The Kansas City Chiefs have become the dominant team in the NFL. They have won three Super Bowl titles in the last five seasons, and it seems clear that when the biggest game of the year is on the line, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will find a way to make the play that decides the game in the Chiefs favor.
This is a team that has been brilliant in the postseason, and the Kansas City offense has largely defined this team throughout the Mahomes era. However, that was not the case last year. The Kansas City offense struggled throughout much of the 2023 regular season — at least by its previous standards.
The Chiefs won the AFC West once again during the regular season, but it was the Kansas City defense that did much of the heavy lifting. The Chiefs ranked 9th on offense, averaging 351.3 yards per game. They were even less imposing when it came to scoring. Kansas City averaged 21.3 points per game, and that ranked 15th in the league.
The Chiefs were first in both categories in 2022 and they were third in yards per game and fourth in scoring in 2021.
Conversely, the Chiefs were second in yards allowed (289.8) and points allowed (17.8) last season.
There’s no reason the Chiefs can’t continue to play solid defense in the 2024 season, but head coach Andy Reid would like to see Kansas City get back to its previous standards on offense
Chiefs still have bona fide offensive talent
The Chiefs still have significant weapons on offense, and it starts with Mahomes. He is the most creative signal caller in the NFL, and he is able to do more when his blocking breaks down than any other quarterback in the league.
However, the one thing he needs to help get the offense on track is better production from his wide receivers. The Chiefs had significant issues with drops during the regular season, and it started in their season-opening home loss to the Detroit Lions and it continued during the year.
The Chiefs added wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown through free agency and the former Arizona Cardinal has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver because of his speed and quickness, and the Chiefs also added rookie wideout Xavier Worthy with their first-round pick in the draft.
Travis Kelce remains the most dangerous tight end in the league. He is clearly on the same page as Mahomes, as the two can communicate with a quick look at each other before the snap of the ball.
The running game features Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Pachecko led the team with 205 carries for 935 yards, a 4.6 yards per carry average and 7 rushing touchdowns. Edwards-Helaire has skills, but he had just 70 carries for 223 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Chiefs need to get quite a bit more out of their running game to take the pressure off of Mahomes.
Tight end Jared Wiley could help lift the offensive production
The Chiefs drafted tight end Jared Wiley their initial 4th-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. While it’s clear that Kansas City is hoping Worthy, their first-round selection out of Texas, can give the offense a major lift, Wiley may be able to inject some juice into the offense as well.
Worthy was slowed by a hamstring injury suffered at a recent Chiefs OTA.
Wiley checks in at 6-6 and 249 pounds, and that means he should have the size and strength to get the job done against smaller defensive backs. He also runs a 4.62 40-yard dash.
Wiley spent three years at T3xas before transferring to TCU, and he had an excellent statistical year with the Horned Frogs. He had 47 receptions for 520 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has excellent football intelligence and it should not take him long to get on the same page as Mahomes.
The Chiefs admire versatility, and Wiley can play slot receiver, H-back and also perform as an in-line tight end. He has excellent ability to separate from the defender because of his speed and route-running skills.
If he can improve his balance after contact, he will give the Chiefs another receiver with solid run after the catch skills. He also needs to improve his run blocking.
Improving the offense is the team’s priority
The Chiefs had a strange year in 2023 because their offense was subpar during the regular season and their defense was superb. They need to get back to being an explosive offensive team that can light up the scoreboard.
A fourth-round draft pick like Wiley is not usually the answer. But if this sleeper can perform well as the No. 2 tight end in the offense, it may just open things up and allow the Chiefs to rank near the top of the NFL offensive mountain once again.
