Preseason results are technically meaningless, but the zeal felt by Kansas City Chiefs fans after the third and final preseason game against the Chicago Bears is more about the heartening takeaways than any final result. (Which, by the way, was a 29-27 victory for Chicago.)
The Chiefs have plenty of reason to smile about the way they ended the preseason. The team avoided major injuries while allowing their starters to kick off the rust. Rookies looked like instant contributors. Formerly injured players looked good again. The whole roster looked ready to face the Chargers in Week 1.
While fans are likely buzzing for myriad reasons, we’ve at least pared it down to four. Here are four takeaways from Kansas City’s win over Chicago that will have fans euphoric as the preseason winds down.
Takeaway #1: The Chiefs offense looks ready for Week 1
The Chiefs gave fans at Arrowhead every reason to smile on the offensive side, with one scoring drive after another against the Bears’ first- and second-team defenses.
Patrick Mahomes looks absolutely ready for a productive season. Xavier Worthy is making the leap. Rashee Rice is prepared for an overload of targets. JuJu Smith-Schuster looks as healthy as he’s been in years. A slimmer Travis Kelce is moving very well in space.
Even the questionable RB room had some real juice on Friday. Speaking of healthy, Isiah Pacheco looks inspired for a contract season. Brashard Smith’s background as a wideout makes him a real mismatch out of the backfield. Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell both had their moments as well.
Most importantly, the deep ball was a clear emphasis for Andy Reid’s offenses on the night. Both Tyquan Thornton and Jimmy Holliday caught 50-yard passes, and it’s clear that K.C. is ready to challenge teams vertically in 2025.
Takeaway #2: The battle at WR is painful (for good reasons)
The Chiefs were hoping that someone in the mix of Tyquan Thornton or Jason Brownlee or Nikko Remigio would elevate their play and cement their hold on a sixth and potentially final WR spot on the active roster. After three preseason games, they have to wonder if there’s room for everyone.
The Chiefs have Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Jalen Royals as roster locks at this point. Beyond that, the Chiefs left it up to a handful of hopefuls trying their best to make the preseason count.
Thorton has undoubtedly played his way onto the roster as another speedy threat who looks ready to shed the bust label that followed him from New England. Yet how are the Chiefs leaving Remigio anywhere but in place as the primary returner, especially given his postseason heroics from a year ago?
Meanwhile, Brownlee would be the buzz of Chiefs camp if Thornton weren’t around, and it’s going to be painful if he’s the odd man standing, since it’s hard to see him passing through waivers.
As if that’s not enough, Jimmy Holliday, a WR from Louisiana Tech who made the team as a tryout player at rookie minicamp, had a very good night for himself on Friday. There’s little doubt he’s got a home on the practice squad after all is said and done.
Takeaway #3: Defensive worries have started to fade
Kristian Fulton came into the night as one of the bigger defensive worries for the regular season. The Chiefs signed him to a two-year deal hoping he could give them starting reps on the boundary, which would help slide Trent McDuffie inside here and there, giving the secondary their most impactful looks.
Instead, Fulton has been missing in action due to injury for the majority of camp. The good news is that Fulton looked the part in extended snaps on Friday against the Bears, and the Chiefs’ CB corps is coming together well.
Elsewhere, it’s nice to see the pass rush looking stronger against Chicago’s offensive front. A healthy Charles Omenihu should reap immediate dividends after missing him for the beginning of the last two seasons. Rookie Ashton Gillotte looks like he’s going to climb the depth chart faster than anyone expected as well.
Takeaway #4: An improved left side
For most Chiefs fans, the single greatest area of concern is Joe Thuney’s old spot at left guard (and the state of the left side in general). After watching four players try to man the left tackle spot a year ago, the Chiefs have inserted Josh Simmons outside hoping he’s the long-term answer. Next to him, they’ve slid in Kingsley Suamataia, who was handed the LT role at this point last season.
While Simmons has quelled all doubts about his NFL readiness (and health) in the preseason, Suamataia has taken plenty of (deserved) criticism with some questionable snaps in a small sample size of playing time.
Against Chicago, however, the pair looked very solid, as Mahomes had a clear pocket for a full quarter. The unit overall looked very solid, and it was also fun to see Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith dominating anyone and everyone.
If the left side is truly set, the Chiefs’ greatest concern is alleviated with younger players who can grow into a cohesive unit for years to come. That’s about the best possible takeaway for a contender looking to solidify their protection for Mahomes.
