Kansas City Chiefs overcome tough schedule to start season

The Kansas City Chiefs sit atop the AFC West with a 5-1 record. Facing some tough teams to start the season makes this record all the more remarkable.

No one knew exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs‘ record would look like after the first six games of the season. When the Chiefs elected to hand the reigns to second-year quarterback, Patrick Mahomes II, it could have turned out to be a boom or bust type of season. Thankfully, it looks to be more of a boom type of a season.

A lot of fans knew that Mahomes had a very high ceiling coming in as the starter, but most probably wouldn’t have speculated that he’d be leading the MVP race after the first six games.

Playing talented teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New England Patriots all in those first half dozen games would have been a true test for any quarterback.

Seeing this gauntlet of teams to start the season was probably the main reason that some believed that Kansas City would need a year to see how the second-year quarterback would adjust. As it turns out, Mahomes didn’t need that time. Throwing for 13 touchdowns in the first three games broke the NFL record with most touchdowns thrown over a three-game stretch to start a season.

In the first week of the season, the Chargers were picked at home to put a pounding on the Chiefs. Kansas City quickly made a statement by showing everyone why they are the defending AFC West champs. Mahomes and company exited L.A. with a 38-28 win over the Chargers.

Week two appeared to be an even more daunting task. The Chiefs hadn’t beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh for over 30 years prior to this game. This didn’t seem to phase the league’s most high powered offense as they dropped 21 points on the Steelers in the first quarter alone, winning what turned out to be a shootout 42-37 win.

Heading into week three and their first game at home, the Chiefs looked confident to go 3-0. Even throwing up 38 points on the Jimmy Garoppolo-lead San Francisco 49ers was needed as the defense allowed the game to be much closer than it needed to be. After winning this game 38-27, the Chiefs were sitting well at 3-0.

Facing another AFC West foe in week four proved to be the toughest battle yet. This would be Mahomes’ second trip to Denver to face the Broncos within the first five starts of his career. Even playing in one of the toughest stadiums in the league didn’t seem to get in the way of what Kansas City was capable of.

The most memorable moment may have been a left-handed throw by Mahomes in a fourth quarter come from behind win, 27-23. Mahomes mania was officially in full tilt.