For nearly a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have defined consistency in the NFL. The franchise has reached seven straight AFC Championship Games, captured three Super Bowl titles, and relied on Patrick Mahomes to elevate the standard for quarterback play.

Mahomes already owns every major passing record in team history and ranks among the most efficient passers the league has ever seen. Yet despite those achievements, the 2025 season begins with uncharacteristic doubts surrounding the roster built around him.

Kansas City closed last year with a 15-2 record, but their overall performance suggested underlying concerns.

A point differential of +59 reflected the profile of a team winning narrowly rather than dominating opponents. Much of the success came from Mahomes’ ability to overcome injuries, inconsistent support, and a passing game that often shouldered the full workload.

Running game under scrutiny

The running back position remains the most pressing issue. Isiah Pacheco, who has been Kansas City’s most reliable option, is returning from a fractured fibula.

Veteran Kareem Hunt was re-signed but enters the season at 30 with durability questions. Former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, now several years removed from his rookie promise, has struggled to secure a consistent role.

Analysts have expressed skepticism about whether this group can produce at a level that relieves pressure from Mahomes. Without a functioning ground attack, the Chiefs risk becoming one-dimensional, allowing opposing defenses to anticipate the passing game. The team’s front office has spoken optimistically about Pacheco’s potential and Hunt’s conditioning, but depth and reliability remain unresolved.

The receiving unit adds further complications. Rashee Rice, who emerged as a key target in 2023, will miss the opening six games of the season while serving a suspension under the league’s conduct policy. His absence spans a demanding schedule that includes contests against the Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, and Lions.

During that period, Kansas City must rely on veteran tight end Travis Kelce, now 35, free-agent addition Marquise Brown, who has struggled to stay healthy, and rookie Xavier Worthy, who is still adapting to the professional game.

Rice’s suspension not only removes an established option but also delays his reintegration. By the time he returns in Week 7, he will have been away from competitive play for more than a year, raising questions about how quickly he can regain form.

Head coach Andy Reid has consistently found ways to adjust schemes to the talent available, and Mahomes has proven capable of compensating for weaknesses elsewhere. However, the combination of an unsettled running back rotation and the temporary loss of the team’s most promising wide receiver increases the strain on both quarterback and coach.

The Chiefs enter 2025 still regarded as contenders, but the margin separating them from challengers appears narrower. Their success may depend not only on Mahomes’ continued excellence but also on whether the supporting cast can stabilize over the course of the season. Without balance in the backfield and reliability at receiver, even a dynasty could face disruption.