Chiefs’ Week 1 Loss Highlights 3 Key Defensive Concerns

Chiefs’ Defense Faces Big Questions After Narrow Loss

The Kansas City Chiefs opened their 2025 season with a narrow 27–21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was brilliant in the fourth quarter, keeping the Chiefs close and giving fans hope. However, the team’s defense left plenty to be desired.

One glaring stat: Justin Herbert averaged 9.4 yards per pass attempt, putting him well above league leader Lamar Jackson’s 8.8 yards from 2024. That’s a clear indicator that Kansas City’s defense struggled to contain Los Angeles’ offense.

Here’s a breakdown of the three biggest concerns for the Chiefs’ defense after Week 1.

1. Lack of Effective Pass Rush

One of the most noticeable issues was the defensive line’s inability to generate pressure without blitzing. Early downs were particularly concerning. The Chargers ran deep play-action passes with six or seven blockers, and Herbert had plenty of time to survey the field. Even on third-and-long, the pass rush rarely affected him unless extra players were sent.

Veterans like Chris Jones seemed disinterested at times, and players like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Charles Omenihu struggled in one-on-one matchups. The scary part? The Chargers’ offensive line isn’t even considered elite. If the Chiefs face a stronger OL in future games, this weakness could be exposed even more.

Takeaway: The pass rush has to improve if Kansas City hopes to compete against top-tier offenses in the AFC West.

Against the Chiefs, Justin Herbert was 11-14 with 173 yards and threw 1 TD against the blitz. He was sacked twice, but generally made quick decisions and had an average time to throw of 2.58 seconds.

Chiefs will surely bring the heat to Jalen Hurts this weekend. pic.twitter.com/uGs3j4iIkQ
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 8, 2025

2. Cornerback Depth Issues

Kansas City’s cornerback group was another glaring problem. Safety Chamarri Conner struggled in the slot, often getting beat on man coverage and losing contain in zone coverage. Even when Kristian Fulton rotated in, allowing Trent McDuffie to slide into the slot, the Chargers were still able to pick apart the secondary.

Some key plays highlighted the depth problem. On a third-and-15 conversion, Quentin Johnston burned Fulton for 14 yards, keeping drives alive. Conner returned later and continued to struggle, showing just how thin Kansas City’s cornerback depth really is.

Takeaway: With the pass rush struggling, the CBs are under even more pressure. Unless depth improves, opposing quarterbacks will continue to exploit soft spots.

3. No Veteran Presence at Safety

Finally, the Chiefs are missing leadership in the safety room. Justin Reid’s absence left the back end mostly in the hands of younger players. Bryan Cook struggled in man coverage during blitzes, and Jaden Hicks gave up the Chargers’ final touchdown.

While these players have potential, their inexperience showed. They had trouble reading formations, staying in position, and adjusting to motion. The lack of a seasoned safety to guide them is a real concern early in the season.

Takeaway: The safety position may improve over time, but early growing pains are evident.

Looking Ahead

Despite these defensive concerns, there’s reason for optimism. Most of the issues are with young players, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has a track record of developing talent. Fans should expect volatility in the early weeks, but these problems should decrease as the season progresses.

Key points to watch in Week 2:

Can the defensive line pressure quarterbacks without blitzing?
Will cornerbacks beyond McDuffie and Watson step up?
Can young safeties adjust to live game speed and schemes?

The Chiefs’ defense is far from perfect, but with adjustments, this group has the potential to improve significantly over the season.

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