With their thrilling victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs have started 9-0 for the third time in franchise history.

The Chiefs will have the chance to reach 10-0 for the first time in franchise history against the Buffalo Bills next week, failing to do so each of the previous two times.

The first 9-0 start came back in 2003, led by coach Dick Vermeil. The Chiefs had the highest scoring offense in the NFL that season, averaging 30.2 points per game.

They also finished second in the league in total yards with 5,910. Running back Priest Holmes set the NFL record at the time for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 27.

In the 10th game of the 2003 season the Chiefs fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 24-19. It was a rare off day for Kansas City’s offense, and its defense surrendered 165 rushing yards to Rudi Johnson.

The Chiefs finished the year with a 13-3 record, good for the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs were one-and-done in the postseason after losing the infamous “no punt game” to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round 38-31. As good as Kansas City’s offense was, it couldn’t overcome its historically bad defense.

That would be the only playoff game for Vermeil during his Chiefs tenure.

The second 9-0 start in Chiefs history came a decade later in 2013. This was Andy Reid’s first year in Kansas City, quickly turning the team around from a franchise worse 2-14 record from the previous season.

Quarterback Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles led the charge offensively, while all-time Chiefs greats such as Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Eric Berry led the way defensively.

As improved as they were, the 2013 Chiefs just weren’t quite ready to compete among the elites of the time such as the Broncos and New England Patriots. K.C. lost its 10th game of the year to the Broncos 27-17.

Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 323 yards that day, while receiver Demaryius Thomas racked up 121 yards.

The Chiefs lost five of their last seven games in 2013, but still made the playoffs as a wild-card.

They would once again fall to the Colts in the playoffs by a score of 45-44 after an epic collapse, having led the game at one point 38-10. It was the final loss of an eight-game playoff losing streak that spanned 22 years.

Fast forward 11 years later, the Chiefs have yet another opportunity to reach 10-0 and continue their undefeated season. It won’t be easy as they’ll travel to Buffalo to take on the 8-2 Bills. Buffalo has beaten K.C. the last three straight years in the regular season, with the Chiefs owning a three-game playoff winning streak over the Bills since 2020.

The Bills have opened as early 1.5-point favorites over K.C., which isn’t surprising given that they’ll have home field advantage.

If the Chiefs are going to get to 10-0, they will have to play better than they did against the Broncos in Week 10. On the other hand, if the Chiefs lose, you could argue that they have a 9-0 curse.