The Kansas City Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time in the eight seasons with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback. Counting Super Bowl 59 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, this is the first time they have lost three consecutive games with Mahomes.

Although the Chiefs have the potential to face a Super Bowl hangover because there’s nowhere to go up from seven straight AFC championship appearances that have led to five conference titles and three Super Bowl rings, the question is now whether they can defy the history of 0-2 teams and make the playoffs for the 11th consecutive time under coach Andy Reid.

Going back to 1970, only 10 percent of 0-2 teams (43 of the 422 prior to this season have rebounded and rallied to make the playoffs, regardless of the size of the field. The odds are a little better with 14 of 32 teams now qualifying, as three 0-2 teams made the playoffs last season.

That should provide some optimism for the Chiefs that there’s plenty of season of left to finish with enough wins to either earn an AFC wild-card berth or make it 10 AFC West division titles in 10 years.

Here are five reasons not to panic about the Chiefs (yet):

5 reasons not to panic about Chiefs’ 0-2 start

The Chiefs knew they had to survive a tough early schedule

The NFL tends to front-load marquee games when the initial NFL interest is at its peak during the start of a given season. Love the team or hate it, Kansas City is the league’s marquee attraction, tying the record with seven prime-time games in 2025.

Facing the Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the Week 1 Friday night game was a tough spot. So was getting the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles for the home opener in Week 2. Kansas City has been so good in one-possession games that it deserves a break for back-to-back games going the other way.

MORE: When was the last time Chiefs started 0-2?

After their apparent “get-well” game against the New York Giants on Sunday night in Week 3, they draw the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 4 and the Detroit Lions at home in Week 6. Then comes a home date with the Washington Commanders in Week 8 and a brutal road game at the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 before the bye.

That’s six playoff teams on the slate out of nine opponents before the Week 10 bye. The goal for the Chiefs should be getting to 4-5, because the second half is much easier. Two more 2024 playoff teams, the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, look much weaker for ’25. Given Reid’s track record after bye weeks, the Chiefs can be positioned to run the table with eight straight to get to at least 11-6. That should be good enough to make the playoffs.

The Chiefs will get healthier and better soon

Between Rashee Rice’s suspension and Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury, Mahomes is down two key young receivers who can be reliable game-changing big playmakers for their offense. Worthy will be back soon and Rice is eligible to return in Week 7.

That would change the level of Mahomes’ execution in the passing game. They will settle on the right offensive line combination at some point with youth serving there.  They will do well to mesh their defensive personnel. They have also proved they don’t make a few minor deals to upgrade their roster. Even getting wide receiver Tyquan Thornton from the Patriots has provided some early return.

Between Reid, GM Brett Veach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs’ experienced and consistent braintrust won’t just sit on weaknesses.

The Chiefs are better than most teams in making midseason adjustments

The Chiefs may be able to upgrade their roster through key returning players and a newcomer or two, but they have also been adept at working to put players in better positions to succeed with changing up scheming and play-calling.

Kansas City’s underrated strength is to diagnose problems and fix them over the course of a season to peak down the stretch and into the playoffs. This season will be no different with Reid’s staff, with a greater sense of early urgency to do so.

The Chiefs are fortunate to be in the weaker AFC than the loaded NFC

Only four teams seem to be locks to make the AFC playoffs: Bills, Ravens, Chargers and the AFC South champion. The Broncos and Texans are off to shaky starts. The Bengals lost their starting QB. The Steelers have a shaky defense. The wild-card race is wide open should the Chiefs not be able to catch up and pass the 2-0 Chargers in the AFC West.

The NFC, meanwhile, has a tough field to enter between the 49ers, Rams, Cardinals, Eagles, Commanders, Lions, Packers, Vikings and Buccaneers. The Chiefs wouldn’t have the ideal path to return to the Super Bowl as a second-place wild card and No. 5 seed at best, but they have proved they can pull it off without No. 1 and home-field advantage.

The Chiefs’ championship moxie never gets old

Mahomes, Reid and Chiefs are the new version of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots. They are a consistent threat to win the Super Bowl as long as their coach hasn’t retired and their quarterback isn’t injured.

There is some age creeping into the roster, led by tight end Travis Kelce, who turns 36 in early October. The reality is, overall, based on average age, they are one of the NFL’s youngest teams.

But they are still well-seasoned with their championship core. They have experience battling adversity and are used to be the hunted and any doubts about their dynastic status. At this point, much like the Patriots, every one of their critics should know it’s premature to bury them. AFC contenders know better — they know the Chiefs remain dangerous until they are eliminated during the playoffs.