The Chiefs’ lack of a pass rush in recent games has been a dubious team effort.
But defensive end Chris Jones accepts responsibility on behalf of his position, especially after the Chiefs’ most recent outing — a Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas
“I look at how I played and what I could have done different,” Jones said. “Overall, I think we could have affected the quarterback a little more as a (defensive) line unit. I put that on me and George.”
That’s George Karlaftis, the Chiefs’ other starting defensive end. Getting to the quarterback is the position’s primary task, and KC has been shooting blanks in that department lately.
Jones has the team’s most recent sack, a terrific play to bring down Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter of a Week 11 contest. That came after Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner blitzed and brought down Nix on the game’s first play.
It seemed the Chiefs were on their way to bothering the opposing quarterback.
But that was it. No more sacks in that game — or the next two, either. That makes it 11 quarters since the Chiefs have logged one. They went on to lose at Denver and at Dallas, with a home victory over the Indianapolis Colts sandwiched between.
The Texans are the Chiefs’ next opponent, on “Sunday Night Football” at home, and making Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud uncomfortable must be part the objective.
“Definitely a tough quarterback to play,” Jones said of Stroud.
The Chiefs’ 22 sacks as a team ranks 27th in the NFL. Karlaftis leads KC with five. Jones has three but continues play effectively. According to ESPN’s pass-rush win rate, Jones ranks second among NFL defensive tackles in pressures.
One issue for the Chiefs is that they’re not blitzing with the same effectiveness. They blitz at the league’s third-highest rate (31.4%) but aren’t getting to the quarterback as often as they once did. Their blitz rate is about the same as last year (31.6%), but in 2024 they were averaging a half-sack more per game.
Not all blitzes result in sacks, of course, but the risk/reward ratio is less than last year. The Chiefs haven’t produced enough moments like the one last week that ended the Cowboys’ first possession: Safety Jaden Hicks blitzed and affected Dak Prescott’s pass, which was intercepted by Jaylen Watson.
“The first one was good, right?” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said when asked about the feeble pass-rush against Dallas. “Once we get the combination of rush and coverage, maybe some of those (sacks) will come.”
Here’s what else to watch when the Chiefs face the Texans on Sunday at 7:20 p.m. at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium:
Chiefs player to watch: RB Kareem Hunt
In his last four games, the workhorse back had 11, 13, 11, 30 and 14 carries.
Expect another double-digit carry game Sunday. With the Texans’ ferocious pass rush, the Chiefs figure to counter with an attack of quick passes and runs. Former No. 1 back Isiah Pacheco returned last week after a three-game absence and looked good with 16 yards on three carries and two receptions.
But Hunt has earned his status as the Chiefs’ go-to running back.
Texans player to watch: WR Jayden Higgins
Higgins, a rookie from Iowa State, is making an impact in the league. During the Texans’ current four-game winning streak, he has 18 receptions — more than doubling his production over Houston’s first eight games — and two touchdowns.
Nico Collins, a Pro Bowl selection last season, remains Houston’s primary target. But Higgins, like Collins, stands 6-foot-4, and these two Texans will be lining up against a Chiefs secondary that got knocked around by the Cowboys’ similar-sized wideouts last week.
Special teams player to watch: Chiefs’ Brashard Smith
The Chiefs have used three kick-return specialists this season. Smith’s average return (27.3 yards) is tops.
On his only attempt last week at Dallas, the speedster returned a kick 33 yards to the 46, but the Chiefs couldn’t take advantage of that favorable field position and had to punt.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
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Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
