The Kansas City Chiefs are not used to starting slowly. In fact, “slow start” hasn’t really been in their vocabulary during the Patrick Mahomes era. So when the reigning AFC powerhouse fell to 0-2 following a 20-17 loss to the Eagles in Week 2, alarms began to blare across the NFL landscape.
For a franchise that hasn’t opened a season with two straight losses since 2014—the same year Mahomes was still a freshman at Texas Tech—they have truly entered uncharted territory. And yet, while the noise around Kansas City grows louder, the question remains: is this a moment for panic, or is patience the smarter approach?
Mahomes has reset nearly every standard for quarterback play since becoming the starter in 2018, but even he is entering new ground. This marks the first three-game losing streak of his NFL career if you count February’s Super Bowl loss to the same Philadelphia roster that came into GEHA Field and handed them a loss.
Chiefs fans are facing the question of being patient or hitting the panic button early after an 0-2 start.
Before this September, Kansas City had posted a staggering 19-4 record in the month of September with Mahomes under center. Fast starts were part of their DNA, laying the foundation for six straight AFC Championship appearances. Losing early simply hasn’t been part of the story until now.
The struggles on offense are the headline, and for good reason. Against Philadelphia, Kansas City managed just 294 total yards, a number that speaks to inconsistency in both execution and chemistry.
Context matters, though. Kansas City is without its top two wideouts—Rashee Rice, suspended for six games, and burner Xavier Worthy, who is sidelined with a dislocated shoulder. Without those weapons, Mahomes has leaned heavily on Travis Kelce and a rotating cast of role players, none of whom have established themselves as consistent separators against coverage.
Defensive Bright Spots
Lost in the frustration of the 0-2 start is the performance of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. After getting diced up by Justin Herbert and the Chargers in the opener, Kansas City rebounded by suffocating the Eagles’ offense in Week 2. The Chiefs held Philadelphia to just 216 total yards, kept Jalen Hurts in check, and created opportunities for the offense to seize momentum.
That defensive resilience shouldn’t be overlooked, and if Kansas City can pair even an average offensive output with the same level of defensive play, they’ll remain one of the league’s toughest outs.
The Bigger Picture for KC
The question looming over Kansas City now is how deep of a hole they can afford to dig. The AFC West hasn’t been competitive in years, but it’s fair to wonder if an 0-2 start opens the door for someone else to challenge their run of nine straight division crowns. Denver and Las Vegas remain inconsistent, but the Chargers have already proven they can take down the Chiefs head-to-head, and they are a group with a newfound confidence under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
That said, the Chiefs’ résumé speaks for itself. Mahomes has never missed the playoffs as a starter. Andy Reid has built a culture defined by resilience and adjustments, particularly in the early months of the season. Long story short, history suggests that Kansas City will figure things out, and quickly.
For fans and pundits eager to declare a dynasty in decline, patience is the wiser stance. Yes, the Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time in a decade. Yes, Mahomes is experiencing his first legitimate slump. But perspective is everything. This is still the team that the AFC has run through for six years. This is still the quarterback who makes the impossible look routine. And this is still the defense that just showed it can shut down an elite opponent.
Additionally, the Chiefs’ offense will look different when Rice and Worthy are back on the field. The defense is already showing signs of being a top-10 unit. And with Mahomes at the helm, betting against Kansas City has rarely been a profitable strategy.
Uncharted territory doesn’t mean disaster. It means challenge and adversity, and if there’s one thing Mahomes, Reid, and the Chiefs have proven, it’s that they know how to respond.
VERDICT: Patience