Kansas City Chiefs 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Pat Mahomes, RB/KR Isiah Pacheco, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, TE Travis Kelce, OC Creed Humphrey, OG Joe Thuney, OG Trey Smith, DE Mike Danna, DE George Karlaftis, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Chris Jones, LB Nick Bolton, LB Leo Chenal, LB Willie Gay, CB L’Jarius Sneed, CB Jaylen Watson, CB Joshua Williams, NB Trent McDuffie, FS Justin Reid, SS Bryan Cook, WR/PR Kadarius Toney, PK Harrison Butker and PT Tommy Townsend.

Key Players Departing:

WR/PR Mecole Hardman (Chiefs), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots), OT Orlando Brown Jr. (Bengals), OT Andrew Wylie (Commanders), DE Frank Clark (UFA), DE Carlos Dunlap (Browns), DT Khalen Saunders (Saints), LB Darius Harris (Chiefs) and SS Juan Thornhill (Browns).

Key Players Added:

OT Donovan Smith (Buccaneers), OT Jawaan Taylor (Jaguars) and DE Charles Omenihu (49ers).

Draft Picks

Round 1: 
Pick 031 – DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State)
Round 2:  Pick 055 – WR Rashee Rice (SMU)
Round 3:  Pick 092 – OT Wanya Morris (Oklahoma)
Round 4:  Pick 119 – CB Chamarri Conner (Virginia Tech)
Round 5:  Pick 166 – EDGE BJ Thompson (Stephen F. Austin)
Round 6:  Pick 194 – DT Keondre Coburn (Texas)
Round 7:  Pick 250 – CB Nic Jones (Ball State)

2022 Results:

W01  @ Cardinals  W  44-21
W02  CHARGERS  W  27-24
W03  @ Colts  L  17-20
W04  @ Buccaneers  W  41-31
W05  RAIDERS  W  30-29
W06  BILLS  L  20-24
W07  @ 49ers  W  44-23
W09  TITANS  W | OT  20-17
W10  JAGUARS  W  27-17
W11  @ Chargers  W  30-27
W12  RAMS  W  26-10
W13  @ Bengals  L  24-27
W14  @ Broncos  W  34-28
W15  @ Texans  W | OT  30-24
W16  SEATTLE  W  24-10
W17  BRONCOS  W  27-24
W18  @ Raiders  W  31-13
DIV  JAGUARS  W  27-20
AFC  BENGALS  W  23-20
NFL  vs. Eagles  W  38-35

Team Info:

2022 Overall:  14-3 (1st in AFC West)

Home:  7-1
Away:  7-2
West:  6-0
AFC:  9-3
NFC:  5-0

Head Coach:  Andy Reid

Kansas City:  120-45
Career:  269-154-1
Playoffs:  22-16

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Patrick Mahomes (435-648, 5250 yards, 67.1%, 8.1 avg., 41 TD, 12 INT)
Rushing:  Isiah Pacheco (170 car., 830 yards, 4.9 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving:  Travis Kelce (110 rec., 1338 yards, 12.2 avg., 12 TD)
Yards After Catch:  Travis Kelce (648)
TD’s Scored:  Travis Kelce (12)
Sacks:  Chris Jones (15.5)
Tackles: 
Nick Bolton (180)
Interceptions: 
L’Jarius Sneed (3)
Pass Deflections: 
L’Jarius Sneed (11)
Tackles For Loss:  Chris Jones (17)
Forced Fumbles:  L’Jarius Sneed (3)
Kick Returns:  Isiah Pacheco (29 ret., 597 yards, 20.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Kadarius Toney (10 ret., 61 yards, 6.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Harrison Butker (18-24 fg/fga., 7538-41 xp/xpa., 92 pts.)
Punting: 
Tommy Townsend (53 punts, 2672 yards, 45.6 avg., 22 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  15  Patrick Mahomes
RB:  10  Isiah Pacheco
WR:  11  Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR:  19  Kadarius Toney
WR:  24  Sky Moore
TE:  87  Travis Kelce
LT:  79  Donovan Smith
LG:  62  Joe Thuney
OC:  52  Creed Humphrey
RG:  65  Trey Smith
RT:  74  Jawaan Taylor
KR:  10  Isiah Pacheco
PK:  7  Harrison Butker

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  56  George Karlaftis
DT:  95  Chris Jones
DT:  91  Derrick Nnadi
DE:  90  Charles Omenihu
LB:  50  Willie Gay
LB:  32  Nick Bolton
NB:  21  Trent McDuffie
CB:  35  Jaylen Watson
CB:  38  L’Jarius Sneed
FS:  20  Justin Reid
SS:  6  Bryan Cook
PR:  19  Kadarius Toney
PT:  5  Tommy Townsend

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  A
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returns:  C
Punt Returns:  C
Kicking:  B
Punting:  A

Schedule:

09/07 
LIONS  |  Kansas City leads the series 9-5.  The Chiefs won (34-30) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

09/17  @ Jaguars  |  Kansas City leads the series 9-6.  The Chiefs are 6-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-24) dates back to 2009.

09/24  BEARS  |  Kansas City trails the series 6-7.  The Chiefs won (26-3) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/01  @ Jets  |  Kansas City leads the series 14-13-1.  The Chiefs won (35-9) the last meeting between the series in 2019.

10/08  @ Vikings  |  Kansas City leads the series 8-5.  The Chiefs won (26-23) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/12 
BRONCOS  |  Kansas City leads the series 60-54.  The Chiefs are 15-5 since 2013 and their last series home loss (24-31) was in 2015.

10/22  CHARGERS  |  Kansas City leads the series 63-51.  The Chiefs are 15-5 since 2013 and their last series home loss (24-30) was in 2021.

10/29  @ Broncos  |  The Chiefs last series road loss (17-24) was in 2014.

11/05  DOLPHINS  |  Kansas City trails the series 15-16.  The Chiefs won (33-27) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

11/20  EAGLES  |  Kansas City leads the series 6-4.  The Chiefs are 4-0 since 2013 and their last regular season series win (42-30) was in 2021.

11/26  @ Raiders  |  Kansas City leads the series 64-50-2.  The Chiefs are 17-3 since 2013 and their last series road loss (30-31) was in 2017.

12/03  @ Packers  |  Kansas City leads the series 8-5-1.  The Chiefs won (13-7) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/10  BILLS  |  Kansas City leads the series 21-20.  The Chiefs are 6-3 since 2013 and their last regular season series win (26-17) was in 2020.

12/18  @ Patriots  |  Kansas City leads the series 15-11-1.  The Chiefs won (26-10) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

12/25  RAIDERS  |  The Chiefs last series home loss (32-40) was in 2020.

12/31  BENGALS  |  Kansas City trails the series 15-18.  The Chiefs last regular season series win (45-10) was in 2018.

01/07  @ Chargers  |  The Chiefs last series road loss (24-27) was in 2013.

Prediction:

Home:  4-5
Road:  4-4
West:  4-2
AFC:  6-6
NFC:  3-2

Overall:  8-9 (3rd in AFC West)

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day.  Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.