Chiefs defense puts NFL on notice with explosive preseason performance

The Kansas City Chiefs may have fallen in last night's preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And it may have been the team's eighth consecutive loss in such a game. In fact, the Chiefs have won a Super Bowl more recently than they have won a preseason game. So perhaps that's all you need to know about the importance of these games on a grand scale.

Patrick Mahomes was the lone superstar not to play, and receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy also did not get on the field. But everybody else who was healthy saw at least a couple of snaps in this game, including Travis Kelce, Kenneth Walker III, and Chris Jones.

It wasn't the Chiefs superstars who flashed in this game. In fact, the one guy who came out of the game the biggest winner was probably Harrison Butker, before, of course, his two misses in the second half. But hey, a 69-yard boot wasn't too shabby.

To me, the biggest takeaway from this game, and one that has been a recurring theme from last week, was the raw speed of the Chiefs' re-envisioned defensive roster. The rookies continued to shine, and the long-awaited production from year three and four guys is finally starting to emerge.

Kansas City's defense shows why Steve Spagnuolo could have another masterpiece brewing

I'm only going to cover the first half of this matchup, because once we got into the doldrums about midway through the third quarter, I hesitate to call what I watched on my screen as organized professional football.

Steve Spagnuolo and his Kansas City defense posted a shutout through 30 minutes of play. And keep in mind, Bucs starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was in for a couple of possessions to begin the game, among other Tampa Bay starters. So, the Chiefs were going up against some real competition.

One player who immediately popped on the field for the second week in a row was second-round rookie R Mason Thomas. He once again provided multiple QB pressures due to his elite get-off speed, burst off the line, and ability to bend around the edge. Thomas also sniffed out a screen pass that he nearly intercepted for a would-be pick-six.

Thomas is starting to stack not just practices together as he did in training camp, but more importantly, games. Another edge rusher who flashed and showed marked improvement was fourth-year man and former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Obviously, the biggest takeaway from FAU's performance was the monstrous takedown he had on Jake Browning. It was FAU's first sack in basically two years after missing all of 2025 with a hamstring injury. Not only does Anudike-Uzomah look healthy, he looks stronger, faster, and more confident in his abilities.

Now I'm not saying that rookie R Mason Thomas and draft bust Felix Anudike-Uzomah are going to combine for 20 sacks this year. Because they're not. What I am saying is that, more so Thomas but also FAU to some extent, provide speed and burst off the edge that Spags either hasn't had or hasn't utilized in the past.

Pair that with power guys in George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte, along with a completely remade defensive tackle unit, and the Chiefs' sack production should undoubtedly see a boost in 2026. Not only was the Chiefs' defensive line impressive in this game, but the back end was shutting things down.

Second-year man Nohl Williams continued to look like the real deal on the boundary, Chris Roland-Wallace remains a true Swiss Army Knife as a nickel/safety hybrid, and third-year man Jaden Hicks seems to be coming into his own as both a player and leader.

We also got our first glimpse of rookie sixth-overall pick Mansoor Delane at corner in this game. It's hard to judge CB play without seeing the full scope of every play, but on his coverage snaps, his receiver was not even targeted. Delane was completely lockdown, as he had been in training camp.

Delane also had an excellent sniff-out of a Buccaneer play. It seemed as if he was shot out of a cannon and came flying in from 10 yards downfield to blow up a screen pass and force the receiver inside. It forced an easy tackle for loss for the Chiefs.

Under Spagnuolo, the Chiefs have largely always ventured between being good and great. Sometimes, despite the personnel at some positions. This year's defensive roster isn't any different either. It's really strong in some areas and weaker in others. But as a whole, when they are playing as one, under an excellent scheme, Kansas City has a chance, I think, to be a top-10 defense this upcoming season.

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