Chiefs RPO Analysis: Chiefs Condensed RPO out of 12 and 11 Personnel

I recently looked at several RPO variations from the KC Chiefs condensed formations and how they utilize motion with their RPO game.

The Chiefs will run their run pass options often from 3x1 condensed with wide zone blocking. They get the horizontal stretch and have the ability to throw it to the trips side if #’s dictate that in their read process.

The other thing they do is motion and run RPO against zone defenses.

Let’s look at some examples of the Chiefs RPO game.

Most recently they ran a bunch vs the Bills in the playoffs in 2024.

#1 They motion from bunch 3x1 to 2x2. The defense is in cover 2. It opens the hitch route as the LB stays inside to play the run.

#2 11P they run the WR across to 3x1 on the snap as the defense is in cover 3. They are able to hit the slant route behind the SS as he sees the wr coming across and slows down just enough to open that window up.

The next example they get man so Mahomes throws a back shoulder fade on the same concept. Except this time it is man to man coverage. He only has Kelce as an option.

Film Clips

Another example of when they motion to 3x1 condensed and throw the ball to one of their wr in the 3x1 if numbers dictate. This is just a simple screen vs the Dolphins

In the first example, they run it vs man coverage. Mahomes likes the soft cushion so he throws it out there and allows his wr to work in space.