(QB Pat Mahomes – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
QB Pat Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco, WR Rashee Rice, WR Justin Watson, TE Travis Kelce, OC Creed Humphrey, OG Joe Thuney, OG Trey Smith, OT Jawaan Taylor, DE Mike Danna, DE George Karlaftis, DE Charles Omenihu, DT Chris Jones, DT Derrick Nnadi, LB Nick Bolton, LB Leo Chenal, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Trent McDuffie, CB Jaylen Watson, NB Chamarri Connor, FS Bryan Cook, SS Justin Reid, PR Kadarius Toney, and PK Harrison Butker.
Key Players Departing:
OT Donovan Smith (UFA), LB William Gay (Saints), CB L’Jarius Sneed (Titans), SS Mike Edwards (Bills), KR/PR Richie James (UFA), and PT Tommy Townsend (Texans).
Key Players Added:
QB Carson Wentz (Rams), WR Marquise Brown (Cardinals), and PT Matt Araiza (UFA).
(Xavier Worthy – AP Photo)
Draft Picks
Round 1: Pick 028 – WR Xavier Worthy (Texas)
Round 2: Pick 063 – OT Kingsley Suamataia (BYU)
Round 4: Pick 131 – TE Jared Wiley (TCU)
Round 4: Pick 133 – FS Jaden Hicks (Washington State)
Round 5: Pick 159 – OC Hunter Nourzad (Penn State)
Round 6: Pick 211 –CB Kamal Hadden (Tennessee)
Round 7: Pick 248 – OG CJ Hanson (Holy Cross)
2023 Results:
W01 LIONS L 20-21
W02 @ Jaguars W 17-9
W03 BEARS W 41-10
W04 @ Jets W 23-20
W05 @ Vikings W 27-20
W06 BRONCOS W 19-8
W07 CHARGERS W 31-17
W08 @ Broncos L 9-24
W09 DOLPHINS W 21-14
Bye Week
W11 EAGLES L 17-21
W12 @ Raiders W 31-17
W13 @ Packers L 19-27
W14 BILLS L 17-20
W15 @ Patriots W 27-17
W16 RAIDERS L 14-20
W17 BENGALS W 25-17
W18 @ Chargers W 13-12
WC DOLPHINS W 26-7
DIV @ Bills W 27-24
AFC @ Ravens W 17-10
NFL vs. 49ers W 25-22
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 11-6 (1st in AFC West/AFC Champions/Super Bowl Campions)
Home: 5-4
Away: 6-2
West: 4-2
AFC: 9-3
NFC: 2-3
Head Coach: Andy Reid
Kansas City: 125-51
Career: 284-160-1
Playoffs: 26-16
(TE Travis Kelce – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Patrick Mahomes (401-597, 4163 yards, 67.2%, 7.0 avg., 27 TD, 14 INT)
Rushing: Isiah Pacheco (205 car., 935 yards, 4.6 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Travis Kelce (93 rec., 984 yards, 10.6 avg., 5 TD)
Yards After Catch: Rashee Rice (654)
TD’s Scored: Isaiah Pacheco (9)
Sacks: George Karlaftis (10.5)
Tackles: Justin Reed (95)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Trent McDuffie/Justin Reid (7)
Tackles For Loss: Leo Chenal (8)
Forced Fumbles: Trent McDuffie (5)
Kick Returns: Montrell Washington (1 ret., 20 yards, 20.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Montrell Washington (8 ret., 61 yards, 7.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Harrison Butker (33-35 fg/fga., 94%, 38-38 xp/xpa., 137 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 15 Patrick Mahomes
RB: 10 Isiah Pacheco
WR: 1 Xavier Worthy |R|
WR: 5 Marquise Brown
WR: 4 Rashee Rice
TE: 87 Travis Kelce
LT: 64 Wanya Morris
LG: 62 Joe Thuney
OC: 52 Creed Humphrey
RG: 65 Trey Smith
RT: 74 Jawaan Taylor
KR: 19 Kadarius Toney
PK: 7 Harrison Butker
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 56 George Karlaftis
DT: 95 Chris Jones
DT: 91 Derrick Nnadi
DE: 51 Mika Danna
LB: 23 Drue Tranquil
LB: 32 Nick Bolton
LB: 54 Leo Chenal
CB: 22 Trent McDuffie
CB: 13 Nazeeh Johnson
FS: 6 Bryan Cook
SS: 20 Justin Reid
PR: 1 Xavier Worthy |R|
PT: 49 Matt Araiza
(SS Justin Reid – The Sentinel-Record)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returns: C
Punt Returns: B
Kicking: A
Punting: C
Schedule:
09/05 RAVENS | Kansas City leads the series 8-5. The Chiefs are 5-1 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (35-36) was in 2021.
09/15 BENGALS | Kansas City trails the series 16-18. The Chiefs are 3-4 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series regular season loss (24-27) was in 2022.
09/22 @ Falcons | Kansas City leads the series 7-3. The Chiefs won (17-14) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (24-40) dates back to 2012.
09/29 @ Chargers | Kansas City leads the series 65-51. The Chiefs are 18-2 since 2014, and their last series road loss (24-27) dates back to 2013.
10/07 SAINTS | Kansas City leads the series 7-5. The Chiefs won (32-29) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (20-30) was in 2008.
10/20 @ 49ers | Kansas City leads the series 9-7. The Chiefs are 4-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (17-22) was in 2014.
10/27 @ Raiders | Kansas City leads the series 65-51-2. The Chiefs are 16-4 since 2014, and their last series road loss (30-31) was in 2017.
11/04 BUCCANEERS | Kansas City trails the series 7-8. The Chiefs won (41-31) the last meeting between schools in 2022, and their last series loss (17-19) was in 17-19.
11/10 BRONCOS | Kansas City leads the series 61-55. The Chiefs are 16-4 since 2014, and their last series home loss (24-31) was in 2015.
11/17 @ Bills | Kansas City leads the series 22-21. The Chiefs are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series regular season road loss (17-35) dates back to 2012.
11/24 @ Panthers | Kansas City leads the series 5-2. The Chiefs won (33-31) the last meeting between teams 2020, and their last series loss (0-34) dates back to 2008.
11/29 RAIDERS | The Chiefs last series home win (30-29) was in 2022.
12/08 CHARGERS | The Chiefs last series home loss (24-30) was in 2021.
12/15 @ Browns | Kansas City leads the series 15-11-2. The Chiefs won (33-29) the last meeting between teams in 2021, and their last series loss (7-30) dates back to 2012.
12/21 TEXANS | Kansas City leads the series 9-5. The Chiefs won (30-24) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series loss (24-31) was in 2019.
12/25 @ Steelers | Kansas City leads the series 14-23. The Chiefs are 4-3 since 2014, and they won (42-21) was in 2022.
01/05 @ Broncos | The Chiefs last series road win (34-28) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 4-4
Road: 3-6
West: 3-3
AFC: 4-8
NFC: 3-2
Overall: 7-10 (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 2024, the game will be listed under the 2023 season.
gridironpredictions.net 