Chiefs drop a 31-28 decision to Jacksonville, a loss defined by self-inflicted wounds, penalties, and special-teams miscues that kept KC from establishing a clean path to victory. Patrick Mahomes sparked the attack with big plays and scrambles, but a late Devin Lloyd pick-six flipped the game and exposed a fragile margin for error. Rasheed Rice returned with burst, the run game found flashes from Pacheco and Hunt, yet the defense failed to close the door against Trevor Lawrence.

Fantasy managers should weigh KC’s explosive ceiling against ongoing discipline and pass rush concerns. Jacksonville’s Liam Cohen outcoached in key moments, capitalizing on KC’s miscues while KC’s offense, despite positive flashes, didn’t fully overwhelm a defense that bent but didn’t break. The AFC remains wide open, with lessons about penalties, red-zone efficiency, and the need for an additional defensive spark and run-game reliability.

Chiefs’ 22-9 win over the Giants was powered by a defense that looked top-half and fast, with Karlopesis and Cook anchoring a unit that can win games on that side while the offense irons out kinks. Taekwon Thornton unlocked the vertical stretch, giving Mahomes a trusted deep option as Rasheed Rice and Xavier Worthy return to full speed. The run game and line show progress, new rookies contribute, and Kamara trade chatter lingers as KC eyes a late-season surge.

Kansas City scraped out a win over the Giants in a game that finally sparked late, with the defense tightening and Taekquin Thornton delivering a breakout that could reshape KC’s receiver room. Thornton’s emergence gives Mahomes a true vertical threat as Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy return to full strength, expanding the offense beyond the usual targets. The defense anchored by Jaylen Watson and Nick Bolton looks a notch crisper, while the offensive line still battles penalties and inconsistent tackles from Jawan Taylor and Jaylen Moore.

Thornton’s five catches for 71 yards and a red-zone TD showcased his contested-catch ability and trust from Mahomes. Kingsley Suamataia flashed as a steadier guard, and Chris Jones and George Karloftis showed a semblance of pass-rush timing. The Chiefs must address the tackle duo’s penalties and monetize the depth with Worthy and Rashée Rice back, but the second half offered a blueprint: keep pressuring, diversify the route tree, and feed Thornton when the big plays loom.