The Kansas City Chiefs' offense in 2025 was a riddle wrapped in a red-and-gold mystery. For a team led by Patrick Mahomes and coached by Andy Reid - two names synonymous with innovation and firepower - the inconsistency on that side of the ball was as surprising as it was frustrating. And while the offense still ranked among the league’s top ten in several key metrics, the eye test and the scoreboard told a different story down the stretch.
Let’s start with the wide receiver room, and more specifically, Rashee Rice. There was a telling moment late in the season against the Chargers when Rice ran a slant and got absolutely leveled by safety Tony Jefferson.
It looked like Jefferson knew exactly what was coming - and that’s the problem. When defenders are jumping routes with that kind of confidence, it’s a red flag that your offense has become predictable.
Mahomes himself acknowledged the shift in how defenses approached Kansas City this season. “Teams were very conscious of the plays that we’ve hit for a long time,” he said.
Translation: the league has been studying the Chiefs' greatest hits and now knows the lyrics by heart. That means it’s time to remix the playbook.
Andy Reid, ever the optimist and tactician, doesn’t see the offense as broken - not entirely. And statistically, he’s got a case.
Through the first 13 games of the season, the Chiefs were still elite in several advanced offensive categories. They were top ten in offensive EPA (expected points added), yards per play, average drive distance - the kind of numbers that usually indicate a well-oiled machine.
But stats don’t always tell the full story, especially when the wheels start to wobble. Over the final five weeks of the regular season, the offense sputtered.
Injuries played a big role - Mahomes wasn’t fully healthy, and the offensive line took some hits too. But there was also a noticeable dip in the passing game’s rhythm and timing.
Mahomes pointed to consistency - or the lack thereof - as a major issue. And the data backs him up.
Early in the season, he was sharp and decisive, getting the ball out quickly and hitting his first read on a high percentage of plays. According to Pro Football Focus, he threw to his first read on 83%, 79%, 83%, and 82% of his passes in the first four games.
But over the final 11 weeks, he topped 71% in just three games. That’s a clear sign that the offense wasn’t functioning as smoothly - whether due to coverage confusion, protection breakdowns, or receivers not getting open.
And then there’s the play-action game - or lack thereof. Defenses stopped biting, and that’s largely because the Chiefs’ run game didn’t force them to.
When linebackers and safeties aren’t respecting the run, the entire playbook shrinks. That’s something Reid knows has to change, and it could mean tweaks in both scheme and personnel heading into next season.
So where does that leave Kansas City? Still dangerous, still loaded with talent, but no longer immune to the kind of offensive growing pains that plague the rest of the league.
The Chiefs have built a dynasty on creativity, execution, and Mahomes' magic. But 2025 was a reminder that even dynasties need to evolve.
The good news? A healthy Mahomes is still the best kind of blueprint. And with Reid at the helm, you can bet the Chiefs will be back in the lab this offseason, cooking up something new.