What the Wild Card Round Taught the Chiefs

The Chiefs' pass rush, or lack thereof, was evidently subpar this season. In 2025, Kansas City totaled 33 sacks, which ranked 26th in the league. About a third of those sacks were accounted by edge rushers. That is simply not good enough if the Chiefs want to continue competing for super bowls in the future.

For instance, the Houston Texans sleepwalked through the first three quarters against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, leading 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter. Much of the struggles were on the offensive side of the ball as quarterback C.J. Stroud committed three turnovers during that span.

However, Houston's defense, led by a pass rush headlined by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, disrupted Pittsburgh's offensive game plan. Now, the Texans were able to assemble their edge rushers by trading up for Anderson Jr. in the 2023 draft and signing Hunter to a robust two-year contract. That will be hard for Kansas City to replicate, as it does not possess the cap space and draft capital to make moves of that magnitude.

Nevertheless, that should be a reason to lean pass rusher with the ninth-overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Another example on the other side of the coin is how the Green Bay Packers' lack of a pass rush allowed the Chicago Bears to come back from an 18-point deficit and win on Saturday night. The Packers went all-in this past offseason, acquiring star pass rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys for two first-round picks. Unfortunately for Green Bay, Parsons suffered a torn ACL in Week 15, which derailed its entire defensive line's ability to create pressure.

That was apparent against Chicago, as Caleb Williams was able to navigate and operate in a clean pocket for the majority of the game. Those two ends of the spectrum are good examples of why the Chiefs should prioritize addressing the pass rush this offseason.

To Win in the Playoffs, Teams Need a Supportive Running Game

When the weather reaches frigid temperatures in January and February, teams must adjust their offensive game plan and incorporate the running game more frequently. Three of the six teams that advanced to the divisional round won the rushing battle, while two of those teams - Houston and New England outgained their opponents by at least 55 yards on the ground.

That would never be a possibility for the Chiefs this season, as they neglected the run game and refused to address the backfield last offseason, despite witnessing how pedestrian Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were during last year's playoffs.

Kansas City should not invest their first-round pick into the position, but they should go through the free agency market and sign an established and productive running back.

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