The Chiefs' season-opening win fails to spark lasting confidence Even with Sunday Night Football’s victory, the Chiefs still fall short of the dominant team that’s made the AFC Championship every year since 2018.

 

                                                                               

Patrick Mahomes throws the ball as New York 

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux pursues him on Sunday.

The Kansas City Chiefs finally ended their winless streak with a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, providing some relief but also revealing persistent issues that raise concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level this season. While the win broke the short 0-2 hole the team found itself in entering Week 3, the performance was far from the dominant style the Chiefs have shown in recent years.

The Chiefs have been a powerhouse in the AFC, having reached at least the AFC Championship game every year since 2018. Fans and analysts alike expected them to continue their run of success with a roster led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a skilled supporting cast. Instead, what unfolded against the Giants was a disjointed offensive effort that left many questioning the team’s current form and long-term prospects.

Heading into the game, Kansas City was desperate for a win by any means necessary. The defense stepped up when it mattered, but the offense struggled mightily to find rhythm and consistency throughout the contest. The games thus far had not illuminated the kind of flawless team execution that usually defines the Chiefs.

After the game, head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the importance of the win but also the need for continued work. “Good win to get, in particular when you haven’t had one,” Reid said, underscoring the relief of the victory but hinting at the ongoing challenges the team faces.

Mahomes’s performance was emblematic of the Chiefs' struggles. Finishing 22-of-37 for 224 yards and one touchdown with an 85.9 passer rating, Mahomes’s numbers were modest by his standards. To put this in perspective, he has yet to surpass a passer rating of 90.0 in this young 2025 season, which stands in sharp contrast to his career average of 101.8 before Sunday’s game. This level of performance ranks as one of the least efficient starts of his career, especially given the expectations.

Moreover, the Giants defense, while respectable, is not considered elite, which further highlights Mahomes’s unusual difficulties. His 6.1 yards per attempt was the lowest for any quarterback playing against New York so far this year. Were these stats to hold over the rest of the season, it would mark career lows in several key quarterback metrics.

Despite this, Mahomes remained optimistic in the postgame interview, emphasizing his belief in the team’s potential to improve. “I feel like we were moving the ball the right way,” he said. “We have to clean stuff up and get better and better.” He stressed the importance of execution and consistency: “For us, just executing all the way throughout a drive and seeing that, that’s what we want to be. We have to continue to do that more often.”

The offensive woes are compounded by a receiving corps that has yet to find its footing. While Tyquan Thornton showed flashes of promise with some notable moments in the second half, the team still lacks a reliable and explosive threat in the passing game. Kansas City does not have a single player with over 100 receiving yards in a game this season, a stark contrast to past years when Mahomes had multiple weapons at his disposal.

Travis Kelce, the once dominant tight end widely regarded as one of the best in the league, has been less productive through the first three games. With 10 catches for 134 yards, he is on pace for just 759 yards receiving this season, which would mark the lowest output of his career. This decline comes after a 2024 season where he also posted career lows, despite the added opportunity of a 17-game regular season.

The tension between Kelce and the coaching staff was visible during the game. Reid and Kelce were seen having an intense conversation on the sidelines late in the second quarter, with the two bumping chests in what appeared to be a passionate but also somewhat confrontational exchange. Reid later praised Kelce’s passion, saying, “He’s a passionate guy and I love that part. I’ve been through a lot of things with him, that’s all part of it. I love that he loves to play the game.” This interaction showed both the high expectations within the team and the mounting pressure on veteran players to perform.

The problems, however, were not limited to offense. The Chiefs committed several mistakes that could have cost them the game. Placekicker Harrison Butker missed multiple kicks, including a field goal and an extra point—errors uncommon for a player of his experience and reliability. Special teams miscues have added to the pressure on the rest of the squad.

In addition, Kansas City was flagged for eight penalties totaling 85 yards. Many of these occurred during a critical first-half drive, which ended in a Giants touchdown, putting the Chiefs behind on the scoreboard and forcing them to play from behind in parts of the game. The penalties reflected an uncharacteristic lack of discipline and focus that has plagued the team in 2025’s early weeks.

Despite these issues, the Chiefs were fortunate to benefit from key turnovers by New York quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson threw two costly interceptions, including a baffling decision on a late 4th-and-goal play to seemingly throw the ball away, which helped Kansas City inch toward victory in a game that was otherwise closer than it should have been.

Linebacker Nick Bolton summed up the team’s outlook after the game. “We’ve been searching for one win and try to figure out how we can get this thing going,” he said. “The main thing now is just keep working, keep stacking and try to get another, then get another win.” His words illustrated the mentality of a team that knows it must improve steadily in order to contend seriously again.

For now, Kansas City can at least enjoy the relief of securing their first victory of the season, but the performance was far from the dominant blueprint that reached back to the championship runs. The Chiefs still look far from the team many expected to see this fall, leaving questions about whether their once potent offense can re-emerge and whether the defense will continue to make timely plays to bail out the offense.

Looking ahead, the Chiefs face a challenging remaining schedule. Only two of their next eight opponents have losing records, and those matchups come against divisional rivals with whom every game is critical. Over the next two months, Kansas City must navigate contests against powerful teams such as the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, all of which have performed much more impressively early in the season.

The Chiefs therefore face a proving ground. They have dispatched a less formidable opponent but must elevate their game quickly or risk another disappointing season. Sunday’s win, while welcome, doesn’t yet suggest the Chiefs are ready to reclaim their place atop the AFC, much less return to Super Bowl contention.

The team’s identity and performance in 2025 are currently in flux, showing cracks that undermine confidence. Can Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense rediscover their usual creativity and firepower? Will Travis Kelce return to his elite form? Can the defense continue creating turnovers and making key plays? These questions loom large for a fan base used to dominant and exciting football from their franchise.

Ultimately, Sunday’s victory serves as a necessary but insufficient step forward. The Chiefs avoided falling to 0-3 and energized a struggling roster, but a lot more work remains before they can stake a claim to the AFC throne again. The 2025 Kansas City Chiefs still have the name, the players, and the ambition — but so far this season, they have yet to fully show it.