RM Chiefs’ biggest flaw got massively exposed even more than it already has this season by the Cowboys
The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest vulnerability— their lack of a pass rush— was once again laid bare, this time by the Dallas Cowboys, in their Thanksgiving loss that dropped their record to 6-6. It was a game where the Cowboys’ offensive line completely dominated the Chiefs’ defensive front, exposing a major weakness that has been evident for much of the season.
When you take a closer look at Kansas City’s defensive stats, it’s hard to ignore that the team hasn’t recorded a single sack in 11 consecutive quarters—that’s more than two full games plus an additional quarter. The last time the Chiefs got to the quarterback was against the Denver Broncos, where they tallied two sacks in the first quarter alone. But since then, they’ve been completely quiet in the sack department, even though the Broncos’ offensive line isn’t exactly a pushover.
The reality for the Chiefs is that they can’t realistically expect to fix this pass rush problem in 2025. Chris Jones, the standout defensive tackle, is often double-teamed on nearly every play, and the other defensive linemen simply aren’t winning their one-on-one matchups. George Karlaftis has flashed some potential, but outside of him, there’s little to speak of in terms of consistent pass-rushing threats. Unfortunately, there’s no one on the roster capable of stepping up and immediately changing the dynamic, and even if there were, the Chiefs’ front office likely wouldn’t make a big signing to address the issue midseason.
So, unless they make drastic changes in the offseason, Kansas City’s pass rush issues are here to stay for now. The most likely solution will come through the 2026 NFL Draft, where they could target an edge rusher to bolster their pass rush. The upcoming draft class is particularly strong in terms of edge-rushing talent, especially at the top of the board, which should make it a priority for the Chiefs to address this weakness.
As for the interior defensive line, while there are a few potential options in the draft, this class isn’t as deep at defensive tackle. The Chiefs could still draft a defensive tackle, but they shouldn’t expect immediate contributions in terms of pass rushing from a rookie. Ideally, they’ll look for someone with long-term potential who can develop into an impact player over time.
Another key factor in improving the pass rush will be the continued development of Omar Norman-Lott, a young defensive lineman who’s currently recovering from an injury. His progression in his second year could be critical to helping shore up the interior of the line and adding more depth to the defensive front.
In the meantime, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have to rely heavily on blitzes and creative schemes to try to generate pressure, but unless the Chiefs make substantial changes in the offseason, it’s likely this issue will continue to haunt them for the rest of the 2025 season.
