HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there are any updates to players' health statuses)

"Bucky [Irving] will be the same as last week. He'll probably practice towards the end of the week, but he'll have this problem all year long, probably."

(On if there's an update on WR Sterling Shepard)

"He did not practice today."

(On DB Tykee Smith wearing a non-contact jersey in practice)

"It means he's getting better. He's got to pass the tests – that'll be the promising sign."

(On if RB Bucky Irving's injury limits him during games at all)

"We limit him during the week so he can play in the games. During the game, he's fine."

(On how frustrating the defensive struggles have been for him)

"It's personal as a group – it's not just for me. I'm not trying to do well for myself, I'm trying to do well for the team and win. We're making strides. We can make 62 good plays and five bad plays, and it goes haywire. We've got to cut out the bad plays. We understand that. We're working on it daily. If we cut out the bad plays and play the rest of the game, we'll be okay. We've just got to cut out the bad ones."

(On how to get the defensive unit out of its slump)

"Just keep working. Keep your head down, making sure they can do the things they can do, cross your T's and dot your I's. Make sure they're coming around and understand everything and make sure they're in position. They've got to make plays. It's a constant process of coaching it better and playing it better."

(On how he would assess QB Baker Mayfield's play this season)

"The numbers are great, but the turnovers are important. You've got to keep the turnovers down and keep the numbers up. If he can cut that out, it'll be a great year."

(On if there's any one thing that's causing Mayfield's interceptions)

"It's a little bit of everything. Sometimes it's the routes, sometimes he's forcing it, sometimes it's the line, sometimes it's the end of the game and you've got to throw it. We can't turn it over, especially on the plus side of the field."

(On if Mayfield is trying to do too much without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin)

"No, I don't think so. We've just got to play better."

(On playing in the Dime defensive alignment early on against the Falcons)

"We'll sprinkle it in here and there. We never got back to it, but we have packages for it, and we'll get back to it at some point."

(On Atlanta TE Kyle Pitts' first touchdown in last week's game)

"It was a touchdown. We don't place blame out in the media; we cover it in the meetings. We know what happened on the play. There were two safeties involved. We've got to clean that part up."

(On the loss of LB SirVocea Dennis and if there was not another linebacker ready to assume his role)

"There was not one ready at the time. We've been getting them ready the whole time, but they were not ready when he got hurt. They were not ready at the time [or] could do the things that he could do. Some of the things that he could do changes a lot of things that we can do."

(On LB K.J. Britt's performance this season)

"Like you said, he had 10 tackles – that's where his production is. We'd like to get that production from everybody on defense. Unfortunately, we haven't gotten it at this time. We've got to keep working at it. We have packages to tilt people and you probably can single everybody out from a coaching standpoint and player standpoint on defense to do some things better. It's not just a K.J. thing."

(On only allowing second-half points to the Falcons when Atlanta had a short field)

"We didn't have any busts. We didn't have any busts. When we don't have any busts, we play well."

(On OL Cody Mauch's play this season)

"I think he's a lot more mature as far as seeing games and stunts and everything. He understands the game so much more. He's underrated because he just does his job and goes forward, but he holds the point very well [and] he holds the zone very well. For the one or two plays he may give up every other week, he plays very good football for us. We like where he's at."

(On facing Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes and how his game has changed over the years)

"I think he sees the game so much better. Obviously, since he's older, he'll see it a lot better, but he sees stunts at the line, he knows when he can takeoff, he knows where the line of scrimmage is, when to dump the ball off…He knows what to do to win the game. He's not really looking for stats, he's looking to win the ballgame. That's very rare as a quarterback. That's a winning formula. The ability – the athletic ability – he has is unquestioned with his arm and his legs. He can see the game. It comes easy to him. He makes all 11 guys play honest and be on their A-game to beat him."

(On DL Calijah Kancey's play since returning from injury)

"I think he gave us more energy up the middle. We're definitely pushing the pocket in the middle. He could use his hand placement a little better, but he's getting off the ball, he's penetrating for us, and he's giving guys a chance to make plays."

(On the upcoming league-wide trade deadline)

"We just have to be careful between a need and a want. [Those are] two different things. If the position is available, depending on what we're asking and what they're asking for, a deal could be made. If not, we'll kind of stand pat and go from there. We don't feel like it's a desperate need, but we feel like if we need anything if anybody else gets nicked up and there's an opportunity, we'll definitely look at it."

(On if he's hesitant to bring in a new linebacker because of the time it would take for them to adjust to the defense)

"Anybody coming in from the outside, there would be a hesitation factor. At the same time, as coaches, we've got to do different things, and we've got to be better at putting people in position where they need to be. They just have to do their job."

(On how frustrating it is to see veteran players make mistakes)

"It's frustrating at times. It's human error and we've got to settle down. They understand their mistakes. As soon as we correct beating ourselves, we'll beat other teams."

(On WR Rakim Jarrett returning to action in last week's game)

"He wasn't on a pitch count, but just learning the entire offense as he just came back. That had something to do with it, as well. I loved his toughness, I love his competitiveness, he can catch the ball in traffic, nothing is too big for him, he blocked supremely well. He just got better and better. To see him come back after what he went through, I'm proud of him."

(On if there's an update on WR Chris Godwin)

"Not at this time. He got surgery. He showed up at the game Sunday and got treatment. He's doing as well as he can be. Knowing Chris and his mind, he'll be back as soon as possible."

(On the play from the offensive line as of late, and what the additions of G Ben Bredeson and C Graham Barton have meant)

"They've made a huge impact. You rarely talk about Bredeson because he's the unsung guy up there, but he came in as a free agent, put his head down, worked, and he earned the starting spot, obviously. He's been doing a heck of a job. Him and Tristan [Wirfs] communicate well. Graham – you forget he's just a rookie. He came in and started as a rookie and he makes very few mistakes up there, especially mentally, and that's what you want. We're trying to finish his blocks and he's just getting better and better. We kind of like where he's at."

(On Offensive Line Coach Kevin Carberry and Assistant Offensive Line Coach Brian Picucci)

"I think they've brought a different energy, as far as what they do and how they teach. 'Carbs' is a tireless worker [and] Picucci is, as well. I mean, shoot, if Picucci's kid was on the playground, he'd probably take him off and put him to work. He's one of those guys but he's a joy to be around. He understands the game very well. He's constantly working and looking for angles – both of them are constantly working and looking for angles. They've been a big help."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On if he ever factors in how the defense is doing throughout the week and if it changes his approach to a game)

"No, not really. In critical games like this, you really think, you know, you go back to the trying to end every drive in a kick type mentality. Some of them might be field position, might have to punt a couple times but don't get frustrated in that. For us, it's – do what we can control and I think we look at the tapes of the games we haven't won. Offensively we just haven't played great and so it's nothing against other teams, but it's execution, doing everything right when we need to, and just all the little details adding up. For us, it's trying to do our job and trying to score every single time but you know, in games like these, in a big time match up, stay positive but play smart football."

(On how he assesses his performance so far this season and leading the league in touchdown passes)

"I mean, that aspect of it – yes, but I care about wins. We've had success in the pass game but we're just trying to find ways to win. I think there's a lot of plays that probably some of those stats should be better, but the one stat that should be better is wins and that's what I'm focused on."

(On what he likes about WR Rakim Jarrett now that he's healthy)

"[He's an] explosive guy, really explosive. I think it could go back to when I talked to you guys about him during last year's OTAs – just the contested-catch ability. You saw that in route late in the game. You know, he high points the ball really well naturally, he does that extremely well and when he gets rolling, he can move."

(On if Arrowhead Stadium being loud is a focus point for the offense when trying to stay composed)

"Yeah, that goes back to shooting yourselves in the foot, whether it's penalties, or just mistakes – we can't do it, especially in a game like this on the road. Guys have to be dialed into the plan, everybody has to know it even more so, because in the huddle you might not hear everything. That's just the environment going into it. For us, it's just focus, one play at a time and not get ahead of yourselves hearing every word in the huddle and going from there."

(On what he sees in Kansas City's defense)

"I mean, the one thing when you just watch the tape, they fly around. It's a unit that, you can tell, plays for each other, plays for that team, and they have great players on all levels. Obviously, up front, you've got [George] Karlaftis and Chris Jones that can be your game wreckers and those linebackers are flying around and the defensive backs – I mean, a lot of them are interchangeable but that's what 'Spags' (Steve Spagnuolo) wants to do. He wants those guys to be able to do every single job, give you the same look and run a completely different scheme. They do a really good job of playing with each other, of showing you different looks and presenting it certain ways so we just have to – for me, it's reading my keys, going through it one step at a time and understanding what scheme or concept we have on and trust those reads."

(On if he feels like he has to hold himself back from being over aggressive on some plays)

"There's always a fine line of balancing the aggression and protecting the football. When you have your shots, you have to take advantage of them but if they're not there, do the safe thing, chuck it down, get out of the play, move on to the next down and live to play another down. And like you said, in a game like this, being smart with the football is the most important thing and going from there."

(On if his recent interceptions have bothered him)

"Yeah, it pisses me off. I don't want to turn the ball over. To me, that's shooting our whole team in the foot. That's not what I want to do, so yeah, it makes me angry. Obviously, that's something I can directly fix and that's what I'm going to do."

(On where the improvement starts in the run game)

"It's a little bit of everything. I think up front, the guys are playing unbelievable, first and foremost. It does start up front but everybody having a part in the run game – receivers running the right motions, being detailed, tight ends having a hand in it and then the [running] backs having the right tracks, understanding their reads on certain concepts and where to cut and when to do it and then it comes down to it – some of our backs making plays, broken tackles, but it goes to the guys up front and those guys are playing really well right now."

(On how he thinks the new rotation of wide receivers did on Sunday)

"I thought they played great for the first game for a lot of them out there, especially 'Rock' (Rakim Jarrett) being back – I mean, Ryan Miller is a guy that we trust. He's obviously a smart football player that's kind of plugging and playing different spots for us. We're trusting these guys to get the job done and they did."

(On if TE Cade Otton's long runs after the catch came as a surprise to him)

"I don't know. That was some what of a hurdle on that long run. Let's not give him all that [laughs]. He shaved his mustache and I'm not really happy for him right now. Mustache Cade is a different animal so we'll see if he can keep this going. I vote that he keeps the mustache but that might be a business decision with the home life. I don't know what Sierra's telling him, so we'll see."

(On TE Cade Otton running more receiver routes)

"Cade's a guy – I mentioned it after the game – when we have Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] out there, the offense just looks different. You know, you're scheming things up for those guys and Cade does a lot of the dirty work, so right now Cade is being able to showcase his physical talent and he's such a smart football player, unselfish guy, but he understands in some of these zone coverages, what he's supposed to do, where he's supposed to attack it, and you're seeing him thrive because of that."

(On what has impressed him about RB Bucky Irving)

"He's hard to get down. [He's] not the biggest guy by any means but he's trying to make an explosive play every time he touches the ball and that's what you saw from his college tape and he's translated it directly to the NFL which is not easy to do. For him, it's just get the ball in his hands and see what happens. It's fun to watch."

(On why they have had more success scoring early this year than previous years)

"Scheme. Scheme, the way our coaches are teaching it, and just the accountability of our group. I think the guys that were here last year, majority of the guys that we have, understood that [not] starting fast didn't help us in any situations, not being able to get ahead or be in the ball games to run the ball, making yourselves one dimensional is not easy. For us, it starts with scheme and the way our coaches are doing it and the guys accountability in it."

SAFETY ANTOINE WINFIELD JR.

(On facing the Kansas City Chiefs)

"It's always fun playing them. They're a great team. Monday night, what a perfect time to go out there and play in K.C."

(On Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes having a 'down year')

"Yeah, but he's still a great quarterback and he still has weapons everywhere. You never know. You've just got to come out there and we've got to do our jobs and hopefully the ball comes our way."

(On miscommunications on the defensive side of the ball)

"[I take it] very personally. It's top-down – being a leader on this team, it starts with the leaders. So, [it's important] making sure that communication is there, because that's what it has to be for us to be what we want to be."

(On what makes it so difficult to face Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes)

"He just knows how to win – he's a winner. You see that every week. Even if he doesn't play his best, he finds a way to win the game. That's something that we know going into the game…I know he has some interceptions and stuff like that, but he finds a way to win. We've got to do our best to not let that happen."

(On how to prepare for Mahomes' 'unpredictability')

"That's tough. His best plays come from scrambles and improv, pretty much. We've got to be detailed in our work and do our job."