Over the first five weeks of the season, the Chiefs looked like potential Super Bowl contenders. That outcome is still possible — but Kansas City's momentum has come to a halt.
After managing just three points in a loss to the Seahawks in Week 7, the Chiefs dropped another game in Week 8, with the Broncos completing a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Kansas City 28-24.
The list of issues for Andy Reid's unit seems to be growing larger. With the NFL trade deadline looming next week, the Chiefs may be looking to make some shake-ups to address a few clear weaknesses.
Here's a breakdown of what's gone wrong for the Chiefs lately and how they can fix it.
MORE: Inside Harrison Butker's 2026 struggles for Chiefs
What's wrong with the Chiefs?
Lack of reliable WRs
With all due respect to Travis Kelce and his Hall of Fame career in the NFL, at age 37, he isn't the kind of player who should be a team's leading target. But so far in 2026, that's been the case.
Kelce has been good for Kansas City, owning 410 yards and two touchdowns on the season. But at this point in his career, Kelce would be utilized best in a secondary, red zone-based role; asking him to lead the offense every week at his age is a recipe for disaster.
Yet, through seven games, Kelce leads the Chiefs in receiving yards, and he led all non-running backs in receiving yards against Denver (67). Patrick Mahomes has been forced to look toward his longtime tight end far more than anticipated due to Kansas City's wide receiver group, yet again, failing to find a reliable weapon.
Rashee Rice had a fine outing vs. the Broncos (53 yards, TD), but he hasn't had a 100-yard game in almost a full calendar year. At this point, the Chiefs can't expect Rice to be the WR1 they once thought he could be. Xavier Worthy (230 yards), and Cyrus Allen (65 yards) haven't been very dynamic as downfield threats, and Tyquan Thornton is out with a long-term injury.
The Chiefs' run game has been great in 2026, but Mahomes doesn't have sufficient weapons, especially at wide receiver. Opponents haven't had much trouble containing Chiefs wideouts.
Cyrus Allen slowed down on a potential deep ball touchdown from Mahomes. These young WRs are not in sync with Mahomes. The little things killing the Chiefs. That’s what separates good from great teams. https://t.co/LFCC8hpCku
— Investments & Sports Club (@StocksSportsRE) November 1, 2026Harrison Butker's decline
When the Chiefs decided to add Justin Tucker to their practice squad last week, it was a move to put pressure on their longtime kicker, Harrison Butker, who has been one of the NFL's worst kickers in 2026.
Butker proceeded to miss another field goal against the Broncos, falling to a 66.7% conversion on the season, a career-worst. It's become hard for Reid to trust Butker, especially from long distance.
He's now 2-for-7 from at least 50 yards out this season. The Chiefs have consistently been missing out on points due to their kicking struggles.
#Chiefs K Harrison Butker missed a 54-yarder wide right with 2:36 left, giving Denver amazing field position to go down and take the lead. Butker is now 2/7 from 50+ yards this season and has missed 16 FGs since last season, the most of any NFL kicker. https://t.co/UlabG0ovgq
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 2, 2026MORE: Jim Nantz, JJ Watt address Chiefs' controversial Justin Tucker signing on broadcast
Struggling pass rush
The Chiefs' pass rush has been virtually nonexistent this season. Of all 32 NFL teams, only the 49ers' seven sacks as a team is lower than Kansas City's nine.
George Karlaftis is the only Chiefs player with more than one sack this season. While Kansas City has been fine at stopping the run, Reid's defense hasn't been a real threat to opposing quarterbacks with a lack of pressure — in Week 8 against Denver, the issue was especially glaring.
According to Benjamin Solak, the Chiefs pressured Bo Nix on just 2 of 34 dropbacks, their worst pressure rate in a game since 2012.
ESPN Research: Chiefs pressured Bo Nix on 2 of 34 dropbacks (6%), the lowest for any team since 2024 Week 5, and the lowest for the Chiefs since 2012 Week 8 Chiefs had a 48.5% pressure rate on Nix in Week 1
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 2, 2026Penalty woes
While the Chiefs haven't been one of the more penalized teams in the NFL, they had some costly ones against the Broncos.
One of the main reasons Denver was able to pull off a comeback was Kansas City's 11 penalties for 105 yards, a massive total.
The most critical was a false start that wiped the potential game-winning touchdown off the board on 4th & Goal.
PATRICK MAHOMES TO RASHEE RICE FALSE START 77 https://t.co/Anx556Z2bG
— wok (@wokdior) November 2, 2026MORE: Who are the most trustworthy kickers in the NFL?
How Chiefs can fix problems
Add another starting WR
One way or another, the Chiefs can't continue to run their offense without a more reliable wide receiver threat. Rice can be a consistent second option, but ideally, Mahomes would have another receiver he can count on for big plays.
The top option on the trade market is expected to be Colts WR Josh Downs, who reportedly requested a trade from Indianapolis. Downs has 330 yards and a touchdown so far this season, a former third-round pick who had 803 yards in 2024. He would be a strong fit in Kansas City.
The #Chiefs appear to be really only looking at WR before the deadline. They've been looking and will continue to have conversations and I get the sense things will pick up and a move is more likely than not.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) November 2, 2026Considering it's unlikely the Jets part ways with Garrett Wilson, other top names on the trade market include Brian Thomas Jr., Calvin Ridley and Jerry Jeudy. It's unlikely any of those players would become a true No. 1 threat, but at the least, they'd give Reid's offense more stability.
Of course, there remains the potential that the Chiefs pursue a reunion with free agent Tyreek Hill, but the speedster is a massive question mark coming off a significant injury.
Pursue pass rushing help
The Chiefs won't be Super Bowl contenders if they can't get to the quarterback. Chris Jones is 32 and doesn't have a sack this season, while Karlaftis hasn't reached double-digit sacks since 2023. Right now, there are no players on the Chiefs' line that quarterbacks know they need to worry about.
It would be wise for Kansas City to at least monitor the market for a pass rusher. Maxx Crosby likely won't be moved by Las Vegas, especially in-division, but veterans like Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack and Yaya Diaby have been floated out as trade candidates.
The Chiefs could use a more consistent pass rusher to make their defensive line more of a threat.
Consider a kicking change
Butker didn't prove in Week 8 that the Tucker signing was enough to get him back on track. The Chiefs will likely be cautious about whether or not they part ways with their Super Bowl champion kicker, but it's reaching a point where a move may be necessary for the team's good.
Reid can't trust his kicker from deep, which has begun to force the Chiefs to consider punting or going for it on fourth down more often. It's not a situation an offense wants to be in.
Clean up the penalties
Typically, Reid-coached units are one of the cleanest in the NFL when it comes to penalties. The Chiefs run a strict program. But against the Broncos, things fell apart, and it was costly.
With cornerbacks Mansoor Delane and L'Jarius Sneed out with injuries, the secondary should eventually get some reinforcements. Some of the Chiefs' issues can simply be fixed with more discipline — a false start with the game on the line is a critical mistake that can change the path of a season.
Chiefs have 8 penalties for 75 yards. Only other times under Andy Reid that had 8+ penalties for 75+ yards in a 1st half: Super Bowl 55 vs Bucs 8-95 Week 11 2018 vs Rams 10-95 Weel 13 2016 vs Falcons 8-95
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) November 1, 2026MORE NFL:
