The Kansas City Chiefs pulled out an ugly 22-17 win on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The offense seemed out of sync and couldn't convert yards into points. The defense allowed some plays early, but then came up huge late to preserve the win. It was like watching any number of games from the 2023 season all over again.
While the Chiefs did win a Super Bowl last season, the comparisons to that team aren't all positive.
Let's start out with the good similarities. First, the Chiefs found a way to gut out another win like they did numerous times last year. If you look back on the consensus top ten teams in power rankings going into the season, most of them have already dropped a game or two to start the season. At this point, the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills (if they win on Monday night) will be the only undefeated teams that entered the season as playoff favorites. So first and foremost, it's hard to complain about winning when most teams would happily take KC's ugly 3-0 start to the season.
Second, the Chiefs' defense came up huge in this game like it did time and time again last season. The Chiefs had two opportunities in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach, but couldn't do it. So the defense was left to make a stand and both times they came up with a stop on 4th down in the red zone (including a game-saving stop by Nick Bolton). Earlier this season there were times when it looked like the Chiefs really missed L'Jarius Sneed. Late in this game, the defense stepped up and won this game.
Not all of the Chiefs similarities to last season are positive
Last season the Chiefs passing game seemed out of sync for most of the year. The wide receiver play was a serious problem outside of Rashee Rice down the stretch and Travis Kelce was starting to show signs of slowing down. Kelce turned back the clock once the playoffs rolled around, but for most of the regular season, the passing game just wasn't what we were used to from a team with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
That is certainly the case again this season, especially when it comes to Travis Kelce. His start has been so slow it has some people starting to doubt him only 3 games into the season.
The Chiefs thought that was all supposed to be a thing of the past after they revamped the passing attack this offseason. Signing Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy was supposed to open things back up and make this a prolific passing attack again, but between Brown's injury and Worthy still developing, it's felt way too similar to last season.
Much like last season, that lack of production seems to be weighing on Mahomes. The result has been a mix of bad decisions and at poorly executed throws that would have been good decisions if executed better.
To his credit, Mahomes isn't running from it.
Patrick Mahomes: I haven’t played very well.
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) September 23, 2024
“I have to get my base right. I’m trusting my arm too much. I gotta get back to my fundamentals.”
Mahomes's play is part of it. Worthy not being quite ready for a starring role is part of it. The decline in production of Travis Kelce is part of it. Some questionable play calls in the red zone is part of it. Last season the Chiefs were able to get things going at the right time, but it would be nice if it didn't take another 3-4 months of this before things get better.
Last week after their ugly win over the Cincinnati Bengals I wrote that the Chiefs were flawed, but still the team to beat in the AFC and that seems all the more appropriate this week. In that piece I stated that the NFL should be nervous because the Chiefs showed last year that they could overcome their flaws when it mattered and go on to win the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are already overcoming some of those same flaws to win their first three games this season. Overall, that is a good thing, but eliminating some of those flaws would be even better. Let's hope they can begin to do just that next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.