Chiefs Roster: 5 things to watch against Jaguars in Week 5

In Week 5, the (2-2) Kansas City Chiefs are in Duval County to play (3-1) Jacksonville Jaguars on “Monday Night Football.” Both teams will be looking for their third consecutive win. Kickoff will be at 7:15 p.m. Arrowhead Time on ESPN and ABC — locally on KMBC/9.

With an impressive defense and a sound running attack, Jacksonville is off to a great start under first-year head coach Liam Coen. A signature home win over the Chiefs would catapult the Jaguars into the driver’s seat of the AFC South — and make them a legitimate contender in the wide-open AFC. A Kansas City victory would put the team above 0.500 for the first time this season — and build upon the team’s impressive outing against the Baltimore Ravens.

Here are five things to watch in Monday’s matchup:

A major factor in Jacksonville’s strong start has been the 13 turnovers — nine interceptions and four fumble recoveries — forced by its defense. The Jaguars lead the league with a turnover ratio of +9. But it’s also true that quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown four interceptions, which is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs are tied for seventh with a +3 turnover ratio. Three interceptions and one fumble recovery have helped Kansas City stay competitive, while the team’s lone giveaway came on an interception that bounced off tight end Travis Kelce’s hands in the 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs’ renewed focus on protecting the football has kept them in games — and played a major role in last week’s dominant win over Baltimore. The Jaguars, on the other hand, have relied on turnovers to stay in games. Lawrence’s mistakes have ended key possessions, forcing the defense to bail out the offense. Three of Jacksonville’s first four games have come down to a single possession.

This matchup has the makings of a low-scoring, physical contest. The team that takes better care of the ball is likely to come out on top.

2. Stopping Travis Etienne

After a down season, running back Travis Etienne has come out strong in 2025. He entered Week 5 ranked third with 394 rushing yards. His trademark vision and cutback ability allow him to look like his old self — and he’s shown the explosive burst that defined his rookie year. With long runs of 71, 48, and 30 yards, he’s provided the big-play spark Jacksonville’s offense has needed.

Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defenses have typically been strong against the run — but so far this season, the unit has been below its usual standard. The Chiefs rank in the bottom half of the league, allowing around 127 rushing yards per game.

In part, this can be attributed to the team’s schedule — it’s played four run-heavy teams to start the year — along with a long garbage-time touchdown by the Ravens’ Justice Hill in Week 4. The Chiefs will need to tighten up against Etienne, who has been the engine of Jacksonville’s offense.

If Kansas City can limit him, it will put more pressure on Lawrence to carry the load.

3. Force Trevor Lawrence to hold the ball

Several of Lawrence’s picks have been costly — particularly in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. But he’s still been an efficient passer overall, taking just three sacks so far this season. That ranks 36th in the league.

This is partly because the Jaguars’ offensive line has improved. But Coen’s system has made the biggest difference. On average, Lawrence holds the ball for just 2.2 seconds, which is the sixth-fastest among starting quarterbacks. That shows how the scheme is protecting him: quick reads, short routes and timing throws have helped establish a low 7.9% pressure rate.

To counter this, the Chiefs’ defense must press Jacksonville’s receivers to disrupt those early reads. Playing aggressive man coverage — and forcing Lawrence to hang onto the ball longer — can lead him to mistakes. If Kansas City can make him hold the ball, his protection will eventually break down — or he’ll put a ball up for grabs.

4. More touches for Brashard Smith

In limited snaps, the seventh-round rookie continues to show promise. In Week 4, he touched the ball seven times, catching three passes for 27 yards while showing off his quickness (and shiftiness) in the open field.

Overall, the Chiefs’ running backs looked better against a banged-up Ravens front. But Smith deserves a larger role. He brings a different dimension to the offense — particularly in the passing game — and needs to continue to see expanded opportunities.

5. Spreading the ball around

Against Baltimore, the Chiefs’ offense looked like it was firing on all cylinders for the first time in a while. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers, while nine players caught passes. It resembled the balanced passing attack that defined the 2022 season — when Mahomes won his second MVP award while running one of the most efficient versions of the Chiefs’ offense under head coach Andy Reid.

For the last several days, rain has been in Monday night’s forecast for Jacksonville. The latest forecast shows the rain ending on Monday afternoon. But the field is still likely to be soggy; it’s been raining for a while. This could put even more emphasis on the quick passing game and running attack. If Kansas City maintains that same balance and rhythm from Week 4, it could be the formula for its first winning record of the season.