The Kansas City Chiefs, once considered the greatest modern dynasty, hit an all-time low last season when they finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs. We saw a “race to the top” in the AFC last season with the Chiefs’ absence. The Denver Broncos were among the few top contenders. They finished 14-3 and lost in the Conference Championship Game. Expectations were sky-high coming into Week 1 for the Broncos, and for the Chiefs… not so much.
After having a disappointing season, the Chiefs turned back to the drawing board at the start of this offseason. Head Coach Andy Reid and General Manager Brett Veach got to work early, releasing offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor on March 8th and then trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams for picks on March 11th. With a depleted roster and an aging core, the Chiefs knew they needed to make moves that would take some of the workload off their older stars, including Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Chris Jones. They couldn’t continue relying on the same core to carry them every Sunday.
On March 12th, they began adding pieces to do exactly that, signing safety Alohi Gilman, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III. The biggest addition was Walker. After years of Mahomes carrying the offense, the Chiefs finally gave him a legitimate running game to lean on.
Fast-forward to September 14th: Broncos @ Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
Kenneth Walker III delivered a monster performance: 173 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Walker’s biggest moment of the game came in the form of a 60-yard, bone-chilling touchdown that sent Arrowhead into mania.
The Chiefs dismantled the Broncos, and more importantly, they didn’t have to rely on Patrick Mahomes being Superman. Kenneth Walker is the first 1,000+ yard rusher of the Mahomes and Reid era, and it proved to matter on the offensive side.
The defense was stellar too. 176 total yards allowed, only 9 first downs, and just 2-for-12 on third down. It seems the Chiefs may have not just returned to the dominance of their 2018 offense, but their 2023 defense as well.
But let’s pump the brakes for a second. This was only a Week 1 victory, although it tells us a lot. The Kelce and Mahomes connection hasn’t gone anywhere, Kenneth Walker seems to be the answer to the terrible offensive play we saw in 2024, and the fans are back to a championship mentality.
This doesn’t mean the Chiefs are back to that form just yet, but it tells us they’re not here to play around anymore.
It’s still Patrick Mahomes.
Add a Super Bowl MVP star running back and elite defensive play in big games, and that’s a recipe for reckoning.
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