Preseason football is weird. You’ve got people paying full price for tickets to watch guys whose names they can’t pronounce, while the superstars wear headsets and eat sunflower seeds on the sideline. But if you’re looking at a Kansas City preseason game and seeing a meaningless scrimmage, you’re basically missing the entire point of how an NFL dynasty actually stays on top.
It’s not about the score. It never is.
While the casual fan is complaining about the backup quarterback throwing a dirt ball on 3rd and 7, the coaching staff is busy deciding the fate of a kid from a Division II school who might be the only reason a punt doesn't get blocked in Week 14. That’s the reality. In Kansas City, the stakes are weirdly high because the roster is so top-heavy with massive contracts like Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones. They need these cheap, young players to hit.
The Mahomes Cameo: Why he even plays
Most teams are terrified of their $450 million investment stepping onto a field in August. Not Andy Reid. He’s old school.
In almost every Kansas City preseason game, you’ll see the starters out there for at least one series in the opener, maybe a quarter in the second game. Why? Because Reid believes in "callousing" the team. You can’t just simulate the speed of a live pass rush in a padded practice at Missouri Western State University. Mahomes needs to feel the pocket collapse. He needs to see his new wideouts navigate a press-man coverage look that isn't from his own teammates.
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Honestly, it’s a bit of a heart-attack moment for fans every time he scrambles. One bad turf toe or a late hit from a hungry undrafted free agent trying to make a name for himself, and the season changes. But that’s the calculated risk that has defined this era of football in Missouri.
The "Roster Bubble" drama you aren't watching
The real grit happens in the third and fourth quarters. This is where the Kansas City preseason game turns into a job interview with pads on.
Think about the wide receiver room. Every year, there’s a "camp darling." A guy who catches everything in St. Joseph but suddenly gets the "yips" when the lights at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium turn on. Scouts are looking for more than just catches. They are watching the "gunner" positions on punt coverage. If a backup receiver can't tackle, he's probably getting cut. It sounds harsh, but that's the business.
- Special Teams value: Dave Toub, the long-time special teams coordinator, basically has a louder voice than the offensive coordinator during the preseason. If he likes a linebacker's lateral speed on kickoffs, that guy is making the 53-man roster.
- The "Stash" Play: Sometimes the front office will "hide" a player by not giving them many reps, hoping they can slide them through waivers to the practice squad.
- Veteran Auditions: You’ll often see a 30-year-old vet playing late in the fourth quarter. He knows he’s not making the Chiefs. He’s playing for the other 31 teams who are watching the film the next morning.
Defensive schemes and "Vanilla" playcalling
Don't get frustrated when the defense looks like a sieve in a Kansas City preseason game. Steve Spagnuolo is notorious for keeping things basic in August. He isn't going to show his exotic blitz packages that he’s saving for the Bengals or the Bills in the regular season.
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They play "Cover 2" or "Cover 3" and just tell the kids to go play fast. They want to see who can win a one-on-one battle. Can the rookie defensive end bend the edge without a stunt? Can the safety high-point the ball without help? If you try to scheme your way to a preseason win, you aren't actually evaluating your players' raw talent. You're just tricking a backup offensive line.
The Arrowhead atmosphere (even when it doesn't count)
There is something sort of magical about a humid August night in Kansas City. The smell of barbecue starts in the parking lot at 10:00 AM, even for a 7:00 PM kickoff. For many families, the Kansas City preseason game is the only one they can afford. Regular season tickets have priced out a lot of the local die-hards.
So, the stadium is actually loud. It’s a trial run for the stadium operations crew, too. New concessions, new entrance gates, the whole bit. It’s a dress rehearsal for everyone involved.
What to actually look for next time
If you want to watch like a pro, stop following the ball. I know, it sounds boring. But next time you're at or watching a Kansas City preseason game, watch the left tackle’s feet. Watch the interior defensive line.
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- The "Push": See if the backup offensive line is getting pushed back into the quarterback's lap. If they can't hold up against second-stringers in August, Mahomes is going to be running for his life in December.
- The Speed of the LBs: Kansas City loves fast, undersized linebackers. Watch how quickly they scrape across the formation to fill a hole.
- Conditioning: Who is gasping for air after three plays? In the heat of a Missouri summer, the humidity is a literal opponent.
People love to say these games don't matter. Tell that to the guy who just spent four years in a small college program and is finally wearing a red jersey with his name on the back. For him, this is the Super Bowl.
Actionable insights for the savvy fan
- Check the "Unofficial" Depth Chart: The Chiefs usually release this a few days before the first Kansas City preseason game. Don't take it as gospel, but look at who is listed as the "second string" returner. That's usually where the roster battles are won.
- Follow the Beat Writers: Journalists like Nate Taylor or Matt Derrick are at every practice. They know who has been performing. If they say a guy is "having a day," watch that player specifically during the game.
- Ignore the Scoreboard: Seriously. A 20-point loss in the preseason means nothing. Look at the efficiency of the first-team offense. If they move the ball 75 yards and score a touchdown in their only drive, the mission is accomplished.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: The 24 hours after the final preseason game are the most chaotic in the league. Kansas City often trades away players they know they can't keep for late-round draft picks.
Preseason is about the future, not the present. It's about finding the one or two players who will make a tackle on a random Sunday in November that changes the course of the season. It’s messy, it’s sometimes slow, and it’s definitely weird. But for a team trying to maintain a dynasty, it's the most important work they do.
Keep an eye on the undrafted free agents during the second half. History shows that at least one of them will likely be a household name in Kansas City by the time the playoffs roll around. That's how this team is built. Through the grind of the games that "don't count."