How the Kansas City Chiefs became the NFL’s best team at converting third downs

No NFL offense is winning on third down this season as often as the Kansas City Chiefs.

And as any coach or player will tell you, the formula for third-down success begins earlier in the possession.

“We’re running the ball so well and getting into these third-and-shorts, third-and-mediums, where I can throw the ball underneath and we can get first downs without trying to force it,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.

That’s much of it, yes. But the Chiefs are thriving with an NFL-best 53.2% third-down success rate entering Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos.

Over the past three games, the Chiefs have sizzled: They’ve converted eight of 14 third-down opportunities against the San Francisco 49ers, 12 of 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders and 12 of 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — for a three game total of 32 for 48, or 66.7%.

In that span, they’re 11 for 16 picking up first downs in third-and-short (3 yards or less); 13 for 15 on third-and-medium (4-6 yards); and eight for 17 — with a game-ending kneel-down — in third-and-long spots (7 yards or longer).

Against the Bucs, the Chiefs’ three longest plays from scrimmage came on third-down snaps. They included a third-and-8 completion from Mahomes to DeAndre Hopkins for 35 yards and a 20-yard strike to Travis Kelce on third-and-10.

That night, Mahomes completed his first 11 passes in third-down situations. And all three of his touchdown passes came on third-down snaps.

“It’s having answers versus all coverages the defenses play,” Mahomes said.

Although Mahomes is off to a slow start statistically, with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, he has maintained his clutch gene. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, he leads the league in success rate on third-down plays, at 58.6%. The league average is 38%.

Behind one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, Kareem Hunt and the Chiefs’ running game have also staked their claim here — especially in early downs. Hunt averages 3.7 yards per carry and always seems to collect positive yards, so the Chiefs don’t often find themselves in situations like second-and-12.

Hunt’s 2-yard rushing TD Monday night provided the winning points as the Chiefs beat the Bucs in overtime at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The short winning run came on third and goal behind a kick-out block from pulling guard Joe Thuney.

More benefits to excelling in third-down situations: The Chiefs rank 26th in the NFL in explosive plays (20 yards or more) but have thrived by maintaining possession. Long drives require third-down success, and the Chiefs rank second in average possession time at 32 minutes, 59 seconds per game.

That helps keep a strong defense rested.

During this stretch — which has produced the Chiefs’ three highest-scoring games of the 2024 season — KC has also fared well in longer conversions. Against the Raiders, Mahomes scrambled for 14 yards on a third-and-12 to keep alive a fourth-quarter scoring drive.

“If something’s not there,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said, “I think he does a good job of, ‘How can I make something happen with my feet?’”

The Chiefs have made it happen in several ways this season, and that’s contributed to their most successful offensive stretch of the year.