It’s pretty frustrating for Kansas City Chiefs fans to see where their favorite team is now ranked. But as most of these outlets point out, the team is now 0-2 — something that has happened only once during head coach Andy Reid’s tenure. From 2000 through 2012, however, the team started 0-2 nine times . I promise you: most of those 0-2 Chiefs teams weren’t ranked nearly as highly as Kansas City is in Week 3.
Perspective is everything.
Here’s this week’s sampling:
NFL.com: 11
(down from 5)
There’s legitimate concern
over the state of the offense, even if Xavier Worthy is able to return this week against the Giants. A lack of playmakers has really hindered things, putting way too much on Patrick Mahomes’ plate. He was terrific early against the Eagles as a scrambler, and that might be the best part of his game right now. But the more Mahomes has to run, the more susceptible he is to injury. Kansas City’s defense did improve vastly from Week 1 to Week 2, and the Giants aren’t the most fearsome foe imaginable, but this is an interesting time for the Chiefs. Chances are, when we look back eight or 10 weeks from now, this will all look so quaint. They are, after all, the Chiefs, and they’re not rolling over. But the Ravens, Jaguars and Lions are up after the G-Men, and everyone’s coming for the kings, even if they were already dethroned.
— Eric Edholm
ESPN: 8
(down from 3)
The Chiefs’ support surrounding Mahomes is not ideal, especially at the running back position. Consider this statistic from ESPN Research: Mahomes joined Cam Newton (2020) as the only QBs since 1950 to record twice as many rushing yards as any other player on their team in each of the first two games. Without receiver Rashee Rice for four more games (suspension), Mahomes has essentially had to be a superhero to lead the Chiefs down the field on their four touchdown drives this season.
— Nate Taylor
The Athletic: 13
(down from 10)
Overreaction: The dynasty is over
Kansas City has lost three straight games. Patrick Mahomes is 29th in the NFL in completion percentage (58.8) and 22nd in yards per attempt (6.5). The offense is 25th in scoring (19.0 ppg). The defense is 19th in points allowed (23.5) and 23rd in defensive EPA (minus-7.1 per 100 snaps). OK, Kansas City probably isn’t finished, but this team no longer rules the AFC.
— Josh Kendall
Sports Illustrated: 10
(down from 7)
The Chiefs lost two straight games to teams that will likely either be finalists or semifinalists in the 2025–26 playoffs and weren’t blown out in either contest. Their rookie left tackle is playing well—and with a clear amount of effort—and Rashee Rice is now a month away from returning to this offense and restoring common sense with the world.
— Conor Orr
Pro Football Talk: 10
(down from 7)
The Chiefs need to reload around Patrick Mahomes. Or maybe rebuild.
— Mike Florio
CBSSports.com: 11
(down from 8)
This team is 0-2 for the first time since 2014, and it doesn’t have the look of a club that can climb out of it right now. It’s going to take a lot from Patrick Mahomes to turn this around.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 8
(down from 7)
The Chiefs are a hard team to rank. They haven’t looked good, but they’ll get better. They aren’t suddenly turning into a below-average team, even if regression was bound to happen — and has. It just seems dangerous to write them off due to two games.
— Frank Schwab
The Sporting News: 10
(down from 8)
The Chiefs had the possibility of starting out the season 0-2 based on their early schedule. They draw the Ravens in Week 4 after short reprieve against the Giants in Week 3. This might be the most difficult regular season for Kansas City in the Mahomes era.
— Vinnie Iyer
USA Today: 8
(unchanged from 8)
Since QB Patrick Mahomes is their only player who can run the ball effectively, here’s an idea: get 310-pound LT Josh Simmons some carries.
— Nate Davis
Editor’s Note: I had this same idea. But I think he should run quarterback sneaks — with Noah Gray and Jared Wiley pushing him. Take that, Philadelphia Eagles!
FOX Sports: 6
(down from 5)
I’m afraid to drop them too far because of the quality of the two teams they’ve lost to so far (Chargers, Eagles). But 0-2 is 0-2. It’s not the playoff death sentence it used to be, but … let’s just say they better beat the Giants on Sunday night.
— Ralph Vacchiano
