KC Chiefs show an impressive ability to turn things around (again)

If you look at the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018, the year Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback for the team, there are many things that come to mind. One of the biggest things that stands out about the Chiefs is how they have come from behind to win some of their games.

The Chiefs have found themselves behind by two or more possessions in several games and have found a way to come back in many of them. Just look at how they captured their first Super Bowl in 50 years. After Mahomes threw his second interception with less than 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, it looked like the San Francisco 49ers were on their way to being crowned world champions. But the Chiefs surged, scoring 21 points in the final seven minutes of the game.

Three weeks prior to that, the Chiefs faced a 24-0 deficit in the divisional round of the playoffs early in the second quarter. The Houston Texans appeared to be in full control. But the Chiefs rallied and erased that deficit. Not only did they erase it, they erased it in the second quarter by scoring 28 points and scoring all 51 of their points in the second, third and fourth quarters.

The Kansas City Chiefs are showing the same comeback ability in 2021 as they have in recent years.

Mahomes has eight career fourth-quarter comebacks and nine game-winning drives in his career. There are plenty of examples of the Chiefs displaying their ability to surprise their opponent with Mahomes at the helm, but the Chiefs are now displaying their comeback ability in a new form.

The Chiefs started the season 1-2 after three weeks and were 2-3 after the first five weeks. In Week 7, they suffered a 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans, falling to 3-4 on the year. The loss to the Titans was a discouraging one. Having already lost to the Ravens, Chargers and Bills, getting blown out by a playoff contending team in the AFC was disappointing and left fans asking a lot of questions about the team.

The Chiefs were tied for last place in the AFC West with the Broncos while the Raiders and Chargers appeared to be the favorites. There were also eight teams in the AFC with a better record than the Chiefs after that 27-3 defeat.

But in typical Chiefs fashion, they didn’t roll over and quit. They knew they had to come back. Four weeks later, the Chiefs not only lead the AFC West, but are inching close to challenging other top-tier teams in the AFC for the No. 1 seed. Starting off slow and coming back late, whether it is in a game or this 2021 season, is far from ideal. But that is how the Kansas City Chiefs operate. This is when they are at their best.

The Chiefs are 7-4 and are now one of the best teams in the AFC. After holding the Cowboys, who have the No. 1 offense in the NFL, to just three field goals, the Chiefs made a statement and proved their defense is for real.

The final chapter has yet to be written for this season. The Chiefs still have some work to do. But almost every team in the AFC does. There has not been a clear No. 1 team in the conference. However, if the Chiefs defense continues its success and if the offense returns to its original form, the Chiefs could have the hot hand going into the postseason.