Should we be talking more about the Chiefs defense?

Eight games into the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs are 5-3. After a rocky 0-2 start, they have won five of six games, and Patrick Mahomes is again playing at an MVP level. As NFL analysts fawn over the Chiefs’ offensive prowess and Mahomes’ precise execution and elite decision making, DC Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is quietly putting together a season that may enable the Chiefs to hoist another Lombardi Trophy in February. 

Here are five observations that indicate how sneaky-good the 2025 Chiefs defense is.

They have gotten progressively tougher against the run

The Chiefs are middle of the pack (15th) in rushing yards yielded, but have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. Their last three opponents have rushed for 60 (Commanders), 25 (Raiders), and 98 yards (Lions). That’s only 183 yards in their last three games. Stopping the run often leads to greatness.

They’re second in scoring defense

In eight games, Chiefs’ opponents have scored 131 points, an average of 16.4 points per game. Only the Houston Texans (14.7) have a lower average. Six of their eight opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, and their last three have scored 24 points combined. Stingy defenses win championships.

They’re tied for third in touchdown passes allowed

The Chiefs have yielded only eight passing touchdowns this season. Only the Texans (six) and Bills (seven) have done better. By comparison, last season’s defense, which was undefeated after eight games and ended the season ranked number nine, had surrendered 11 passing touchdowns at this point in the season. We know how far that team went.

They are getting off the field

The Chiefs’ offense ranks third in the NFL in time of possession (32:30). That means the defense ranks third in fewest minutes played (27:30). That is not officially a defensive stat, but maybe it should be, as it is as important to a defense as time of possession is to an offense. By getting off the field, the Chiefs' defense creates more opportunities for their increasingly explosive offense.

They are playing complementary football

There is a lot of talk these days about complementary football. It’s significant because an NFL team is always in a position to win when its offense and defense both play well. That’s where the Chiefs are now. At the halfway point of the season, the offense (fifth) and defense (fourth) are both ranked top five. Maintaining those rankings would be huge because, despite appearing in seven consecutive AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls, Mahomes has never ended a season with a top-five offense and a top-five defense. If that happens, the Chiefs will be title contenders once again.