But for the Chiefs, that picture included winning on the outside, throwing effectively into tight windows, throwing deep, providing the quarterback with ample time to throw deep and returning a play to the sheet that could draw defenses closer to the line of scrimmage or punish their refusal to do so.

The Chiefs have now lost six consecutive preseason games, going 0-3 for two straight exhibition campaigns. Their last preseason win was Aug.

There is but one thing not to like from the Chiefs’ starters in the preseason finale: The numbers didn’t count. The starting offense was darn-near perfect. The close-out defense, on the other hand, was not.