Third Down Defense Struggles for the Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has faced a persistent challenge in the 2024 NFL season: third down stops. Long a strength of their championship-contending units, the Chiefs’ third down defense has plummeted this year, ranking 26th in the league with a 46.2% conversion rate allowed—meaning opponents convert nearly half of their third down attempts. This struggle has extended drives, drained the defense’s energy, and put extra pressure on Patrick Mahomes and the offense to score more points to compensate. Third Down Defense Struggles for the Kansas City Chiefs examines the root causes of this issue, from pass rush inconsistencies to coverage breakdowns, how opponents have exploited these weaknesses, and what the Chiefs can do to fix it before the playoffs. For Kansas City, turning around their third down defense isn’t just about improving a stat—it’s about reclaiming a defensive identity that has been key to their past success.

Third Down Defense Struggles for the Kansas City Chiefs begins with a closer look at the numbers and their impact on games. Through 15 weeks, opponents have converted 89 of 193 third down attempts against the Chiefs, with a particular vulnerability on third-and-short (3 yards or less) and third-and-medium (4–6 yards). On third-and-short, the Chiefs allow a 68% conversion rate—ranking 29th in the NFL—often failing to plug running lanes or get off the field against quick pass plays. On third-and-medium, they’ve allowed a 51% conversion rate, as quarterbacks have found open receivers in the intermediate areas of the field. These struggles have led to longer opponent drives: the Chiefs rank 28th in average drive length allowed (6.2 minutes), compared to 12th in 2023. In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, the Broncos converted 7 of 11 third downs, including a critical third-and-7 in the fourth quarter that led to the game-winning field goal. “Third down is where you win or lose momentum,” said Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “When you can’t get off the field, you’re putting your defense in a tough spot, and it wears on everyone over the course of a game.”

A primary cause of the Chiefs’ third down struggles is a drop-off in pass rush production, especially on obvious passing downs. In 2023, the Chiefs ranked 8th in sacks per third down (18%), with Chris Jones and Nick Bolton leading a balanced pass rush. This year, that number has fallen to 11% (ranking 22nd), as Jones has been limited by a knee injury and opposing offensive lines have focused on double-teaming him. Without consistent pressure, quarterbacks have more time to scan the field and find open receivers—especially on third-and-long, where the Chiefs have allowed a 42% conversion rate (up from 31% last year). In Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Justin Herbert had 3.9 seconds to throw on third down (well above the league average of 2.8 seconds) and completed 6 of 8 third down passes for 72 yards. “Pass rush is the foundation of third down defense,” said Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen. “When you can’t get to the quarterback, you’re forcing your secondary to cover for longer than they’re built to, and that leads to completions. We haven’t been consistent enough in that area, and it’s hurt us.”

Third Down Defense Struggles for the Kansas City Chiefs also highlights coverage breakdowns in the secondary, which have compounded the pass rush issues. Injuries to key defensive backs—including L’Jarius Sneed (hamstring) and Trent McDuffie (ankle)—have forced the Chiefs to use inexperienced backups like Chamarri Conner and Deon Bush in critical third down situations. These young players have struggled with route recognition and communication, leading to open receivers in soft spots of the defense. On third-and-medium, opponents have targeted the slot and intermediate areas, where the Chiefs’ nickel corners have allowed a 63tch rate. In Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen repeatedly found tight end Dawson Knox on third-and-5 to 7 yards, converting four of those attempts into first downs. “Communication is everything in coverage, especially on third down,” said Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt. “When you have new guys playing together, they’re still learning each other’s tendencies, and that leads to mistakes. We’ve had too many instances where a defender is in the wrong spot or misses a assignment, and opponents have capitalized.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, these coverage issues are fixable with more practice and reps, but time is running out as the playoffs approach.

Another factor in the Chiefs’ third down struggles is a lack of situational discipline, including pre-snap penalties and missed tackles. Through 15 weeks, the Chiefs have committed 23 pre-snap penalties on third down—ranking 27th in the league—often giving opponents a shorter distance to convert. Defensive holding and offside calls have been the most common, extending drives that should have ended. Missed tackles have also been a problem: the Chiefs have 31 missed tackles on third down, with linebackers and defensive backs failing to bring down ball carriers after short gains. In Week 13 against the New England Patriots, a missed tackle by Bolton on third-and-4 allowed running back Rhamondre Stevenson to gain 6 yards and convert, leading to a Patriots touchdown. “Discipline is non-negotiable on third down,” Spagnuolo said. “You can’t give opponents free yards with penalties, and you can’t let guys slip through your hands. Those small mistakes add up, and they’ve cost us games this season.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, fixing these discipline issues will require more focus in practice, including situational drills that simulate third down scenarios and emphasize attention to detail.

Third Down Defense Struggles for the Kansas City Chiefs wraps up with potential solutions and the urgency of fixing this issue before the playoffs. Spagnuolo has already started making adjustments, including simplifying the defensive scheme on third down to reduce communication errors and using more blitz packages to generate pressure without relying solely on Jones. The return of Sneed and McDuffie from injury should also stabilize the secondary, while more practice time for young players like Conner will help improve their route recognition. Additionally, the Chiefs can lean on their run defense—still a relative strength, ranking 18th in rushing yards allowed per game—to stop third-and-short attempts, focusing on gap discipline and tackling. “We have the talent to fix this,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “It’s about executing the basics: getting pressure, covering receivers, and making tackles. We’ve shown we can do it in spurts, but we need to be consistent.” For the Kansas City Chiefs organization and fans, turning around third down defense is critical to their playoff hopes. Opponents like the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills have strong third down offenses, and the Chiefs can’t afford to let them extend drives in high-stakes games. In the end, fixing their third down struggles isn’t just about improving a stat—it’s about reclaiming the defensive toughness that has made the Chiefs a perennial Super Bowl contender.