Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy insists the offense is “pretty good” when it avoids penalties—a statement that is both accurate and, at this stage, drifting into self-parody. The Chiefs sit at 6-6 and third in the AFC West not because Patrick Mahomes misplaced his talent, but because Kansas City keeps treating first-and-10 like an open invitation to invent new ways to derail a drive.
Nagy, ever the optimist, framed Week 14 as another chance for growth, though the state of the offensive line suggests “growth” now means finding whichever backup tackle can survive the afternoon. The Chiefs have allowed 10 sacks in three games, and with Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor and rookie Josh Simmons sidelined, the operation up front resembles a community project. Nagy cited a weekly process with Andy Reid and Andy Heck, though that process now boils down to choosing between Jaylon Moore, Wanya Morris and whatever duct tape remains in the building.
The Chiefs need to trust the fundamentals…
Still, Nagy insists the backups can manage if they “trust their fundamentals,” a phrase coaches use when the depth chart has officially run out of names.
Mahomes, at least, continues to do what he can. Nagy praised him for growing more comfortable checking the ball down, noting he had “three of those” last week—which, given the current state of the offense, qualifies as both progress and an emotional coping strategy. Mahomes’ competitiveness remains unquestioned, though even he may be tiring of needing to bail out a unit determined to make every scoring opportunity a full-length cinematic experience.
AFC West Power Rankings: Week 14 movement and updates
The running game, Nagy said, is trending upward. That’s good news, especially as the Chiefs lean into under-center concepts to help stabilize the offense. It is less good news that cold weather seems to be their best ally.
But everything, in Nagy’s telling, comes back to penalties. The Chiefs can move the ball, he said—they just keep moving it backward first. His message was simple: stop doing that.
Kansas City may very well beat Houston. But until the Chiefs stop treating penalty flags like collectible items, Nagy’s weekly calls for discipline will remain what they have been all season: aspirational more than operational.
*Top Photo: Getty Images