Kansas City Chiefs didn’t seem to have much interest in NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rule

After one of the most dramatic rule changes in the NFL in recent years, the Chiefs appear to be choosing to pass when it comes to kickoff coverage.

The dynamic kickoff, with the coverage and return teams lined up five yards apart and 25 yards from the kicker, was implemented to encourage returns and reduce injuries.

The action increased during opening week when 34% of kickoffs were returned, up from 20% on Week 1 a year ago.

But the Chiefs did not contribute to the trend against the Baltimore Ravens, electing to have kicker Harrison Butker boom the ball deep. In the 27-20 triumph, Butker kicked off six times, and six times the ball sailed into the end zone for a touchback. The Ravens started each drive at the 30.

It was similar to last year, when only 11 of Butker’s 85 kickoffs were returned.

“We just kind of went off the stats that we had, and we felt that was the best way to go,” Andy Reid said. “In a perfect world, if you can kick it right to the goal line and kind of skip it down in there, that’d be great.”

If a kick bounces from the landing zone — from the goal line to the 20 — into the end zone, it can be returned or downed and placed on the 20. That’s the ideal scenario.

But the Chiefs didn’t risk a return and went with the Butker boom.

“You’ve got to be spot on with the kick and that’s asking a lot there,” Reid said.

Across the NFL’s opening weekend, one kickoff was returned for a touchdown, when the Arizona Cardinals’ DeeJay Dallas took a Buffalo Bills kickoff 96 yards for a score. Only four kickoffs were returned for touchdowns during the 2023 season.

The Chiefs returned two kicks against the Ravens. Carson Steele returned the kickoff after Baltimore’s first touchdown 28 yards to the Chiefs 33. Mecole Hardman returned the second half kickoff 29 yards to the 31. After that, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker put his kicks into the end zone.

The Chiefs and other teams kicked the tires on the new rule in a bigger way during the preseason. In the NFL, 70.5% of kicks were returned. The Chiefs returned 17 kickoffs for a 30.5-yard average.

But in the regular season, if the opening game is an indication, the Chiefs appear content to let Butker blast away and allow the opponent to set up at the 30.