The Starting 11: How Chiefs Have Performed Against NFL’s Hottest Teams

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Rashee Rice returns to the active roster on Monday. Hours before that, the Chiefs are hoping to somehow scratch out a win against the NFL’s hottest team, Detroit (4-1). Kansas City (2-3) hosts the inter-conference clash on Sunday Night Football (7:20 p.m. CT, NBC/KSHB-TV, Channel 41, 96.5 The Fan).

“Good, solid defense, flying around,” head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “Offense, they've been very effective, offensively, point-wise and execution-wise. So, they haven't had the self-inflicted wounds, as much as some other teams. So, they're not going backward. And so, we've got to make sure we take care of business, stay aggressive on both sides of the ball, and special teams.”

terrion arnol — Detroit Lions cornerbacks Terrion Arnold (6) and Amik Robertson (21) break up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas during the first half at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Eliminating the Chiefs’ own self-inflicted wounds would be a simple and effective start. Including last week’s 13 penalties, officials have walked off 42 flags against Kansas City this season. That’s tied for fourth in the league.

Here’s the Starting 11 for the Chiefs-Lions engagement in Week 6…

1-Against hot teams

In this season of uncharacteristic Mahomes-era trends, the Chiefs are hoping for another. Detroit enters with the league’s longest active winning streak, four games. Since Mahomes became Kansas City’s starter in 2018, the Chiefs have struggled to halt red-hot teams. Per Elias Sports Bureau, Kansas City is just 5-7 against opponents that entered with winning streaks of at least three games in that season:

Nov. 17, 2024, at Buffalo; L, 30-21

Nov. 20, 2023, vs. Philadelphia; L, 21-17

Dec. 4, 2022, at Cincinnati; L, 27-24

Nov. 6, 2022, vs. Tennessee; W, 20-17 (OT)

george karlaftis, malik willi — Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (7) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap (8) during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo | George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nov. 7, 2021; vs. Green Bay; W, 13-7

Oct. 10, 2021; vs. Buffalo; L, 38-20

Jan. 3, 2021; vs. L.A. Chargers; L, 38-21 (Chad Henne started)

Nov. 22, 2020; at Las Vegas; W, 35-31

Nov. 3, 2019; vs. Minnesota; W, 26-23 (Matt Moore started)

Oct. 27, 2019; vs. Green Bay; L, 31-24 (Matt Moore started)

Dec. 13, 2018; vs. L.A. Chargers; L, 29-28

Dec. 9, 2018; vs. Baltimore; W, 27-24 (OT)

Nov 22, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

2-Number of the Week (2,185)

Monday’s 31-28 loss at Jacksonville was extremely rare air for the Chiefs, who finished plus-one in turnover margin. Kansas City had won 39 straight, including five playoff games, when finishing in plus-territory in the turnover ratio. During Steve Spagnuolo’s tenure as defensive coordinator (2019-present), Kansas City is now 41-2 (.954) when winning the turnover margin. It marked the Chiefs’ first such setback in 2,185 days, since Oct. 13, 2019, a 31-24 home loss against the Texans.

3-Ancient history

Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City lost in the same week for the first time since Week 9 in 2017. Patrick Mahomes was a rookie on the AT&T Stadium sideline wearing a headset, awaiting his time, in a 28-17 loss at Dallas. That setback started a four-game losing streak for the Chiefs. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were finishing their careers at Wyoming and Louisville, respectively.

The #Bills, #Ravens, and #Chiefs all lost in Week 5 — the first time that’s happened in an NFL season since 2017, over 2,800 days ago.

That was before Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Patrick Mahomes were even starters in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/g4O9LggcKi
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 9, 2025

4-Spotlight – individual matchup

Aidan Hutchinson against Jawaan Taylor. The Detroit edge rusher has at least one sack in four straight games. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ right tackle hasn’t allowed a sack all season. His 214 pass-block snaps without a sack rank second in the league among tackles behind Trent Williams (215).

5-Spotlight – team matchup

For the second time in three weeks, the Chiefs square off against an opponent leading the NFL in scoring offense. The high-octane Lions enter the contest atop the league with 34.8 points per game, looking to become only the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to register at least 34 points in five games within a single season, joining the 2007 Patriots (eight), 2000 Rams (eight), 2013 Broncos (six) and 1999 Rams (five).

chris jones, ashton gillott — Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) talks to Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas City, meanwhile, gave up its most points in Monday’s 31-28 loss at Jacksonville since the 44-20 Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. The Chiefs, who since the beginning of 2023 still lead the NFL in fewest points allowed (18.6), will need a performance similar to what shut down Baltimore in Week 4. In that game against then the NFL’s highest-scoring unit, the Chiefs limited the Ravens to just 13 points until allowing a late touchdown.

6-Streak speak

After their 21-20 home loss to the Lions in the NFL’s 2023 Week 1 Kickoff Game, the Chiefs reeled off six straight wins. That streak set the tone for a season that would end with another Super Bowl title.

Justin Fields, Mike Dann — Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) runs the ball against Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

7-Did you know?

Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each scored touchdowns in last week’s win at Cincinnati, the 14th game in which they both reached the end zone. That ties Dallas’ Daryl Johnston and Emmitt Smith for the most such games among running-back teammates in the Super Bowl era.

8-Under-the-radar storyline

In 54 career primetime games, tight end Travis Kelce has 4,110 receiving yards. He needs just 14 more on Sunday night to top Jason Witten (4,123) for the second most in NFL history. Only Jerry Rice (5,351) compiled more as an NFL player.

9-Trend time

Including playoffs, Patrick Mahomes enters with 299 touchdown passes in 138 career games. With another on Sunday night, he will eclipse Aaron Rodgers (147 games) as the fastest player to 300, including the postseason, in NFL annals.

10-Rookie Road

Defensive end Ashton Gillotte, a third-round selection (66th overall) in the 2025 draft out of Louisville, has played his highest percentage of defensive snaps in the Chiefs’ two wins. He played a season-high 56.1 percent of defensive snaps in the 22-9 road win over the Giants in Week 3, and 47.3 percent of the plays in the Week 4 win over Baltimore. The Chiefs are 0-3 when he’s on the field for 46 percent or fewer snaps.

11-And last but not least

A running back hasn’t managed triple digits against the Chiefs in 31 consecutive games, including playoffs. The last time it happened was Christmas Day 2023, when the Raiders’ Zamir White rushed for 145 yards in the Chiefs’ 20-14 home loss. Detroit’s David Montgomery had 151 rushing yards in the Week 3 win over Baltimore.

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