#kansas-city-chiefs

#kansas-city-chiefs

After going 11-0 in one-score games during the 2024 season, the luck pendulum had completely swung back on the Kansas City Chiefs, who entered Sunday 0-5 in one-score games for 2025. But sportsbooks never lost faith in Kansas City and on Sunday, the Chiefs finally reversed the narrative, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 23-20.

Washington forced NFL MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes into two early interceptions. This was a massive positive that kept the Commanders firmly in the hunt, and potentially even in the early ascendancy if these chances were seized. Unfortunately, the offense failed to score a single point off these turnovers. And they eventually paid a heavy price. That did not go unnoticed by head coach Dan Quinn during his postgame assessment.

Also, it seems that somebody in the N.F.L.'s league office likes them, because the Chiefs are scheduled to play in more high-profile games this season than any other team. They started the season in São Paulo, Brazil, playing the Los Angeles Chargers, on the vanguard of the N.F.L.'s imperial ambitions. They played the Eagles in Week Two, in a rematch of the Super Bowl on Fox. They play in the prime Sunday-night slot three times, and on Monday Night Football twice.

For Andy Reid's Chiefs, the problem that dogged them throughout last season, even as they reached a third successive Super Bowl, has persisted, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes shackled by an anaemic offense. Kansas City did at least claim a first win of the season last week as they saw off the New York Giants 22-9 on the road, but that success did little to win over the doubters that are growing in number amid the Chiefs' continued struggles.