Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL late in a lost season. The Chiefs finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the first time in years. It was ugly from September through January.
Kansas City made smart moves this offseason. They look ready to bounce back. But is a Super Bowl run actually realistic in 2026? Maybe not. Because one glaring weakness could hold them back against elite AFC competition.
The skill position group is thin past Kenneth Walker III
Let’s be real for a second. The only unquestionably great offensive weapon on this roster heading into training camp is Kenneth Walker III. That sounds harsh. But it checks out when you go through the depth chart one by one.
Rashee Rice spent 30 days in jail earlier this offseason and is still rehabbing a knee injury. That puts him on a tight timeline to get ready for camp. Even if he avoids another NFL suspension — which seems likely at this point — he might not be fully healthy by Week 1.
Xavier Worthy had 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. He’s fine as a No. 3 or No. 4 option. But press coverage and safety help over the top can neutralize him. He isn’t the guy who will single-handedly win a playoff game.
Behind those two? A bunch of replacement-level receivers. Expecting a breakout from any of them feels like a reach.
Then there’s Travis Kelce. He turns 37 before the midpoint of the regular season. That doesn’t mean he’s washed. But regression is coming at some point. Banking on 800-plus receiving yards from a tight end in his late 30s is a gamble.
The defense can only carry them so far
The Chiefs do have a good defense. But good defense gets harder against elite offenses. And in the playoffs, you face elite offenses every week.
Look at 2024 as a case study. Kansas City allowed 19.2 points per game in the regular season. That jumped to 27.7 in the playoffs. They gave up 320.6 total yards per game during the regular season and 351.7 in the postseason. The numbers don’t lie: it’s harder to play defense when every opponent is a contender.
There’s also turnover in the secondary. Mansoor Delane and L’Jarius Sneed are replacing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson at outside corner. Delane might be a good player one day. But the Chiefs need him to play like a lockdown corner as a rookie. If he struggles, opposing quarterbacks will pick on him all day.
The linebacker group is thin too. If Nick Bolton misses extended time, the middle of that defense becomes a massive liability.
The Chiefs will probably bounce back in 2026. They’ll probably be in the playoff mix. But assuming they can bully their way back to the Super Bowl right away? That feels like a leap.
Leave a Comment