The Kansas City Chiefs enter the bye week with a high level of frustration based on the team's current positioning. If the season ended today, the franchise would be out of the playoffs and far away from last year's impressive run to a third straight Super Bowl appearance. Perhaps this is the best time for a bye, offering a reset and giving Kansas City's decision makers a chance to figure out what exactly has gone wrong.
While additions and adjustments are clearly needed, the biggest changes are going to be star contributors turning up their current level of performance, starting with a player who is supposed to be the team's best defender, but has been continually underwhelming.
1. Chris Jones
Kansas City's frustration with Chris Jones is far from a secret after back-to-back seasons of regression. Since being given a big contract, the double-digit sacks and previous game-wrecking style appear to have been left in the past. While Jones has still shown flashes of what once was, there is no level of consistency in his current production. Considering what the Chiefs are currently paying the interior defender, this is clearly unacceptable.
Jones must be able to turn back the clock and provide a more consistent pass rush if this roster is going to realize its potential. Whether it was a poor effort against the Jacksonville Jaguars or a game-blowing mistake against the Los Angeles Chargers, there has been no shortage of concerning lowlights.
With that said, Jones is one of the greatest and most accomplished Chiefs players in franchise history, leaving hope that perhaps Jones will once again play to his potential and the previous standard of greatness expected of the defender.
2. Isiah Pacheco
Much like Chris Jones, it has been two seasons of frustrations from a back who once appeared to be a long-term answer to the position. Pacheco's struggles last season were blamed on injuries and needing more time to get fully healthy. However, nine games into the 2025 season and there simply isn't the big play ability and physicality that the Chiefs were hopeful might return this year. Pacheco has averaged 4.2 yards per carry for a total of 329 yards.
It seems that each game, as his volume of carries goes up, the quality of production responds by sliding in the wrong direction. Kansas City has every reason for frustration based on how things have played out, but are going to continue to give the back touches down the stretch.
For the full potential of the roster to be reached, you need Pacheco to offer more of a threat. He doesn't have to be a home run hitter, but he at least needs to force more respect from the opposing defense to give Patrick Mahomes and the offensive attack some much-needed balance.
3. Patrick Mahomes
Putting the league's best player on thin ice might feel a bit unfair after his early run this season. However, over the past two weeks, Mahomes has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns and had his worst game of the season against the Buffalo Bills. Throwing a key interception and failing to complete even 50% of his passes was a clear wake up call.
There simply isn't an excuse for this level of play when you're in the conversation as the greatest to ever play the position. Mahomes and the Chiefs both expect better, and that starts by cleaning up the turnovers. While Mahomes has only thrown five interceptions on the season, three of these have come in the last two weeks.
Add in the ugly performance against the Bills and there is every reason for a level of frustration and anger. This is the absolute best version of the quarterback that should terrify the rest of the league, leaving reason for fans to be excited that Mahomes is being forced to sit back during a bye week with nothing to think about but his worst failure of the season.