Lions Week 6 preview: Breaking down Chiefs’ offensive, defensive schemes

The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs will square off in Week 6 of the 2025 season on “Sunday Night Football.”

“Got a lot of respect for what Coach (Andy) Reid has done,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “(Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo, man; outstanding defensive coordinator. They’ve been intact, that staff, these players have been intact for a long time. They’ve got a really good system; they’re good at it. They’ve evolved to the point now that they’ve kind of seen everything; they kind of do everything. They’re very good at it, very disciplined.”

Let’s take a closer look at the Chiefs’ coaching staff, the scheme that they run, and some scouting notes from previously viewed games.

Chiefs head coach: Andy Reid

NFL coaching seasons: 34 seasons
Head coaching seasons: 27 seasons; 14 with Eagles (1999-2012), 13 with Chiefs (2013-present)
Super Bowls: Six appearances, winning three of five Chiefs (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Coaching traits: Culture builder – Championship mentality – Player developer – Play designer
Influences: Mike Holmgren, LaVell Edwards, Bill Walsh, Sherman Lewis
Playcaller: Yes

Offensive coordinator: Matt Nagy

NFL coaching seasons: 18 seasons
Offensive coordinator seasons: 5th, all with Chiefs (2016-17, 2023-present)
Head coach: Chicago Bears (2018-21)
Influences: Andy Reid, Marty Mornhinweg, Doug Pederson, Pat Shurmur, Brad Childress, James Urban
Key Staff: Mark Deleone, running backs coach (former Lions LB coach, 2021)

Offensive scheme

Passing game: Pro Spread
Running scheme: Inside Zone
Staples of scheme:

• Personnel: 11 (49.2%, 23rd), 12 (31.8%, 8th), 13 (5.4%, 11th), 21 (4.1%, 10th)
• Core West Coast concepts: Play-action (27.7%, 8th), pre-snap motion, and bunch formations
• Lean on Mahomes’ mobility to extend plays and contribute in the run game
• Shotgun orientated
• Spread defenses out with speed WRs and flexible TEs
• Quick-hitting passing attack; crossers, flats, and curls – YAC
• Not afraid to test defenses deep with WR speed
• Screens act as an extension of the run game
• Run game uses power-based RBs to complement a QB who can scramble

Scouting notes

• Expect a Ravens-type game plan for Mahomes from the Lions
• Lots of eye candy (pre-snap movement)
• Top 10 in 12 personnel use; designed for disguise with Travis Kelce shifting
• Lions can handle confusing pre-snap looks because they live in Base personnel
• Speed, speed, speed at wide receiver
• 3 WRs with sub-4.3 speed: Xavier Worthy (4.21), Hollywood Brown (4.27), Tyquan Thornton (4.28)
• Screens go all over the field, to both RBs and WRs
• Speed WRs are mainly used for YAC and but will test with deep shots
• 665 YAC is the fourth most in the NFL
• Run game gets downhill in a hurry
• Mahomes leads the team with 190 rushing yards; RBs Isiah Pacheco has 164, and Kareem Hunt has 163
• Chiefs are committing 8.4 penalties per game, 22nd most (13 in Week 5)
• RT Jawaan Taylor is the most penalized player in the...