When the Kansas City Chiefs started the season 1-2, many were quick to cast doubt on the contending capabilities of the reigning AFC champions — NBC News included.
So, in the interest of fairness, it deserves to be noted: Since Week 4, the Chiefs’ offense is finally starting to resemble what it did during the heights of their dynastic run. And that should terrify the rest of the league.
Entering Week 8, Kansas City ranked sixth in points per game, which would be the team’s best mark since 2022 when it finished first in scoring. Before this week’s slate of games, the Chiefs were fifth in yards per game, also their best since 2022.
After finishing near the middle of the pack in both scoring and yardage a year ago, Kansas City is starting to get hot. Patrick Mahomes has his best passer rating since 2022, and is also on pace for his most passing touchdowns since that season. The Chiefs have also scored at least 28 points in each of their last four games — the first time they’ve done so since 2021.
“We have a lot of weapons. We have a lot of guys and they all love each other, and they want each other to succeed,” Mahomes said after a 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. “We want to be better than what we are now, but this was a good step in the right direction.”
A big reason for Kansas City’s success has been the improved play of its pass catchers.
Despite the Chiefs spending the fifth-lowest amount on their receivers this year, that group has started to exceed expectations. Per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, over the first three weeks of the season, only 46% of Kansas City’s passes were thrown to open receivers. Beginning in Week 4, that number increased to 62.7% after the win over the Raiders, the best mark in the NFL.
Against Las Vegas, the Chiefs received another boost with the return of receiver Rashee Rice, who missed the first six games of the season due to a suspension as a result of an April 2024 arrest.
A second-round pick in 2023, Rice was sensational as a rookie, catching 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. But he played in only four games last year before undergoing season-ending surgery on his knee.
In his first action of the season in Week 7, Rice had seven catches for 42 yards and two scores.
“I thought the whole receiving crew did a nice job, but it was great to have him back,” head coach Andy Reid said after the Raiders win. “The energy he brings is just tremendous.”
If the recent offensive surge is sustainable, then Kansas City is a much more dangerous team than it showed early in the season. The defense has been spectacular in its own right, ranking fourth in total yards allowed and third in points per game allowed entering Week 8.
Even though the Chiefs would only be in seventh place in the AFC with a win over the Washington Commanders on Monday, they appear to be peaking as we enter the second half of the NFL season.
“We’re going to get even more and more in sync with having the full arsenal,” tight end Travis Kelce said following the return of Rice in Week 7. “As long as we keep playing unselfish and getting excited for each other, the sky’s the limit for this group.”
