Kansas City Chiefs evaluate defensive and offensive unit projections for 2026

The Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their September 14, 2026, season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. With the regular season approaching, analysts are evaluating whether the team's offense or defense will serve as the primary strength this year. The Chiefs' defense has outranked the offense in points and yards allowed for three consecutive seasons, finishing last year sixth in points allowed. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo enters the season expecting growth from rookies including R Mason Thomas and Mansoor Delane, potentially positioning the unit as a top-10 group. Meanwhile, the offense looks to establish a consistent run game to support quarterback Patrick Mahomes. While the 2022 team relied on an offense that ranked first in points and yards, the current iteration of the roster appears built to rely on defensive performance to drive success throughout the upcoming schedule.

• 2:30 PMYahoo Sports — Monday Musings: Will Chiefs’ offense or defense rank higher in 2026?