Have the Kansas City Chiefs turned their season around?

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a wild, turbulent and frustrating start to the season. They have looked insanely brilliant in some patches, and then mind-bogglingly inept in others. But 30 minutes of football against the Washington Football Team just might have shown that Chiefs have turned a corner.

Can one half of football change the course of an entire season? We are about to find out, but it sure feels like it might.

Heading into Washington, Kansas City’s season was literally on the line. Coming off the back of a 20-38 thumping at the hands of the Buffalo Bills and sitting at 2-3, anything less than a win would have been catastrophic for the Chiefs. Even then, a win on its own would not have been enough. After a hugely underwhelming start to the season the Chiefs needed to show why they should still be considered a Super Bowl contender.

Can we trust that the Chiefs have turned the corner?

It took a while to see it, but after a woeful first half that featured another three turnovers, Kansas City finally came to life in the second half and showed they’re championship caliber. Yes, it was only a Week 6 game against Washington—not exactly a top quality opponent. And yes, the Chiefs trailed at halftime after a deplorable first two quarters. But Kansas City’s second half was simply dominant.

After punting to start the half, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on their next three possessions as they clinically marched the ball down the field. But it was the defense that really impressed. K.C. allowed just 76 yards of offense and just four first downs as they shut Washington out in the second half, forcing two punts and an interception. The Chiefs’ defense did not allow Washington into the red zone once the entire game, and kept them to their lowest score so far this season.

Again, yes, I know this is a half game against Washington we’re talking about here, and there are still problems with this team that have to be resolved. But the second half was the most complete performance the Chiefs have put together so far this season. They dominated on both sides of the ball.

The second half was so good that it feels like the Chiefs might have turned a corner, that their worst football might now be behind them. After three tough losses this season – each one more painful than the last – Kansas City was able to finally showcase their capabilities on both offense and defense. Still though, I do not want to get carried away just yet. Thirty minutes of football against Washington does not suddenly fix all of K.C.’s problems. Questions still need to be answered, and deficiencies addressed.

We have seen the Chiefs face tougher opponents and fail, and they will face another huge test on Sunday in the Tennessee Titans – another game that could genuinely make or break their season. But if the Chiefs can consistently play at that same higher level that they did in the second half in Washington, if they can carry this form on throughout the rest of the season, then there is no reason why they can’t make it back to the Super Bowl.

To me, it feels like momentum is finally on their side. The Chiefs had success on both sides of the ball that they can hang their hat on and now build upon. To me, this win feels more positive than the ones over Cleveland and Philadelphia. At the end of the season we could look back at this game and pinpoint the exact moment Kansas City turned its season around.

Can one half of football change the course of an entire season? I sure hope so.