As Chiefs TE Noah Gray celebrated catching the ball, Andy Reid was seen gritting his teeth and visibly frustrated. Why? Well, what could have been Gray’s first TD of the season in Week 5 against the Saints was called off for a penalty. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the man responsible and Reid was letting him know what he thought of it. The yellow flag cost the Chiefs four points, the story of their season.

Looking for a three-peat, the Chiefs have gone 5-0 to start their Super Bowl defense. On paper, this run of form would be enough to raise expectations of the fanbase hoping to see Patrick Mahomes and Co. hoist the Lombardi Trophy one more time. But this start has masked problems with their offense with their struggles in the red zone a particular cause for concern. QB Patrick Mahomes isn’t the one to gloss over their problems and is clear about what the team needs to do to improve their offense.

The Super Bowl winners are ranked 29th in red zone efficiency. Let that sink in. The team that used to waltz into the end zone is now tripping over its own feet, converting a paltry 38.89% of their chances. It’s a far cry from their 2022 form when they were lighting up scoreboards at a 69.44% clip.

Patrick Mahomes, the wizard of Arrowhead, isn’t sugar-coating it. On October 16, 2024, Mahomes addressed the team’s worrying red zone form. Talking to the media before the game against the 49ers, Mahomes said, “I think just execution. For me myself, I have to trust to throw into some of those tighter windows, that window might be the only opportunity you have to score a touchdown.”

He added, “We have to be able to run the ball down there and know that we get different coverages than a lot of other teams and so instead of necessarily going in with a certain mindset because this is how this team has played in the Red Zone we have to go in with more good versus all plays.”

The challenge is certainly there for the Chiefs. Remember the Saints game? The Chiefs dominated but couldn’t seal the deal. They went 2-for-7 in the red zone, relying on Harrison Butker’s leg more than Mahomes‘ arm. It was like watching a Ferrari stuck in first gear. The Chiefs’ numbers in the red zone are more alarming when you consider only three teams are below them.

The New England Patriots, who have started Jacoby Brissett and rookie Drake Maye, the struggling Miami Dolphins who are without Tua Tagovailoa, and the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled to get going. According to Mahomes, the team will have to accept the situation where opponents are approaching games against the Chiefs with a different mindset. The star QB also highlighted the problem of turnovers.

“We have to execute and accept that challenge, and if we’ve scored some of these red zone situations, there isn’t as many questions about the offense because we’re scoring points. So eliminating turnovers, scoring in the red zone are the two things we need to work on as the season goes on,” he said.

Yet on the other side, only 3.8% of his pass attempts this season have traveled more than 20 air yards, the lowest rate in the NFL. So yes, taking Mahomes’ words into consideration there is work to be done. The Chiefs have been an offensive powerhouse under Andy Reid, who knows how to set his team up for success.

During last year’s struggles, he emphasized, “You obviously want to score touchdowns.” Fast forward to today, and it’s déjà vu all over again. Could it have to do with Travis Kelce’s reduced impact this season?

Is the Mahomes-Kelce magic fading?

Travis Kelce, the Robin to Mahomes’ Batman, is feeling the heat. At 35, he’s yet to find the end zone this season. It’s got folks wondering if Drew Brees was onto something when he said, “In five years from now, he’s not gonna have Travis Kelce.”

Early in the season, Kelce was MIA. His frustration boiled over against the Falcons, a moment that had Chiefs fans reaching for the panic button. Sure, he’s bounced back with 16 catches and 159 yards in two games, but where are the touchdowns?

The Chiefs’ promotion of Jody Fortson from the practice squad is raising eyebrows. Is it a sign of things to come? As ESPN reported on October 16, 2024, Mahomes still believes in his receivers: “I have extreme confidence with the guys that are on that football field.” But actions speak louder than words.

Let’s not forget, this is the duo that’s rewritten the record books. They’ve been money in the bank, especially in the red zone. But as Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post pointed out, since Jerick McKinnon left, the Chiefs’ “red-zone problems have been more profound.”

If this is indeed the last hurrah for Mahomes and Kelce, they’re not going down without a fight. A three-peat would certainly be the way to go out, but they will have to find a solution in the red zone. The game against the 49ers will be a good indication of how much the Chiefs have paid heed to Mahomes’s words.