Not every one of the outlets we normally cover publishes power rankings before Week 1’s games. So we’ve included a handful of others in our first power ranking compilation of the season.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, the Week 1 rankings are a bit of a mixed bag. They rank from second to fifth. But there is one thing that’s pretty consistent about them: eight out of the 10 rankings mentions Rashee Rice’s recently announced suspension.
Perhaps some of these writers forgot that in 2024 — when the Chiefs
set a franchise record by finishing the season 15-2 while becoming the first-ever back-to-back Super Bowl champion return to the NFL championship — Rice missed 17 of the team’s 21 games.
Here’s this week’s sampling:
ESPN: 5
Perhaps the Chiefs are headed for some regression after they had so many close wins last season but suffered a shellacking against the Eagles for the title. But it’s hard to doubt a franchise that has reached five of the past six Super Bowls, including three in a row. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes appears to have more offensive support this season, even with wide receiver Rashee Rice being suspended for the first six games. Their strong defense also returns 13 of its top 15 snap-getters from 2024.
— Mike Clay
The Athletic: 5
Rashee Rice accepted a six-game suspension to start the season stemming from a 2024 car accident after which he pleaded guilty to two felony charges. That’s not debilitating for a team that doesn’t need to be in top form until December anyway. On the brighter side, rookie tackle Josh Simmons had an encouraging training camp, a development that could pay big dividends in the playoffs. And, apparently, the tight end got engaged.
— Josh Kendall
Sports Illustrated: 4
Patrick Mahomes improved over the course of the season in success rate after the Rashee Rice injury, but I imagine having a healthy Rice — after his six-game suspension — will make this offense better. I think this Chiefs team, if healthy, is probably a mid-evolution team, meaning not necessarily better than it was a year ago, but positioned to be better at some point down the road. Will the iteration of this team Andy Reid sees in the future arrive earlier? Time will tell.
— Conor Orr
Bleacher Report: 2
Patrick Mahomes will open the season without one of his top pass-catchers, after Rashee Rice was suspended for six games.
However, the Kansas City Chiefs’ intention to attack with the deep ball should allow second-year pro Xavier Worthy to blossom into a dynamic playmaker.Coming off a Super Bowl loss, Kansas City has the motivation to show the doubters its dynasty isn’t over. The Chiefs have lost just two games in September over the previous three seasons. They’re going to come out swinging and winning.
— Maurice Moton
CBSSports.com: 3
The talk of their demise is absurd. They are again going to be the class of the AFC West and a Super Bowl contender. They will be better than they were a year ago in large part because the offensive line will be better.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 4
The Chiefs have six games without Rashee Rice, and it’s not an easy stretch. It includes games against the Chargers, Ravens, Eagles and Lions. That stretch could shape the AFC West race.
— Frank Schwab
The Score: 2
Rashee Rice getting suspended for the first six games of the season is a big hit to the Chiefs’ offense, but it’s not enough to knock last year’s runners-up out of the No. 2 spot. Their revenge tour starts Friday night against the Chargers in Brazil.
— Dan Wilkins
The Sporting News: 3
The Chiefs took an early passing game blow with Rashee Rice getting a long suspension, adding to offensive line concerns for Patrick Mahomes. The defense will need to do a lot again and the running game boost will be critical to holding off the top competition.
— Vinnie Iyer
USA Today: 3
You have to wonder just how engaged they’ll be during the regular season given how married they are to Super Bowl success.
— Nate Davis
The Washington Post: 2
The Chiefs must regroup following their lopsided Super Bowl defeat. Travis Kelce plays on. Patrick Mahomes seems intent upon keeping the dynasty from crumbling. But he will have to play the first six games without Rashee Rice, his top wide receiver, who was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
— Mark Maske
