The Kansas City Chiefs will try to get back to .500 as they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 6.

Kansas City is coming off a disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, blowing an early 14-0 lead, then a 28-24 lead with just over a minute left in the game.

Things won’t get any easier this week against a scorching-hot Lions team that is riding a four-game winning streak in which they have averaged a whopping 40 points per game during. Here are our five things to watch for during the Chiefs’ primetime matchup versus Detroit.

This is what’s on everybody’s mind after Kansas City committed a ridiculous 13 penalties for 109 yards against Jacksonville last week. The Chiefs have been called for the third-most penalties in the NFL this season with 42. If they can’t clean it up against a team the caliber of the Lions, they will lose.

Flags weren’t all that haunted K.C. last week. A pick-six thrown by quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the offense was just three yards out from scoring was a game-changer. We can give Mahomes some grace as it is the only interception he has thrown this year, but mistakes like that cannot be made in the redzone.

Detroit will be entering this game decimated by injuries within its secondary. The Lions’ top three cornerbacks — Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, and Khalil Dorsey — have already been ruled out for Sunday night’s game. On top of that, both starting safeties (Brain Branch, Kerby Joseph) are dealing with injuries.

Joseph has yet to practice this week, and Branch’s participation has been limited. This gives the Chiefs’ passing attack a golden opportunity to do some damage. Mahomes and his pass catchers have gotten into a nice groove over the past couple of weeks, and could have their best outing yet during this matchup.

Hutchinson is one of the most lethal pass rushers in the league. He already has five sacks this season, along with 14 QB pressures and 12 QB hits. The Chiefs didn’t allow Hutchinson to get a sack during their last matchup back in 2023, but he did record four pressures.

It will be interesting to see who along K.C.’s offensive line Hutchinson lines up across from the most. He gave right tackle Jawaan Taylor fits in their previous matchup, which led to Taylor’s quick first step becoming controversial. Hutchinson may also want to challenge young guys on the left side of the line in tackle Josh Simmons and guard Kingsley Suamataia.

After stringing together several dominant games, the Chiefs’ secondary had some struggles against the Jaguars. Two players in particular, safety Chamarri Conner and cornerback Jaylen Watson, had very rough outings. The usually solid Watson was unfortunately on the receiving end of an incredible 33-yard throw by QB Trevor Lawrence late in the game.

However, Conner has been a liability all season. Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams puzzlingly only played for snaps against Jacksonville despite getting off to an awesome start during his first four games. It appears likely that CB Kristian Fulton will return from injury to play this week. We know Trent McDuffie and Watson are going to play the majority of the snaps, but how will Conner, Williams, and Fulton be utilized? Hopefully it’s more of the latter two.

The Chiefs’ special teams made life hard for the Chiefs against the Jaguars last week. The unit committed four penalties, which set Jacksonville’s offense up with great field position, and set K.C.’s offense back deep in its own territory, negating a couple of good run backs from running back Brashard Smith.

Then there’s Harrison Butker, who kicked the ball out of bounds immediately after the Chiefs scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Butker has hurt the team with a negative play in every game this season. Points and field position will be at a premium against an elite team like the Lions.