Through three games last season, the Kansas City Chiefs were searching for an identity. Losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles left them 0-2, and a 22-9 win over the New York Giants offered relief more than certainty. This year, they defeated the Denver Broncos 31-10, survived the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime and held off the Miami Dolphins 24-10.
The scores tell part of the story. The Chiefs have scored 88 points through three games, compared to 60 at the same point last year. Their offense gained 1,249 yards, up from 947 in the first three games of 2025. Those totals reflect a team that can now create yards in more ways than one.
Here are three thoughts about the hot start compared to last year:
1. Kenneth Walker modified the equation
Last September, quarterback Patrick Mahomes often had to provide a quick spark to the offense himself. He ran for 57 yards against the Chargers and led Kansas City with 66 against the Eagles. The Chiefs won Week 3 with 105 rushing yards as a team, but no running back led Isiah Pacheco’s 45.
Now Kenneth Walker III has 360 rushing yards in three games. His 173 yards against Denver helped turn a close opener into a decisive win. He followed that up with 117 rushing yards against Indianapolis, then scored both on the ground and through the air at Miami. Walker gives Kansas City a way to dictate terms without asking Mahomes to save every stalled possession.
The Colts game showed that a stronger running game doesn’t come at the expense of the pass. Kansas City managed 152 rushing yards and 371 net passing yards in both games. Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
Even if Indianapolis forces the Chiefs into a shootout, they can still win.
2. The offense has more answers around Mahomes
Mahomes’ return from his knee injury didn’t make for a flawless Week 1 pass: he completed 15 of 27 attempts against Denver. Three games in, though, he’s thrown for 812 yards and seven touchdowns. Travis Kelce had 231 receiving yards, Rashee Rice had 190, and Tyquan Thornton supplied the downfield plays, including two key catches in the overtime win over the Colts.
The difference can be seen in how Kansas City wins. Walker fired the opener. Mahomes’ arm carried most of the game against the Colts. In Miami, the Chiefs scored on their first possession, endured a long quiet stretch, then put together an 80-yard fourth-quarter drive before Kelce’s touchdown capped it. The offense had uneven stretches, but it found different ways to put points on the board.
3. A better start still leaves questions
Kansas City’s defense has given up 50 points, compared to 56 through three games last season. The 31-10 win over Denver was its clearest statement yet: the Broncos managed just 176 yards. But the Colts scored 30, and Miami gained 329 yards despite scoring just 10 points. It’s too early to declare the defense as “consistent.”
That difference is important when comparing the two begins. The Chiefs also showed last year that they can shut down an opponent, holding the Giants to nine points in Week 3. They lacked enough offense to overcome their rough afternoons against the Chargers and Eagles. This year, the Broncos game showed that Kansas City can win comfortably on defense and a punishing game; the Colts game showed it can win when the defense has a rough night.
Three games can’t fix what this team will be. They do show a significant change from last September. The 2025 Chiefs enter Week 4 trying to build momentum after their first win. The 2026 Chiefs enter it undefeated, with Walker giving the offense a threat to lean on and Mahomes still able to take over when the game calls for it.