What we’ve learned about the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021

It wasn’t that long ago that the Kansas City Chiefs sat at 3-4 in the standings. At the time, national talking heads, as well as diehard fans, said, “The Chiefs aren’t making the playoffs,” and I even said the Chiefs would make the playoffs, but the Chargers will be the 1 seed.

It seems completely foolish looking back now. After the Chiefs have now reeled off seven straight wins to control their destiny—not only for a playoff spot but the AFC West crown and the top seed in the AFC—it begs the question: what have we learned?

For starters, we’ve learned this team deserves the benefit of the doubt. Why did we lose our faith in a team that has gone to back-to-back Super Bowls as well as 3 straight AFC Championships? Why did we just assume they just didn’t have it this year? Why didn’t we trust their ability to figure it out?

We’ve learned a few things about the KC Chiefs during a turbulent season in 2021.

The Chiefs’ coaching staff, front office, and players are all too talented and have a single goal in mind: to win a Super Bowl. Now I am not saying they aren’t without fault—no organization is perfect and no trade, contract, or draft pick will be perfect either—but if this team has shown us anything it is to trust what they have done.

We’ve also learned that not every win is going to be pretty. The Patriots won ugly for 15 years and no one said a word. The Chiefs did it for a few games and everyone hit the panic button. Good teams find ways to win close games. Great teams consistently find ways to win games, no matter the circumstance.

Did everyone just expect the Chiefs to win every game 42-10? It felt like every win turned into a critique of how they played and a focus on the negatives instead of lauding the fact they were able to come away victorious. If the Chiefs make a deep playoff run, no one is going to look back and say, “Well, they should have beaten the Giants by more.” What matters is that they won; you don’t get extra wins for scoring margin.

Finally, we’ve learned that Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. I understand that people are concerned about Mahomes and some of his throws this year. Hell, I said he had the yips akin to Chuck Knoblauch or Jon Lester. At the end of the day, however, he is still the quarterback you want on your team with the game on the line.

The Chargers game was just the latest piece of evidence for Mahomes’ supremacy. His wide receivers have turned 7 should be catches into interceptions this year, yet even when including those interceptions, Mahomes is probably top five in the league’s MVP race. That’s a top-five ranking in what is a down year!

Not every year is Mahomes going to throw 50 touchdowns and, quite frankly, we have become somewhat spoiled. We have gotten used to the incredible throws and the gaudy numbers while forgetting that no player is perfect. Hell, Tom Brady just got shut out by the Saints.

The Chiefs aren’t going to win the Super Bowl every year, but with Mahomes, these players, this coaching staff, and the front office, they are giving them the best shot. Next time the Chiefs go through a rough patch, remember to give them the benefit of the doubt.