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The Kansas City Chiefs don’t enter training camp wondering whether they can contend for another Super Bowl. They enter camp trying to answer three questions that could determine whether they actually get there. They were once the top team in the NFL, but after missing the postseason last year, they have more questions than answers.
MORE: Top 7 quarterbacks in the NFL entering 2026-2027 season
Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Everything starts here.
Patrick Mahomes has proven he can overcome almost any obstacle, but even he becomes less effective when he’s constantly under pressure. Kansas City spent the offseason reshaping the offensive line, but training camp is where those pieces have to become a unit. If protection becomes an issue again, the entire offense changes.
No quarterback should have to spend January running for survival.
The Chiefs have plenty of options. What they don’t have is certainty.
Rashee Rice returns looking to reestablish himself as Mahomes’ favorite target. Xavier Worthy enters this season with enormous expectations after flashing game-breaking speed. Tyquan Thornton brings intriguing size and speed, but he’ll have to prove he can consistently earn Patrick Mahomes’ trust and carve out a meaningful role in a crowded receiving room.
Someone has to separate from the pack. The offense has always been at its best when Mahomes knows exactly where he’s going with the football in critical moments. Training camp should begin answering that question.
Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has quietly become one of the NFL’s biggest advantages.
That unit has consistently given Mahomes shorter fields, created takeaways and kept Kansas City in games when the offense wasn’t operating at its usual level. The challenge now is sustaining that standard after another long playoff run.
The Chiefs don’t need the league’s best offense. They need balance. If the offensive line settles in, one receiver emerges as a true No. 1 option, and the defense maintains its identity, Kansas City will once again enter January as one of the teams every AFC contender hopes to avoid.
Training camp won’t determine whether the Chiefs are good. It will determine whether they’re good enough to win another Lombardi Trophy.
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MORE: Top 7 quarterbacks in the NFL entering 2026-2027 season
1. Is the offensive line good enough?
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Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Everything starts here.
Patrick Mahomes has proven he can overcome almost any obstacle, but even he becomes less effective when he’s constantly under pressure. Kansas City spent the offseason reshaping the offensive line, but training camp is where those pieces have to become a unit. If protection becomes an issue again, the entire offense changes.
No quarterback should have to spend January running for survival.
2. Who becomes Mahomes’ most dependable receiver?
The Chiefs have plenty of options. What they don’t have is certainty.
Rashee Rice returns looking to reestablish himself as Mahomes’ favorite target. Xavier Worthy enters this season with enormous expectations after flashing game-breaking speed. Tyquan Thornton brings intriguing size and speed, but he’ll have to prove he can consistently earn Patrick Mahomes’ trust and carve out a meaningful role in a crowded receiving room.
Someone has to separate from the pack. The offense has always been at its best when Mahomes knows exactly where he’s going with the football in critical moments. Training camp should begin answering that question.
3. Can the defense continue carrying its share of the load?
Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has quietly become one of the NFL’s biggest advantages.
That unit has consistently given Mahomes shorter fields, created takeaways and kept Kansas City in games when the offense wasn’t operating at its usual level. The challenge now is sustaining that standard after another long playoff run.
The Chiefs don’t need the league’s best offense. They need balance. If the offensive line settles in, one receiver emerges as a true No. 1 option, and the defense maintains its identity, Kansas City will once again enter January as one of the teams every AFC contender hopes to avoid.
Training camp won’t determine whether the Chiefs are good. It will determine whether they’re good enough to win another Lombardi Trophy.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
Continue reading...
