The Kansas City Chiefs offense is better than you think

At 5-1, the Kansas City Chiefs are in the driver's seat in the AFC West and the conference as a whole. However, the Chiefs’ record is a bit deceiving given that outside of their victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 3, their games have been decided by 11 points or less.  

The Chiefs have been a top-5 team on third down every year since 2018, and they continue to do so in 2023, sitting at 3rd, converting third downs at a 48% clip. When looking at the fruits of this offense, there is nothing they cannot do, but when you watch the games, the offense just isn't as flashy as they once were. why is that? 

While this offense won't stack the SportsCenter Top 10, this is one of the most complete Kansas City Chiefs teams we've ever seen.

Even though they haven't been dominant, this offense continues to show up, admittedly without the "explosives" that have become the calling card of the Chiefs since Mahomes became the full-time starter. A top-five team in total yards this season, and are currently on pace to do something as an offense that they haven't done since 2017: finish in the top half of the league in rushing yardage. Not since Kareem Hunt's rookie season in which he rushed for 1,327 yards has the Chiefs’ offense been as well-rounded as it is now. 

Is the offense as dominant as it was in the past? The answer is no. But is this a more well-rounded offense that can pick up a tough 3rd-&-3, and take the top off the defense when necessary? Absolutely. The Chiefs are in the top half of the league in 20+ yard passes this season, proving they still have the ability to let the ball loose down the field and haven't been relegated to a "dink and dunk" offense. 

In short, this offense doesn't have nearly as many "shot plays" as it did in the past because it doesn't need to, mostly due to this Chiefs defense not giving up yardage like it has in the past. The Chiefs’ defense has not ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per game since 2015. At the time of this writing, the Chiefs are ranked sixth in yards allowed per game. 

While this offense won't stack the SportsCenter Top 10, and the Chiefs may not have the best fantasy pickups in a given week, this is one of the most complete Kansas City Chiefs teams we've ever seen.