{"id":1022805,"date":"2026-10-09T11:39:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T11:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1022805\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:39:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T11:39:21","slug":"the-chiefs-pass-rush-has-room-to-improve-but-its-probably-been-better-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1022805\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chiefs’ Pass Rush Has Room to Improve, But It’s Probably Been Better Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t recorded a sack in three games. At face value, that’s an alarming statistic that paints a grim picture<\/a> of the team’s pass rush. After a longer look, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that the team’s defensive line will be able to put it all together after the bye week.<\/p>\n

Using this week off to take a longer look at a few key position groups<\/a> that will determine where the Chiefs go in the next act of the season, Kansas City’s D-line has some work to do, but they have been better than their box score indicates.<\/p>\n

First, find the Chiefs in this chart of key pass rush stats. (There’s a lot of information for all 32 teams, so we’ll break down the important parts next.) Surface-level, what do you see?<\/p>\n

Key pass rush stats: pic.twitter.com\/uq0LEa6pEK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sam Hoppen (@SamHoppen) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

There’s a whole lot of green (which is good) throughout the Chiefs’ row, with two dark purple (bad) cells. Why?<\/p>\n

In that chart, the Chiefs are No. 6 in the NFL in pressure rate, No. 8 in quick pressure rate, No. 13 in non-blitz pressure rate and No. 8 in average time to pressure. Those are the numbers of a top-10 pass rush unit! Then, the purple boxes.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs are No. 31 in sack rate (2.5%) and dead last, No. 32, in pressure-to-sack ratio (5.7%). The KC D-line is creating pressure at a top-10 rate, but they’ve been one of the worst-finishing teams on those opportunities. Ultimately, I think that paints a relatively positive picture of the pass rush, and it certainly beats the alternative.<\/p>\n

Those numbers are supported by other individual stats, like the fact that George Karlaftis was credited with a whopping seven quarterback hits against Kirk Cousins<\/a> by Pro Football Focus (a performance supported by a longer look at the film<\/a>), giving him a total of 12 quarterback hits this season<\/a>, despite getting zero sacks out of those hits.<\/p>\n

Most QB hits this season, via @PFF<\/a>
George Karlaftis – 12
Greg Rousseau – 12
Dallas Turner – 9
Cameron Thomas – 9
Maxx Crosby – 9<\/p>\n

Resulting Sacks
Greg Rousseau – 6
Dallas Turner – 6
Maxx Crosby – 3
Cameron Thomas – 2
George Karlaftis – 0 pic.twitter.com\/CdsAVfNdmt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) October 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Regarding the other defensive ends, rookie second-round pick R Mason Thomas has also flashed far beyond his one sack would suggest<\/a>, while former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah (lined up over the center in the clip below) has had some of his best reps as a pro throughout the start of this season.<\/p>\n

The way R Mason Thomas can accelerate towards the QB is just nuts. pic.twitter.com\/ZsjpPTFvY6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Even second-year third-round pick Ashton Gillotte’s season benefits from a deep dive into more advanced metrics, as Gillotte’s “DIPRA” (defensive impact per rush attempt) is 10th-best in the league<\/a> through four weeks.<\/p>\n

The defensive tackles, particularly superstar veteran Chris Jones and first-round rookie Peter Woods, haven’t had a series of game-wrecking moments so far this season, but Woods has shown tremendous physical tools<\/a>, and Jones has been on the injury report with a calf issue to begin the year. I’m still very optimistic about Woods, and I’ll wait a few more weeks before I’m willing to worry about Jones in his age-32 season.<\/p>\n

Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga has been a positive force against the run, and second-year lineman Omarr Norman-Lott is still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to his ongoing recovery from last season’s torn ACL. <\/p>\n

Yes, the Chiefs’ pass rush still needs to turn pressures and hits into sacks, but they appear to have the players to get to the quarterback; that’s a much better problem than the issues they had last season.<\/p>\n

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