Despite winning the Super Bowl last season, the Kansas City Chiefs did so with an offense that was notably less effective than in previous years under Patrick Mahomes.
Although Mahomes, along with key players like Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Isiah Pacheco, were instrumental in securing the championship, the team’s offensive performance dropped significantly compared to the first five seasons of Mahomes’ tenure.
The drop in offensive output was particularly evident in the team’s ability to generate explosive plays in the passing game. The Chiefs’ wide receivers, excluding Rice, struggled to provide Mahomes with sufficient options, which hindered their offensive efficiency.
While Mahomes made the most of his limited resources by relying heavily on Rice and Kelce, the overall production suffered. Fortunately, the Chiefs’ defense rose to the occasion and played a crucial role in achieving the Super Bowl win.
To quantify the decline, consider that in Mahomes’ first five seasons, the Chiefs averaged over 400 total yards per game, with around 295 of those yards coming through the air.
Mahomes averaged 8.1 yards per passing attempt, and the team scored approximately 30 points per game. In contrast, last season’s statistics fell to a more typical NFL range. The Chiefs averaged just 351.3 total yards per game, with only 246.4 yards passing. Their points per game dropped to 21.8, and Mahomes’ yards per attempt decreased to 7.0.
In response to the offensive struggles, the Chiefs invested heavily in improving their attack during the offseason. They signed Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and used their top draft pick on the speedy Xavier Worthy.
Emphasis during training camp was placed on increasing their explosive play potential. The results from their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens are promising.
The Chiefs scored 27 points, gained 353 total yards, and passed for 281 yards, with Mahomes averaging 10.4 yards per attempt. Rice demonstrated his potential as a top receiver, and Worthy had an impressive debut with two touchdowns.
While these numbers are not yet at the elite level of their previous seasons, they are noteworthy given the strength of the Ravens’ defense, which had been one of the top defenses from the previous season.
The Ravens allowed the fewest points in the NFL and ranked sixth in both yards and passing yards allowed. The Chiefs’ improved performance, even without Hollywood Brown and with minimal impact from Kelce, suggests a significant step forward.
The improvement in Rice’s performance, from 5.75 yards per reception in the AFC Championship Game to 14.7 yards per reception in the opener, indicates that the revamped offense is creating more opportunities. This shift is likely due to the added deep threat from Worthy, which has opened up space for other receivers.
Given these developments, there’s a strong case that the Chiefs’ offense could return to its elite form of earlier seasons. The combination of Mahomes’ growth, a deep receiving corps, and an improved offensive strategy could make this season particularly formidable. Chiefs fans might just be witnessing the resurgence of one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.
