The Kansas City Chiefs are finally being led by their offense again. Many factors give Chiefs fans hope about what’s ahead because of that unit. Kansas City has scored 28 points or more in five straight games and ranks seventh in scoring offense entering Week 9. The team is also getting more out of its pass catchers and offensive line, collectively, than in the last couple of seasons.
There’s another element beginning to shine more noticeably: Kansas City is giving its offense more chances on fourth down. Keeping the ball in Patrick Mahomes’ hands generally works out, and in 2025, Andy Reid is being as aggressive as he’s ever been on fourth down.
Amazingly high 4th down conversion rate this season
The Chiefs enter Week 9 third in the NFL in fourth-down conversion percentage (82.35 percent). That is narrowly behind both the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. They have each successfully converted 83.3 percent of their fourth-down attempts. Last season, the Chiefs were sixth in fourth-down conversion percentage (66.7 percent). That high conversion rate is a theme under the duo of Reid and Mahomes. However, the number of attempts has never been this high through this point in the season.
Through eight games so far this season, the Chiefs are 14-for-17 on fourth-down attempts. Kansas City is tied with the New York Giants for the second-most fourth-down attempts this season. Only the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets have more fourth-down tries on offense than the Chiefs and the Giants. All of Carolina, Cleveland, and the Jets have 19 attempts on fourth down through eight weeks. Kansas City's 14 successful fourth-down conversions are the most in the NFL through Week 8.
Looking at 4th down attempts in recent years
If we compare the numbers to the last few seasons, Kansas City has already matched last year's regular-season total for fourth-down attempts on offense (17). Only six teams attempted fewer fourth-down tries on offense than K.C. in the 2024 regular season. The Chiefs were 12-for-17 in 2024. As a result, they have already registered more successful fourth-down conversions this season than they did last year in roughly half the sample size.
In the 2023 regular season, the Chiefs only went for it 20 times on fourth down. They are well on pace to top that figure. They succeeded on 10 of those, finishing at 50 percent. Eight teams attempted fewer fourth downs in the 2023 regular season. Their 10 successful fourth-down tries in 2023 were the 11th fewest.
Finally, the Chiefs had the second-fewest fourth-down attempts (12) in the 2022 regular season. Only the New Orleans Saints (11) had fewer that year. Kansas City did have a high conversion rate that season, going nine-for-12. Seven teams finished with fewer conversions in the 2022 regular season, despite the limited opportunities for the Chiefs' offense.
Kansas City may have to add to its fourth-down attempt total Sunday at Buffalo. If the Bills matchup turns into a shootout for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and company will be looking to ride their hot start in that category if necessary. It could perhaps be part of the difference in Kansas City emerging victorious on the road in Sunday's tilt.