Nowadays, it's difficult to write about the Chiefs without mentioning You-Know-Who. The Chiefs members themselves were fixated on her like moths to a flame -- she was all Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid could talk about in Week 3's post-game presser.
We could talk about how Travis Kelce jersey sales are through the roof, up by 400 percent since Sunday. Or about how the Chiefs-Bears game attracted eight percent more viewers in a specific demographic -- females age 12 to 17 -- compared to a year ago. Or about the latest maniacal rumor that someone allegedly gave the pop icon a football cheat sheet before the game (it has since been debunked).
But no. We're not going to talk about that. It's football season, not [insert her name here] season. I mean, she is in the middle of a legendary, generation-defining tour right now but... no, no, no. Not talking about it.
Here are the latest Chiefs updates that non-Swifties will want to hear.
Chiefs Update No. 3: Steve Spagnuolo is killing it on defense
Following Week 3's win against the Bears, the Chiefs have allowed only three offensive touchdowns through three games. Let that sink in.
Steve Spagnuolo's unit is starting this year off fiery hot -- the same can't be said about the offense. One could even argue that so far, this is the best defense Patrick Mahomes has ever had.
As Arrowhead Addict's Adam Best points out, the Chiefs' D ranks in the top five in the league in success rate, scoring defense, and EPA per play; they're also ninth in DVOA.
There's almost too many people to give credit to. Cornerback Trent McDuffie recorded his second forced fumble of the year against the Bears and has yet to allow a touchdown this season. Second-year defensive end George Karlaftis logged a career-high eight pressures on Sunday to give him 16 total this year. Fellow defensive end Mike Danna tallied a sack last week and is on track to break his single-season sack record (five). And of course, Chris Jones. Not much needs to be said about that man.
Linebacker Nick Bolton recently talked about the effectiveness of Spags' defense and said, "That's the beautiful thing about Spags' system. We have multiple defenses within our scheme. We're very versatile, very multiple. We're going to throw a bunch of different looks your way. You can't dink and dunk us."
Bolton added, "We're going to mix it up and confuse opposing quarterbacks. That's probably been my favorite development over these first couple of weeks."
The Chiefs are also awaiting the return of key free-agent acquisition Charles Omenihu on the pass-rushing front. Few would have guessed that Kansas City's defense would outplay its offense at the start of the 2023 season, but that's what it looks like thus far.
Chiefs Update No. 2: The return of Jerick McKinnon?
Where have you been all along, Jerick McKinnon? In Sunday's win, the pass-catching threat in the backfield reminded the league why he's leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns since Week 13 of last season (he has 10 and counting).
McKinnon recorded his seventh multi-touchdown game in his career on Sunday despite playing the least amount of snaps in the running back room. Whereas Isiah Pacheco continues to lead as the top back and the most powerful runner, McKinnon has struggled to make his mark in the offense -- until Week 3. Against the Bears, he logged two carries, three catches, and ran 13 routes for 28 yards total and two touchdowns.
After barely seeing the ball in Weeks 1 and 2, it appears as though Matt Nagy is better understanding how to use McKinnon's versatile strengths, especially in the absence of consistent wide receiver output.
And I know we promised, but....
Chiefs Update No. 1: They may be America's new favorite team, but are they the best?
Pump the brakes on the Chiefs' Super Bowl predictions.
In Arrowhead Addict's latest NFL power rankings, the Chiefs are ranked No. 4 behind the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers. Just because the Chiefs won a game against the lowly Bears does not re-make them the 2023 Super Bowl favorites.
Several oddsmakers have already dropped the Chiefs down one or two pegs in favor of stouter teams like the 49ers.
This isn't to say that the Chiefs aren't a Super Bowl-contending team. The time to discredit and underestimate Kansas City was five years ago in the pre-Patrick Mahomes era. As Arrowhead Addict's Grant Tuttle writes, the Chiefs had their "get right game" against the Bears and will face another soft matchup against the Jets in Week 4 to start stringing together dominant wins.
The mere fact that a certain pop star took over the news in Week 3 even after the Dolphins put up 70 over a team in the modern NFL era is proof that the Chiefs are America's new favorite team (LOL at the Cowboys for losing to the Cards). In terms of talent and depth, though, other playoff heavyweights like the Eagles, 49ers, and the offensive juggernaut that is Tua's Dolphins are rightfully ranked higher than the Chiefs this far into the season.
Still, in the crossover that no one could have possibly predicted, this is the Chiefs' Era, and we're all just living in it.
