Kansas City Chiefs Midseason Reality Check: What Must Change?

Kansas City Chiefs Midseason Reality Check: What Must Change?

Inconsistency Defines the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs

At times this season, the Chiefs have looked like the best team in the league — and at other times, like the worst iteration of the Mahomes era. This needs to change. If there’s one thing Kansas City prides itself on, it’s consistency, which has eluded them for most of the season so far.

They’ve made uncharacteristic mistakes, suffered more brain fades than usual, and committed penalties that are very un-Chiefs-like. If they stop self-sabotaging and come out of the bye week focused on the details, there’s absolutely no reason why this team can’t make yet another deep playoff run.

Defensive Regression Is Becoming a Real Concern

Over the past two seasons, an underrated aspect of this Chiefs dynasty was their defense. It kept them dominant even when Mahomes’ statistical numbers dipped due to drops or receiver injuries. Unfortunately, all the evidence points to the vaunted Steve Spagnuolo defense taking a major step back this year.

The pass rush is almost non-existent — bottom five in the league. Their linebackers aren’t fast enough to cover tight ends effectively, a weakness that haunted them even last season. Their streak of not allowing a running back to rush for over 100 yards was also snapped by James Cook. A trade or roster move might be necessary because, as things stand, the Chiefs simply don’t have the personnel for an effective pass rush. Against elite teams, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Offensive Struggles Continue to Stall the Chiefs’ Identity

The Chiefs’ offense needs to be more consistent — Mahomes must find his rhythm, the running game has to improve, the injury-hit offensive line must hold up, and the wide receivers need to step up.

Kansas City has lost every game this season in which opponents scored more than 20 points, and every one-score game, a stark contrast to last year when they famously won all of them. Too often, the offense has relied on Mahomes’ heroics to bail them out. When that’s not there, things fall apart, and that can’t continue if they hope to remain contenders.

Still Contenders — But Running Out of Time

Are the Chiefs better than a 5–4 team? Definitely, some would argue they’re still a top-three team in the league despite last night’s loss. But in the NFL, you are ultimately as good as your record says you ar

The Chiefs have shown enough potential to push for another Super Bowl run, especially in a year without a clear-cut powerhouse. Championship pedigree can never be counted out, but at some point, you just are who you are. The Chiefs are facing one of their toughest midseason challenges of the Mahomes era, and how they respond will define whether this dynasty continues to thrive or finally stalls.