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Here’s this week’s sampling:
The Chiefs controlled Monday night’s game early, and they were seemingly regaining control late in the third quarter on the doorstep of the Jaguars’ end zone. That’s when Patrick Mahomes threw only his second pick of the season and only the fifth pick-six of his career — 99 yards back the other way for a shocking Jags touchdown. The Chiefs took the lead late, but Jacksonville drove 60 yards for the game-winning score, dropping Kansas City below .500 again. It was the kind of game that we’re used to seeing the Chiefs find a way to pull out, but it was very un-Chiefs-like in a few ways. It was a rough night on special teams with four penalties, including two critical ones in the final two minutes. There were 13 Kansas City flags all told, including a pair of third-down pass-interference calls. The last one came in the end zone, right before Jacksonville’s go-ahead score. Just an unclean night all around.
Pacheco was supposed to give the Chiefs better balance on offense after missing most of last season because of a broken right leg. But he is in a funk, averaging just 7.2 fantasy points per game and 32.6 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the team in September with 130 rushing yards. The sooner Pacheco can regain his form, the sooner the Chiefs can become a fully dynamic offense again.
Who have they beaten? Giants, Ravens
For the first time since 2021, the Chiefs are below .500 after the first five weeks. That year, after starting 2-3, they won nine of their next 10 games. But that seems unlikely this season with a group of wide receivers that was led yardage-wise by Tyquan Thornton on Monday night.
The confidence and vigor we saw out of the Chiefs in the first half against Jacksonville was scary—as was how small the Chiefs looked when Trevor Lawrence converted into Hulk Mode. This entire team looked like it spent a week in a rejuvenative Matthew Stafford airstream bus—but the effects only lasted two quarters.
“They’re done! They’re back! They’re done!”
At 2-3, they are floundering right now. Losing late to Jacksonville makes beating the Lions this week almost a must-win game.
Remember when the Chiefs won every close game? They’re 0-3 in one-score games this season. Regression is real. Losing to the Jaguars on the road isn’t a bad outcome, but all of a sudden the Chiefs are under .500 after five weeks despite Patrick Mahomes playing some great ball.
The Chiefs are finding the right offensive pieces for Patrick Mahomes as the team makes a youthful transition. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and the special teams, however, let down on a rare off night for the loss at Jacksonville.
Maybe the Chiefs’ dynasty is really over? Or at least they’re taking a year off. After their mistake-filled loss to the Jaguars Monday night, all they have this season is wins over the 1-4 Giants and 1-4 Ravens.
