The Kansas City Chiefs took care of the Los Angeles Chargers at home on Sunday, giving Andy Reid another win coming out of the bye and the team a continued hold on first place in the AFC West. The Chiefs didn't win a lot of style points in the 22-6 victory, but they took care of business in front of a stellar crowd at Arrowhead. That's what matters most.
Chiefs Kingdom has a lot to be excited about with this team. Both the offense and the defense have a lot to celebrate overall, even as there are some mild-to-medium concerns in various areas. We've got some immediate thoughts on a few of them, good and bad, in our Week 6 takeaways.
Kenneth Walker is enough for this offense
After the Chiefs lost their two most important wide receivers to injury—Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Tyquan Thornton (ankle)—it was easy to wonder if defenses would be able to key in on Kenneth Walker more and render him less effective than his first month in K.C. A 33-yard touchdown run in the first quarter answered those concerns. It was another head-turning performance (19 carries, 128 yards, 2 touchdowns) from a player who is already Brett Veach's best free-agent signing after just six games.
The Chiefs need a new answer at returner
After watching Nikko Remigio nearly cough up a fumble early in the second half only to officially cough one up on his next attempt, it's officially time for Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub to admit defeat on this one. Remigio had a full season in 2025 as the team's primary returner and served up the same lack of dynamism that mirrored the rest of the team's efforts. It's the same stale production in 2026 for a player who offers nothing offensively.
The village approach worked for WR help
No one should have expected a hero to rise up and replace Rashee Rice and/or Tyquan Thornton in the team's first game back from the bye. In the face of injuries, the Chiefs leaned on the old adage "it takes a village" and allowed several faces to make up for the lost production. Cyrus Allen came up with a big fourth-quarter gain. Andrew Armstrong had a couple of catches. Noah Gray made more plays than normal. Jalen Royals was in the mix. Xavier Worthy carried a greater load. There wasn't a single receiver who donned a cape, but the Chiefs found a way to ask a bit more from everyone to move the chains.
The short-yardage issues remain after the bye
As amazing as the Chiefs' ground game has been so far through Week 6, the truth is that there's still a real weakness to be found in its short-yardage efforts. The Chiefs' offense stalled multiple times in such situations on Sunday against the Chargers, including another failed goal-line stand that recalled the Week 2 series of three consecutive goal-line failures against the Colts. Ever since that second game, the Chiefs look like they miss Kareem Hunt and can't seem to find any answers to remedy the problem.
Offensive line depth could be an issue going forward
The Chiefs were already without Josh Simmons at left tackle coming into Week 6. Right tackle Jaylon Moore was being checked for a concussion in the first half versus the Chargers. That left Kahlil Benson and Joshua Ezeudu as the starting tackles without a real answer behind them because Diego Pounds was inactive. When Kingsley Suamataia left for a few plays due to injury, it felt like things could unravel quickly. The Chiefs can only hope Simmons is making his way back very soon, because this roster is thin outside.
The Chiefs can be their own worst enemy
Let's just say the Chiefs left a lot on the table on Sunday, even when going to 5-0. Mahomes threw a silly end zone interception. Remigio's aforementioned fumble. Silly penalties. Chris Roland-Wallace's ejection for throwing a punch. Andy Reid oddly deciding to go conservative at odd times when his aggression has served him well. Then Andy Reid rolling out predictable series in the passing game.. And re-read the aforementioned short-yardage stubbornness. Yeah, the Chiefs are lucky they didn't beat themselves here.
Add us as a preferred source on Google