The Chiefs Are Back!
The Kansas City Chiefs are sending a message to the rest of the NFL: they’re back.
After a disappointing 2025 season, Kansas City has opened the 2026 season 2-0, and Sunday’s overtime thriller against the Indianapolis Colts provided perhaps the biggest reason for optimism yet. The Chiefs survived 33-30, with Harrison Butker drilling a 40-yard field goal as time expired in overtime.
But the biggest story was Patrick Mahomes.
After showing some rust in Week 1, Mahomes looked much more like the quarterback Chiefs fans have become accustomed to seeing. He completed 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns, finishing the night without an interception.
Mahomes wasn’t doing it alone, either.
Travis Kelce turned back the clock with nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, while new running back Kenneth Walker III continued his impressive start with 117 rushing yards and another 61 receiving yards.
The Chiefs’ offense looked explosive throughout the night, but the game also showed that Kansas City can win a different kind of game. Indianapolis repeatedly answered Kansas City’s big plays, and the two teams were tied at 27 after regulation.
When the game reached overtime, Mahomes delivered again.
He connected with Walker for a crucial 22-yard gain that set up Butker’s winning kick. After surviving a wild sequence involving a Colts fumble that was overturned on replay, Kansas City got another opportunity — and finished the job.
There is still plenty for the Chiefs to clean up. The defense allowed Indianapolis to stay in the game, and the pass rush failed to generate a sack after producing four in Week 1.
But at 2-0, Kansas City has something it desperately needed: momentum.
The Chiefs aren’t the same team that stumbled to a 6-11 record last season. Mahomes is finding his rhythm, Kelce is making plays, Walker has added another dimension to the offense, and Kansas City is finding ways to win close games.
The Chiefs are 2-0. Patrick Mahomes looks like himself again. And Kansas City is officially back in the conversation.
