Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs

For a team as talented as the Kansas City Chiefs—perennial AFC contenders with a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Patrick Mahomes—success often hinges on avoiding self-inflicted wounds. This season, however, penalties and turnovers have emerged as persistent obstacles, derailing promising drives, squandering momentum, and costing the Chiefs valuable wins in tight matchups. Through 15 games, the Chiefs rank 22nd in the NFL in penalty yards per game (56.8) and 18th in turnovers (18 total, including 10 interceptions and 8 fumbles lost). What makes these numbers more frustrating is their inconsistency: the Chiefs can look like a championship-caliber team one week, only to be undone by costly mistakes the next. Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs examines the specific ways these errors have impacted the team, the root causes behind them, and the steps coaches and players are taking to correct course before the playoffs.

Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs begins with the tangible impact of penalties on the Chiefs’ offense—a unit that otherwise ranks among the NFL’s elite. The Chiefs’ offensive line has been a primary culprit, with 28 holding penalties through 15 games—tied for the sixth-most in the league. These penalties often come at the worst possible times: on third-and-short, when the Chiefs are driving inside the red zone, or when Mahomes is in rhythm. A prime example came in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos: the Chiefs were leading 14-10 in the second quarter and had driven to the Broncos’ 12-yard line, poised to extend their lead. But a holding penalty on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. pushed them back to the 22-yard line, forcing a field goal instead of a potential touchdown. “Penalties kill momentum—especially on offense,” says Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. “You work so hard to get into a good position, and one mistake erases all that progress. It’s not just about the yards lost; it’s about the mental toll it takes on the team. You start second-guessing, and that’s when more mistakes happen.” The Chiefs have also struggled with pre-snap penalties, including false starts and illegal shifts, which often force them into long-yardage situations. These errors aren’t just about individual discipline—they’re about communication, and fixing them has become a top priority in practice.

Another key element of Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs is the damage turnovers have done to the team’s ability to close out games. Mahomes, for all his heroics, has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent season in terms of interceptions—throwing 10 through 15 games, his highest total since 2019. Many of these interceptions have come in critical moments: in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills, Mahomes threw a pick in Bills territory with 2 minutes left, squandering a chance to tie the game. In Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders, a fumble by running back Isiah Pacheco inside the Raiders’ 10-yard line led to a Raiders touchdown on the ensuing drive, turning a potential 7-point lead into a 3-point deficit. “Turnovers are the biggest equalizer in football,” says Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “No matter how talented you are, if you give the ball away, you’re giving the other team a chance to win. We’ve had games where we outgain the opponent by 100 yards, but we lose because we turned the ball over twice. That’s unacceptable.” The Chiefs’ running backs have also struggled with fumbles, losing 5 this season—a problem that has forced Reid to rotate more players at the position and emphasize ball security drills in practice. For Mahomes, the interceptions have been a mix of bad decisions and bad luck—some were tipped passes, others were throws into tight coverage—but he’s taken responsibility, vowing to be more careful in high-pressure situations.

A critical aspect of Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs is how these mistakes have impacted the team’s defense, creating extra work and eroding confidence. When the offense turns the ball over or commits a penalty that stalls a drive, the defense is forced to take the field earlier than expected, often in poor field position. In Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs’ offense committed three penalties and one turnover in the first half, giving the Eagles a short field on three different occasions. The Eagles capitalized, scoring 21 points in the first half and building a lead the Chiefs couldn’t overcome. “It’s demoralizing when you’re on the sideline for 2 minutes, then you have to go out and defend a 30-yard field,” says Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis. “You’re tired, you’re out of rhythm, and the other team is riding momentum. We can handle a good offense—but we can’t handle a good offense plus our own mistakes.” Penalties have also plagued the Chiefs’ defense, with 35 defensive penalties through 15 games—many of them pass interference calls that extend opposing drives. In Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, a pass interference call on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed gave the Bengals a first down on fourth-and-10, leading to a Bengals touchdown. For the Kansas City Chiefs, these defensive penalties aren’t just about discipline—they’re about decision-making. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has emphasized “playing smart, not just playing hard” in practice, working with players to recognize when to make a play and when to avoid a penalty.

Another important angle of Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs is the team’s efforts to fix these issues, both on and off the field. Reid has implemented several changes in practice: he’s added “discipline drills” where players simulate game situations and focus on avoiding penalties, and he’s brought in former players to speak to the team about the importance of ball security and focus. Mahomes has taken extra reps after practice, working on throwing into tight coverage without turning the ball over, and the offensive line has spent more time on communication drills to reduce pre-snap penalties. “We’re not just talking about fixing these issues—we’re doing something about it,” says Mahomes. “I’ve watched film of every interception, talked to the receivers about what we could have done better, and worked on making better decisions when the pressure is on. The offensive line is meeting extra before practice to go over assignments, and the running backs are doing ball security drills every day. We know these mistakes are costing us games, and we’re committed to fixing them.” The Chiefs have also seen some progress: in their last two games, they’ve committed just 5 penalties and 1 turnover combined, winning both by double digits. This improvement is a sign that their efforts are paying off—but they know they need to be consistent, especially in the playoffs.

Wrapping up Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs is why fixing these issues is essential for the team’s Super Bowl aspirations. The Chiefs have all the talent to win another championship—Mahomes is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, the offense has playmakers like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill (before his trade), and the defense has enough talent to slow down top offenses. But penalties and turnovers have a way of derailing even the best teams in the playoffs, where every mistake is magnified. In last year’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs committed 7 penalties and 1 turnover, which played a role in their loss. This season, they can’t afford to repeat that. “The playoffs are about execution,” says Reid. “You can’t win a Super Bowl if you’re giving the ball away or committing penalties that extend drives. We have the talent, but we need to have the discipline to match it.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, the remaining games of the regular season are about building consistency—reducing penalties, protecting the ball, and developing the mental toughness to avoid self-inflicted wounds. If they can do that, they’ll be a dangerous team in the playoffs. If not, they’ll be another talented team that let its own mistakes cost it a chance at a championship. Penalties and Turnovers Hamper Performance for the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t just a story about mistakes—it’s a story about growth. The Chiefs have the ability to fix these issues; now, they need to prove they can do it when it matters most.