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Toney, and Skyy Moore aren’t WR1’s. So Mahomes will deal with dropped balls all season long. 

The offensive line played okay. However, the rushing attack couldn’t do much versus one of the worst defenses from last season. Also, Eric Bienemy isn’t calling the plays this season. So the KC offense has the look of a unit that will take a major backward step. 

Defense Starters

• LDE – George Karlaftis
• LDT – Derrick Nnadi 
• RDT – Tershawn Wharton 
• RDE – Chris Jones
• WLB – Willie Gay
• MLB – Jack Cochrane
• SLB – Leo Chanel 
• LCB – Trent McDuffie
• SS – Kustin Reid
• FS – Bryan Cook
• RCB – Jaylen Watson 

KC Defense Analysis

In week 1, the Kansas City defense faced one of the best offenses in the NFL. It stood up and played great, yielding just 14 points. One thing that is worrisome heading into NFL Week 2 and beyond is how many rushing yards the Chiefs allowed.

Detroit appeared to be rushing the ball by design. The last thing the Lions wanted was to get into a shootout with Magic Mahomes and the Chiefs. So Detroit called 34 rushing plays that yielded 118 yards.

The yards per carry wasn’t great, 3.47, but that also could have been designed by Detroit. Small rushing plays, a few yards here, a few yards there, eat up clock. The Lions controlled possession 32 minutes and 38 seconds to KC’s 27 minutes and 22 seconds. The extra five minutes could have made the difference.

Mahomes and KC’s offense can do a lot in 5 minutes. Kansas City resigned Chris Jones because they fave plenty of talented quarterbacks and require a defensive end to get to players like Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, etc.

There is a chance the defense gels and becomes one of the better units in the AFC. Pay attention to the NFL Week 2 game versus Jacksonville for more clues.