The Kansas City Chiefs were about to join a very small, very unlucky club in NFL history. Entering Sunday’s game, the team was one of only three squads in the Super Bowl era to win three straight games without recording a single sack, according to reports.
That ugly streak finally died in the second half. On Sunday, October 18, the defense finally located the quarterback amid the 22-6 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. The drought ended with less than four minutes left in the third quarter when defensive end Ashton Gillotte tackled Justin Herbert.
The Chiefs finished the day with four sacks total. Chris Jones and Peter Woods each got one. Chamarri Conner and George Karlaftis also added sacks late in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t just about the stats, though. The guys in the trenches were clearly frustrated by the lack of production.
The Drive to Hit the Quarterback
Ashton Gillotte, a second-year defensive end, didn’t hide his hunger for a big play. He told KSHB 41’s Tod Palmer, according to Yahoo Sports, “Obviously, that’s something we’ve been hunting up, and we’ve been longing for it.” He also noted that while “pressures are good, but that’s not what we pride ourselves on.”
The pass rush has been inconsistent lately. Linebacker Drue Tranquill told the station that “teams have been getting the ball out quick on us.” It’s hard to live with that kind of efficiency. Still, the pressure is there. Karlaftis produced eight pressures across 38 pass rushes in the contest, according to reports. That was his second-highest single-game total in his career.
The defensive front is finding its rhythm again. This season, Gillotte holds nine pressures alongside a 63.4 pass-rush grade as indicated by PFF data. For Woods, the win also marked his first career sack.
Injury Concerns for the Offensive Line
The win was a bit bittersweet because the cost was high. The Chiefs are already dealing with injuries to wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. Now, the right tackle position is in trouble. Jaylon Moore left the game after a heavy hit during the second quarter.
Andy Reid confirmed the news after the game. “Jaylon Moore has a concussion,” Reid said. “That’s the one that stands out the most.” This is a massive blow to the unit. Earlier this season, starting left tackle Josh Simmons suffered a back injury, meaning the team already lost him.
Moore is a $30 million player who signed his two-year deal in March 2025. Without him, the depth moves made during training camp, like bringing in Joshua Ezeudu, will be vital. The team hasn’t put Moore on injured reserve, so he stays on the active roster for now.
Mahomes Maintains the Winning Streak
While the defense worked on the sack drought, Patrick Mahomes kept the team at 5-0. He completed 23 of 30 passes for 272 yards. He also used the ball heavily, as eight different players caught passes from him. Xavier Worthy led the way with seven catches for 73 yards.
The Chiefs look strong, but the road ahead is tough. They move to Seattle on Sunday, October 25, to face the Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET. They’ll have to figure out how to protect Mahomes without Moore if that concussion protocol takes hold.