{"id":250667,"date":"2025-10-14T11:30:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T15:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=250667"},"modified":"2025-10-13T21:05:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T01:05:57","slug":"the-kansas-city-chiefs-are-still-the-chiefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/10\/14\/the-kansas-city-chiefs-are-still-the-chiefs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kansas City Chiefs Are Still the Chiefs"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of arguably the hottest team in the league with relative ease, defeating the Detroit Lions 30-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. This was a Lions squad that had scored at least 34 points in each of their last four games and had held opponents under 25 points per game for the season. With the win, the Chiefs climbed back to .500 at 3-3 while the Lions dropped to 4-2. But despite what the record might suggest, the Chiefs are still the Chiefs,<\/strong>\u00a0the most dangerous team not just in the AFC, but perhaps the entire league. Here\u2019s why Kansas City remains the gold standard of the NFL.<\/p>\n

The Kansas City Chiefs Are Still the Chiefs<\/h2>\n

1. Patrick Mahomes Is Playing at an MVP Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Patrick Mahomes, just like last season, started this year a bit slowly by his standards. The throws looked off, he missed open receivers, and he relied more on his legs than his arm to make plays during the first few weeks. But that\u2019s all changed over the past three games. Since the matchup against the Giants, he has accounted for 10 total touchdowns with just one turnover. And whatever you think of the Ravens right now, each of those games came against teams that were not only perceived as good beforehand, but in the case of the Lions and Ravens, were considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders.<\/p>\n

While Mahomes is still almost unanimously viewed as QB1 in the league, having won and accomplished more than any player of his generation<\/a>, his last few regular seasons haven\u2019t been as statistically dominant as earlier in his career. That trend appears to be shifting. With Mahomes once again putting up MVP-level numbers, the sky could very well be the limit for this team.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates toward fans against the Baltimore Ravens prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. The Running Game Is Finally Opening Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For just the second time all season, a running back led the Chiefs in rushing yards<\/a>, another positive sign that the ground game is starting to open up. The potential with Isiah Pacheco has always been there, as he showed during his rookie season, but after suffering a leg injury last year, he hadn\u2019t quite looked like the same player. But over the last couple of weeks, Pacheco has averaged 4.7 yards per carry and is running with the burst and confidence that made him a breakout star. Combined with Kareem Hunt\u2019s power and the young energy of Brashard Smith, Kansas City\u2019s running back room is beginning to take real shape again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no coincidence that this improvement has come as the passing game has found its rhythm. Defenses now have to respect the dual nature of the Chiefs\u2019 offense once more, opening opportunities all over the field. The quiet heroes behind this resurgence have been the offensive line \u2014 rebuilt in the offseason and performing as one of the best units of the Mahomes era. They\u2019ve not only protected the quarterback at a high level but also opened up lanes between the tackles and controlled the line of scrimmage, bringing balance back to Kansas City\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n

3. The Wide Receiver Room Is the Deepest It\u2019s Been in Years<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Achilles\u2019 heel of the Chiefs over the past two seasons has been their misfortune at the wide receiver position \u2014 a stretch that directly contributed to Mahomes\u2019 statistical dip. In 2023, it was the infamous drops that haunted Kansas City\u2019s offense, while last season, injuries kept key playmakers sidelined. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like the Chiefs have turned the page on that bad luck. The receiving corps is healthy, productive, and finally showing the kind of depth and balance that had been missing.<\/p>\n

Xavier Worthy\u2019s return from injury has been a revelation, giving Kansas City a legitimate speed threat capable of stretching the field and keeping defenses honest. Hollywood Brown has thrived in the slot, highlighted by his career-best two-touchdown performance on Sunday night. JuJu Smith-Schuster is once again finding open space, and Tyquan Thornton has developed a noticeable chemistry with Mahomes.<\/a> And of course, Travis Kelce<\/a> remains the steady safety valve that keeps the passing game grounded.<\/p>\n

With Rashee Rice set to return from suspension next week,<\/a> the Chiefs could soon field their full wide receiver core for the first time in over a year, a dangerous prospect for any defense in the league.<\/p>\n

4. The Defense Keeps Getting Better Every Week<\/strong><\/h3>\n

During the offensive lulls of the Mahomes era, it was Steve Spagnuolo\u2019s defense that often steadied the ship. Over the past two seasons, that unit quietly evolved into one of the most intimidating in the league, physical, disciplined, and capable of winning games on its own. This year, however, the group looked a step slow early on. The pass rush wasn\u2019t generating the same pressure, and the defense as a whole appeared uncharacteristically flat and undisciplined.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chris
Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) takes the field prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All those doubts were put to rest on Sunday night. Facing one of the NFL\u2019s highest-flying offenses, Kansas City held Detroit to just 17 points, barely half their season average, and, just as impressively, committed zero penalties<\/a>. That kind of discipline is what separates good defenses from great ones. While the pass rush may not be quite as fearsome as in years past, when the Chiefs\u2019 defense plays within its system and lets its stars shine, it remains one of the toughest puzzles any offense will face.<\/p>\n

5. There\u2019s No Clear-Cut Juggernaut in the League<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Across the AFC there is more parity than ever, and that only plays into Kansas City\u2019s hands. The Ravens<\/a>, one of the Chiefs\u2019 biggest perceived challengers, are banged up and staring at a 1-5 hole. The Bills<\/a> remain talented but continue to look shaky on defense, and Kansas City clearly holds a psychological edge over them after years of playoff heartbreak. The Patriots might be building something, but they\u2019re still more of a long-term project than a contender. The Chargers continue to trip over themselves, and Denver\u2019s offense looks anything but stable.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, younger teams like the Colts and Jaguars have flashed potential but still carry an air of inconsistency, the kind that tends to unravel under playoff pressure. The result is a conference without a true powerhouse, a field full of good teams but no great ones. That\u2019s the kind of landscape where experience, coaching, and championship DNA matter most \u2014 and the Chiefs have all three.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For all the early-season noise and questions surrounding their 3-3 start, the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> look every bit like the contender they\u2019ve always been. Mahomes is back to playing at an MVP level, the running game is finally complementing the passing attack, and the receiving corps is deeper and more versatile than it\u2019s been in years. Add in a disciplined defense that continues to improve each week, and the Chiefs once again resemble the complete team that has dominated the AFC for over half a decade.<\/p>\n

In a season where no other team has truly separated itself from the pack, Kansas City\u2019s experience, balance, and championship pedigree stand out even more. They\u2019ve been here before \u2014 weathering early doubts only to surge when it matters most. So while the record may say 3-3, the film and the feel say something entirely different. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs, and everyone else knows it.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: [Junfu Han] – Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After a dominant win over the Lions, the Chiefs are still the Chiefs, proving that Kansas City remains the AFC\u2019s most dangerous team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5658,"featured_media":250835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[122,1576,339],"class_list":["post-250667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chiefs","tag-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-patrick-mahomes","tag-travis-kelce"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250667"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":250836,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250667\/revisions\/250836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}