The Kansas City Chiefs have defeated the New York Jets in four of their five meetings since 2011, with the most recent being a controversial 23-20 win in 2023. That game saw Michael Carter II’s game-clinching interception negated by a phantom penalty on Sauce Gardner and wasted one of Zach Wilson’s best performances.
In this matchup, the Chiefs will be heavy favorites despite losing two in a row following a 5-0 start.
Let’s break down the Chiefs roster by position:
The Jets have Patrick Mahomes to rely on this week, and he’s having a solid season as he posts a quarterback rating of 99.7; his best since 2022.
Mahomes has 12 touchdowns and four interceptions and is coming off a great game against the Broncos in which he passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Behind Mahomes is a familiar face: Jets 2025 starter Justin Fields. Seventh round rookie Garrett Nussmeier is number three.
The Chiefs’ interior line is the same as last year led by pro bowlers Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith at center and right guard respectively. Smith had a team-high five offensive penalties.
Kingsley Suamataia completes the interior trio at left guard, although he has been benched twice this year, including Sunday when he was suddenly replaced before pre-game warmups by Mike Caliendo. That led to rumors that he was being disciplined by the coaching staff but Andy Reid denied it.
Caliendo, who also started four games last year, struggled in pass protection. Suamataia is expected to return to the starting lineup for Sunday’s game.
The tackle positions have seen some changes as last year’s starting right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, was released in March and the starting left tackle – 2025 first round pick Josh Simmons – is on injured reserve.
Jaylon Moore, who started a few games last year, currently starts at right tackle, while left tackle is undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson, who is one of five undrafted rookies on the roster. Moore has given up a team-high three sacks, but Benson – while yet to give up a sack – has provided the most pressure on the team.
Moore missed the week seven game, so former New York Giant Joshua Ezeudu started at right tackle in that one.
The other backups are center Hunter Nourzad and another undrafted rookie; face Diego Pounds.
The Chiefs’ big offseason acquisition on offense was reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. The move turned into a resounding success as he rushed for 100 yards in four of his first five games as the Chiefs got off to a 5-0 start.
Since then, he’s only averaged three yards per carry, though. However, he is just 10 yards shy of the league lead with 770 rushing yards. He has also caught 22 passes.
There are two rookies backing up Walker – fifth round pick Emmett Johnson and undrafted Jaydn Ott. Ott has never played.
The Chiefs also have a fullback – Ben VanSumeren – on the roster. However, they will also use defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga in short yardage situations. He has carried the ball twice.
The Chiefs’ top pass catching option is once again tight end Travis Kelce, who has 410 receiving yards to lead the team.
The leading pass catcher among wide receivers is the speedy Xavier Worthy, who has 27 catches, though he averages 8.5 yards per catch.
Despite some injury concerns and legal issues, Rashee Rice is now back in the lineup for the Chiefs. He has 20 catches in five games this year.
Tyquan Thornton also starts at wide receiver, but is now on injured reserve.
The backups are Jalen Royals, Andrew Armstrong, Nikko Remigio and fifth round rookie Cyrus Allen. The Royals saw the most action from this group.
At tight end, Noah Gray is a solid contributor who gets plenty of playing time. Jake Briningstool and Jared Wiley make up this group.
The Chiefs’ defensive line is anchored by pro bowler Chris Jones, although he’s having a down year statistically with just half a sack, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. He had 7.5, 12 and 25 last year.
George Karlaftis, who had six sacks last year, has a team-high two sacks and also leads the team with 16 quarterback hits (just one less than the rest of the team combined) and six tackles for loss. Karlaftis also had a team-high eight passes defensed. In fact, all eight of these have come in the last five games. Before that, he had 17 in his first 67 NFL games.
Tonga is the other starter at defensive tackle with Felix Anudike-Uzomah the other starting defensive end.
Kansas City runs a three-man rotation inside with first round rookie Peter Woods getting plenty of playing time. However, Woods has been sidelined with a neck injury so Bryson Eason may have to step up. Last year’s second round pick Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the PUP list.
The backups on the side are second round rookie R Mason Thomas and Ashton Gillotte. Undrafted rookie Jack Pyburn is also on the roster.
Nick Bolton remains in a full-time role with Drue Tranquill on the field most of the time. Last year, Bolton had 154 tackles and Tranquill added 103.
They have also been productive this year, with Bolton making 68 tackles and Tranquill making 53 tackles, including five tackles for loss.
Jack Cochrane is getting playing time in a three-linebacker set, while Jeffrey Bassa has seen limited action. However, Cooper McDonald has yet to play any defensive snaps.
The Chiefs lost a few weeks ago when their top cornerback L’Jairus Sneed was placed on injured reserve. Sneed is also the team’s primary slot corner, so they’ve been using Christian Roland-Wallace in that role for the past few weeks.
Nohl Williams and first round rookie Mansoor Delane are the current starters on the outside, although Kristian Fulton started in place of Delane on Sunday. Delane has a shoulder issue that will likely limit him for the rest of the season but is expected to return against the Jets. However, he was ruled out, so Fulton will likely start over.
Melvin Smith and fourth round rookie Jadon Canady are also available to provide depth at cornerback.
The starting safeties are Chamarri Conner, who had 117 tackles last season, and offseason signing Alohi Gilman. Jaden Hicks is also getting playing time in the three-safety set. He also started the first three games without Conner.
Undrafted rookie safety Xavier Nwankpa has played five snaps so far this season.
Former pro bowl kicker Harrison Butker is having a rough year with six missed field goals and Justin Tucker is waiting in the wings on the practice squad in case he slips up.
Punter Matt Araiza is having his best year statistically in his third season with the Chiefs, though.
Remigio was the team’s return specialist, although Johnson ended up sharing the work on kickoff returns. Remigio, who has yet to hit a 50-yard punt return since he’s halfway through his third season, is officially listed as questionable.
Bassa and Nwankpa have been the team’s most productive players in kick coverage this season, but last year they were led by McDonald and Cochrane. Canady and Nwankpa became the main gunners.