Is everyone okay?
I thought I should do a wellness check, because the reaction to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars loss has felt… different.
It’s no surprise that nationally, there is hysteria surrounding the Chiefs. That has become the norm. But this is the first time it feels like a significant portion of the team’s fans is losing faith.
But this is understandable, because Kansas City isn’t judged the same way as other NFL teams. It’s the only team whose success or failure is based on one metric: whether it wins the championship.
While other teams can take a step toward their goal and call it a success, the Chiefs cannot. Their season can end in only two ways: with a Lombardi Trophy or disappointment. It’s the only thing that matters, because Kansas City is in its championship era.
So yes… it’s not surprising that some fans are upset about the team’s performance through five weeks of the season. The Chiefs are 2-3 for just the second time in the past decade. Monday’s loss included sloppy play across the board — including 13 penalties that gifted the Jaguars more than 100 yards.
All of that is bad.
And yet… after this loss, I feel more confident about the team than I have in three years.
I know: that sounds strange. Why would anyone gain confidence based on that performance?
It’ll tell you why:
It’s because Kansas City’s offense is back. Not kinda back. Not sorta back. Forget those qualifiers. It’s all the way back.
The Chiefs’ offense finally looks like it did in 2022. In recent weeks, its efficiency has been off the charts. It began in the second half against the New York Giants, continued against the Baltimore Ravens’ depleted defense and was further demonstrated by how it did against an underrated Jacksonville defense.
Oct 6, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) runs after a catch during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Oct 6, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) runs after a catch during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The offensive line is finally living up to expectations. The running game is providing just enough spark. Xavier Worthy’s presence — and Tyquan Thornton’s emergence — has forced defenses to respect the deep ball. And quarterback Patrick Mahomes is playing at an exceptionally high level.
Mahomes’ 378 yards of total offense on Monday night were the most in any game he’s had since Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers nearly 18 months ago. It was also his first regular-season performance with more than 350 total yards in nearly two years — dating back to a 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in October 2023.
It’s no surprise that Mahomes is the engine that makes this offense go. On Monday, Kansas City averaged more than 7.5 yards per play for the first time since its 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in last season’s Divisional round.
In 2022, the Chiefs’ offense had four games where it averaged at least 7.5 yards per play. That team set the post-Tyreek Hill standard for what a Mahomes-led offense should look like.
It’s been way too long since the Chiefs’ offense could do what it did against Jacksonville. This wasn’t Mahomes fighting for his life on every dropback. Chunk yardage was regularly available — and Mahomes could take full advantage. Kansas City finished the game with 10 plays of at least 15 yards.
For some perspective, the Chiefs combined for nine such plays in last season’s games with the Bills, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
All of this is happening while the team’s best pass catcher — Rashee Rice — remains suspended. He’s already back in the building for meetings. He’ll return to the practice field on Monday — and play against the Las Vegas Raiders a week from Sunday.
But even without him, Kansas City ranks fifth in both points and yards per drive. Just imagine how good the offense will be when Rice returns.
Still… none of this should diminish the obvious problems the Chiefs now face. The defense had a rough night in Jacksonville. The pass rush isn’t getting home — and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s overreliance on safety Chamarri Conner in the slot has once again reared its ugly head.
The penalties have to stop. In 2025, only the Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos have been penalized more often. The special teams woes are piling up, too. Placekicker Harrison Butker has missed his share of kicks, but his kickoffs that drew the most scrutiny this week — particularly the one that sailed out of bounds, setting up the Jaguars’ game-winning drive at the 40-yard line. The average starting position of the remaining Jacksonville after-kickoff drives was the 35-yard line. In contrast, the average start of Kansas City’s post-kickoff drives was the 25-yard line.
Winning in the margins matters — especially for a team that plays as many close games as the Chiefs. And right now, Kansas City isn’t winning in those margins often enough.
But I trust the coaching staff to get things corrected. Spagnuolo’s defenses traditionally improve as the season progresses. This isn’t the first time Dave Toub’s special teams have been under fire, either; those units generally round into form as well.
More importantly, all of these issues become much less glaring if the offense continues to play so well.
There’s no doubt: the Chiefs’ record is disappointing. Results matter — and the wins need to start coming soon. But I think they will — and by January, Kansas City will once again be a team to be reckoned with.