Despite winning back-to-back Super Bowls and starting the season with a 12-1 record, the Chiefs aren't overlooking their Week 15 road matchup against the 3-10 Browns.
"You don't care about records or anything else," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. "I know they're well coached. I know (head coach) Kevin (Stefanski) personally and he does a heck of a job. (Defensive) coordinator (Jim) Schwartz, I mean, I've known for a long time and (offensive coordinator Ken) Dorsey, (assistant head coach and special teams coordinator) Bubba (Ventrone). I mean they're all good football coaches and they've got good players."
DE Myles Garrett is among the top of the list of players the Chiefs have had their eyes on as they prepare to travel to Huntington Bank Field. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has 11 sacks this season, the second-most in the NFL, and a 19.3 percent quarterback pressure rate, the fourth-best among players with 100 or more pass rush attempts this season.
In three matchups against QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Garrett has three sacks, bringing Mahomes down once in each of their three meetings.
"(Garrett) is really a good player. Probably a future Hall of Famer, I'd say," Reid said. "He's a dominant player and we recognize that and respect that. He's going to show up though and we're going to show up and we have to play well against him. We have the capability to do that, that's how I feel, but we respect the heck out of him."
As most teams do, the Chiefs will have a game plan specifically constructed to prevent Garrett from wrecking the game as a pass rusher. Garrett is double-teamed on 29 percent of pass rush attempts this season, more than any other defensive end this season.
Mahomes said that it will take a specialized offensive approach in order to quell the threat Garrett imposes in the passing game.
"You have to give him different looks," Mahomes said. "You can't let him just pass rush over and over again. I mean, he won Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, man. He's going to win a lot of those matchups and so we'll throw him changeups. We'll throw him different pitches that he can hopefully keep his mind racing, but at the end of the day, he's going to make plays happen. When he starts to win reps or win certain plays, you have to not make them negative plays. Get rid of the football, even if that's throwing it away and live to play another play."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Kansas City Chiefs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Director of High Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
While the Browns attempt to limit the explosive abilities of Mahomes, the Chiefs will face the challenge of stopping the dynamic arm of QB Jameis Winston.
Winston has averaged 315 passing yards per game since taking over as the Browns' starting quarterback in Week 8 against the Ravens. He's thrown 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his six games as the Browns' starter.
"Jameis Winston is a heck of a quarterback," Chiefs DT Chris Jones said. "He can make all the big throws. He's streaky, tough, competitive. This is a competitive Browns team. We know we're going to get their best effort."
Winston's favorite receiver through the last six games has been WR Jerry Jeudy, who has tallied a team-high 678 receiving yards since Week 8.
Jeudy has shown an ability to be explosive, with three touchdown catches over 35 yards this season – two of which went for over 70 yards. Against the Broncos in Week 13, Jeudy had a career-high 235 receiving yards and a touchdown.
"They can be explosive, (Winston and Jeudy)," Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "That was the focus the very first day we started working on Cleveland, which was Tuesday. We have to eliminate that. If that happens, it makes it a little bit tougher for us and it certainly opens up things for them. But let's see if we can't find a way to eliminate those."
In order for the Browns to win against the Chiefs, establishing a rushing attack will be crucial to set up their opportunities to make explosive plays. Of Winston's 12 passing touchdowns, four have come off of play action. A rushing attack that forces a defense to respect the run could open up the opportunity for the Browns to catch the Chiefs off guard and take advantage of their success in the play action game.
Since returning in Week 7 of the 2024 season from a season-ending knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season, RB Nick Chubb has steadily progressed as he looks to return to the dominant player he's proven to be in his seven-year career.
Chubb has 291 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season and is averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per attempt. Against the Steelers in Week 14, Chubb took off for a 19-yard gain in his longest rushing play of the season.
"He's kind of getting his footing a little bit. You can tell his cuts, his vision, all those things are still there," Chiefs LB Nick Bolton said. "You can still see those great things he has with the ball in his hands."
