KANSAS CITY, Missouri — One day after the Kansas City Chiefs completed their first losing season in 13 years, head coach Andy Reid delivered a blunt assessment of what went wrong.

At the heart of Reid’s frustration was a belief that opposing defenses no longer respected the Chiefs’ offense, a stunning admission for a unit that once dictated terms across the entire league.

For Reid, respect in the NFL is not an abstract concept but a measurable one, rooted in how defenses react to offensive deception and balance.

He explained that play action serves as the ultimate barometer for whether a defense is truly honoring every threat an offense presents.

“You check to see what kind of reaction you’re getting from the defense,” Reid said on January 5, outlining his long held offensive philosophy.

When defenses react aggressively to play action, Reid explained, it forces defenders into recovery mode, opening space in the middle of the field where explosive plays are often created.

That reaction, however, was largely absent throughout Kansas City’s 2025 campaign.

Instead of freezing linebackers and safeties, the Chiefs repeatedly encountered defenses that stayed disciplined, static, and confident in what they were seeing.

The reason, according to both numbers and tape, was painfully clear.

In an unflattering distinction, Kansas City finished the season as arguably the most predictable offense in the NFL.

Data compiled by For the Numbers painted a troubling picture of schematic imbalance and philosophical drift.

The Chiefs used play action on just 10 percent of their offensive snaps, the lowest rate in the league.

In an era where play action efficiency often outweighs raw rushing success, that figure was a glaring outlier.

At the same time, Kansas City leaned heavily on run pass options, calling RPOs on 14.3 percent of their offensive plays, the highest rate in the NFL.

That tendency became even more problematic when paired with execution tendencies.

Of the 114 RPO plays run with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, 92.1 percent resulted in passes.

Defenses quickly caught on, treating RPO looks as glorified dropbacks rather than genuine run threats.

The Chiefs also ranked near the bottom of the league in tempo variation.

Kansas City went no huddle on just 2.5 percent of offensive snaps, ranking 31st among all teams.

That lack of tempo manipulation allowed defenses to substitute freely, communicate cleanly, and settle into predictable alignments.

Motion usage told a similar story.

On only 49.8 percent of their snaps did the Chiefs employ pre snap motion, placing them among the league’s least dynamic offenses in that regard.

Only seven teams used motion less frequently, an alarming statistic for a unit built around one of football’s most creative minds.

Taken together, those tendencies created a roadmap for opposing defenses.

Without consistent play action, meaningful run threats, or motion based misdirection, defenders were rarely forced to hesitate.

Instead, they played downhill, trusted their reads, and dared Kansas City to beat them in static situations.

Reid acknowledged as much when discussing how defenses treated the Chiefs’ run game.

“However you take that,” Reid said, “that could be because of the run game, or the action that we’re showing.”

In his view, neither was commanding sufficient respect.

Reid emphasized that improving early down rushing efficiency must be a priority moving forward.

Running effectively on first and second down, he said, is essential to restoring offensive balance and credibility.

Without that foundation, play action loses its teeth, and defenses remain comfortable sitting in coverage shells.

The lack of offensive respect had cascading effects throughout games.

Passing windows tightened, third downs became longer, and Mahomes was often forced to operate under immediate pressure.

While Kansas City still produced occasional flashes of brilliance, those moments lacked sustainability.

Mahomes addressed those inconsistencies Thursday, speaking publicly for the first time since undergoing season ending knee surgery on December 15.

He echoed Reid’s concerns, framing the issue as one of execution and continuity rather than effort.

“We weren’t consistent enough,” Mahomes said, reflecting on a season defined by uneven stretches.

The Chiefs, he noted, showed efficiency at times, both within individual games and across portions of the season.

But those stretches were rarely sustained long enough to establish rhythm or dominance.

Mahomes placed responsibility squarely on himself, setting a tone of accountability.

“And that starts with me,” he said, underscoring his role as both leader and catalyst.

From there, Mahomes explained, consistency must spread through every layer of the offense, from play calling to execution.

Despite the disappointment, Mahomes emphasized that motivation remains high throughout the organization.

Coaches and players alike, he said, are driven to respond to adversity rather than retreat from it.

The emotional toll of watching postseason football from the sidelines was evident in his remarks.

“It sucks watching these games,” Mahomes admitted, acknowledging the pain of missing the most meaningful part of the calendar.

For a quarterback accustomed to deep playoff runs, the absence was especially jarring.

“This is the best time of year to play football,” Mahomes said, a reminder of what Kansas City has come to expect.

That absence, however, may serve as fuel rather than discouragement.

Mahomes expressed hope that the frustration of 2025 would sharpen focus and urgency heading into 2026.

From a schematic standpoint, the offseason presents an opportunity for recalibration.

Reintroducing play action, expanding motion packages, and diversifying run tendencies could dramatically alter how defenses approach Kansas City.

Personnel decisions will also play a critical role.

The Chiefs must evaluate whether current skill players can support a more balanced identity or whether reinforcements are necessary.

Equally important will be health, particularly for Mahomes and the offensive line.

Even the most sophisticated scheme falters without physical stability.

Reid’s history suggests adaptation is inevitable.

Throughout his career, he has repeatedly evolved his offense to meet changing personnel and league trends.

The 2025 season, painful as it was, may represent another inflection point.

Respect, as Reid defined it, must be earned again.

Defenses will not overreact to fakes they do not fear or runs they do not believe.

Restoring that fear requires commitment, not just creativity.

For the Chiefs, the road back begins not with explosive highlights, but with discipline, balance, and deception.

The numbers from 2025 offer a clear diagnosis.

What remains to be seen is how decisively Kansas City responds.

After 13 years of dominance, the margin for error has narrowed.

The league has adjusted, and now the Chiefs must do the same.

Whether they reclaim offensive respect will define not only their rebound, but their future place atop the NFL hierarchy.