For the first time since 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves watching the AFC and NFC Championship games from the couch instead of the sideline. And while that’s unfamiliar territory for Patrick Mahomes and company, there’s plenty to take away from this year’s conference championship weekend - lessons that could help Kansas City reload and come back even stronger in 2026.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from the weekend that should be on the Chiefs’ radar moving forward.
1. In the First Half of Playoff Games, Take the Points
Aggressiveness is part of what makes today’s NFL so compelling. Coaches are more willing than ever to go for it on fourth down - and often, that mindset pays off. But there’s a time and place for everything, and the first half of a playoff game might not be the moment to roll the dice.
Case in point: the Broncos-Patriots game. It wasn’t exactly a fireworks show, but it did offer a telling moment.
Midway through the second quarter, Denver had a fourth-and-1 at the Patriots’ 14-yard line. Up 7-0, Sean Payton decided to go for it instead of kicking the field goal.
The play fell apart, and Denver never got that close to scoring again.
In hindsight, the call looks overly ambitious. In a postseason setting - especially in a low-scoring, weather-affected game - every point matters. Taking the three there would’ve put Denver up 10-0, giving them a two-score cushion in a game where possessions and scoring chances were at a premium.
This isn’t to say coaches should abandon aggressiveness. But in the first half of playoff games, there’s real value in banking points.
The second half is when you can start leaning into risk - when the clock becomes a factor and the scoreboard dictates urgency. But early on?
Sometimes the smartest move is the simplest one: take the points, build a lead, and make the other team chase you.
For a team like the Chiefs, who’ve made their name on explosive plays and bold decisions, it’s a reminder that postseason football has its own rhythm. Knowing when to be aggressive - and when to be calculated - can be the difference between advancing and going home early.
2. Size Still Matters at Boundary Cornerback
The modern NFL is all about matchups, and nowhere is that more evident than at wide receiver versus cornerback. On Sunday, we saw how physical, big-bodied receivers can tilt the field - especially when they’re matched up against undersized corners.
Take the Rams-Seahawks game. Seattle’s passing attack found its groove by targeting the Rams’ smaller outside corners. Los Angeles typically leans on zone coverage to limit big plays, but when your corners are giving up size and strength to the opposing receivers, even zone can’t save you.
Big receivers like Davante Adams and Puka Nacua didn’t just win with route-running - they won with physicality. A subtle shove, a strong release, or just shielding the ball with their frame was enough to create separation and make contested catches look routine. The Rams’ corners simply couldn’t match up, and the Seahawks took advantage.
Now look around the league: the teams still playing deep into January are built to counter that. The Seahawks have long, athletic corners like Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon.
The Broncos have Patrick Surtain II. The Patriots rely on man coverage with big, physical corners like Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez.
If you’re going to survive the gauntlet of the postseason, you need corners who can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best wideouts - especially on the outside. Size alone doesn’t make a great corner, but when you combine length, strength, and technique, you’ve got a chance to neutralize the physical mismatch.
For the Chiefs, who’ve leaned on their secondary in recent playoff runs, this is a trend worth monitoring. Having boundary corners who can match up with elite receivers - not just scheme them out - is becoming more and more essential.
3. Tight End Depth Is a Hidden Advantage
We know the Rams offense is fun to watch - creative playcalling, a quarterback who’s executing, and a pair of dynamic wideouts in Adams and Nacua. But what sets this unit apart isn’t just the stars. It’s the depth, especially at tight end, that gives this offense its edge.
Sean McVay has evolved his scheme over the years, and this season, he leaned heavily into multi-tight end sets - 12 and 13 personnel - to great effect. It’s not just about having one versatile tight end. It’s about having a room full of guys who can each bring something different to the table.
Tyler Higbee has long been the staple, but now the Rams have Davis Allen as a blocker, Terrance Ferguson as a downfield threat off play-action, and Colby Parkinson as a hybrid who can do a little of both. That flexibility allowed McVay to dictate matchups and force the Seahawks into uncomfortable defensive looks.
Seattle, under new head coach Mike Macdonald, prefers to stay in nickel or dime packages - even against heavier personnel. The Rams took advantage, putting more tight ends on the field and pounding the ball on the ground. The passing game didn’t lean on the tight ends much this time, but they’ve been reliable targets all season long.
This is where the Chiefs could look to evolve. Travis Kelce is still an elite weapon, but having depth behind him could open up new dimensions in the offense. You don’t need to spend a first-round pick, but adding 2-3 capable tight ends who can block, catch, and create mismatches gives you more options - especially in the postseason, when versatility is king.
McVay’s approach is a blueprint: build a tight end room, not just a tight end. And in a league where defenses are getting faster and lighter, having the ability to go heavy without sacrificing explosiveness is a real advantage.
Bottom Line: The Chiefs may be out of the playoffs, but the road back to the top is already taking shape. Whether it’s smarter in-game decisions, building a secondary that can match up physically, or adding layers to the offense through tight end depth, there are valuable lessons to be learned from this year’s conference finalists. Kansas City has the foundation - now it’s about fine-tuning the details that separate contenders from champions.