Chiefs’ Dominant Victory Leaves Andy Reid With a Difficult Decision

The Kansas City Chiefs just put together a convincing win, but does that mean it’s time to stick with the status quo? Kansas City cruised past the New York Jets 35-12, improving to 6-2 and snapping a two-game skid.

Kenneth Walker found the end zone three times, Patrick Mahomes tossed for 242 yards, and the defense completely took over after halftime. Naturally, a performance like that could make the coaching staff think twice about shaking things up. When the current personnel combinations are getting the job done, there’s little incentive to fix what isn’t broken.

Except, not everything is fixed.

Despite the comfortable win, Kansas City’s underlying roster concerns haven’t magically disappeared. Andy Reid and his staff now face a tricky personnel dilemma: ride the momentum and stick with the guys who delivered against New York, or make some tough calls before those lingering weaknesses come back to bite them?

Chiefs’ Offensive Line Concerns May Force Andy Reid Into a Tough Call

Kansas City’s dominant win over the New York Jets may have given the locker room a much-needed confidence boost, but it hasn’t magically erased the roster issues that could come back to haunt the Chiefs against tougher competition.

At the top of Reid and general manager Brett Veach’s to-do list should be the offensive line. Sure, Kansas City cruised to a comfortable victory, but the first half exposed a familiar problem: Patrick Mahomes is still taking too much heat when his tackles struggle to hold their ground.

Until next time, @nyjets. Thanks for playing! https://t.co/aev5W0oaoU

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 8, 2026

There are two glaring concerns. With Josh Simmons sidelined, Kahlil Benson has been holding down the left tackle spot, but the extended playing time is beginning to expose some growing pains. On the other side, Jaylon Moore hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency in pass protection either.

The first-half numbers against New York make for particularly uncomfortable reading. Both Benson and Moore surrendered three pressures apiece, while Benson posted a concerning 8.6 pass-blocking grade.

That’s not exactly the kind of protection Mahomes needs, especially with tougher defensive fronts waiting down the schedule. The Chiefs cannot afford to sit back and hope these issues sort themselves out. If Reid and Veach wait until the offensive line costs them another game, they might already be too late to make a meaningful correction.

Chiefs Face Three Options to Fix Their Offensive Line Before It’s Too Late

More concerningly, those protection breakdowns resulted in multiple strip-sacks of Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback also absorbed a nasty hit that briefly had everyone holding their breath over a potential injury.

To be fair, Kansas City has a legitimate reason for being in this predicament. First-round pick Josh Simmons landed on injured reserve on October 22 with a bulging disc in his lower back. According to the Associated Press, he was expected to miss at least four more weeks.

Still, Reid cannot afford to mistake a 35-point outing for an offensive line that’s suddenly figured things out. The Jets’ defensive front gave Kansas City some opportunities to recover, but more formidable pass-rushing units won’t be nearly as forgiving. The same protection lapses could quickly turn into a nightmare against stronger opponents.

The Chiefs now have a few options on the table. They can continue giving Benson and Moore opportunities to develop, experiment with different combinations using their existing personnel, or explore the trade market for outside help.

Whatever route Reid and Veach choose, one thing should be non-negotiable: keeping Mahomes upright. Continuity along the offensive line is valuable, but not when it comes at the expense of the franchise quarterback’s protection.

Last Word on Chiefs

The Chiefs’ offensive tackle situation has been under the microscope for a while now, and rightfully so. Simmons’ absence on the left side has dragged on longer than Kansas City would have liked, leaving undrafted rookie Benson to hold down the fort. Unfortunately, the more game tape opposing defenses get on the rookie, the more his limitations are beginning to show. And with tougher defensive fronts on the schedule, that’s a problem Reid cannot afford to ignore.

But the offensive line isn’t the only position group giving Kansas City headaches. Its receiving depth remains another glaring concern, and the Jets win did little to ease those worries.

If anything, it may have made matters worse.

Xavier Worthy tweaked his hamstring in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Reid confirmed the injury after the game, leaving Kansas City potentially shorthanded at wide receiver heading into its next matchup. Without Worthy, the Chiefs’ available receiving options could include Rashee Rice, Jalen Royals and Allen.

That’s hardly the kind of depth chart that should strike fear into opposing secondaries, particularly against teams with more formidable coverage units.

The silver lining? The Chiefs’ dominant victory; and still found a way to put up 35 points despite those limitations. Walker was the driving force, racking up 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns while giving the offense another dimension as a pass-catching threat.

However, there’s a difference between having Walker as a game-changing weapon and asking him to bail out an undermanned receiving corps every week. The Chiefs can lean on their ground game, but they cannot expect it to cover every weakness in the passing attack. Eventually, a stronger defense will force Mahomes to win through the air, and Kansas City needs more reliable weapons at his disposal.

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