DINH DOONG

Looking at the Chiefs’ 5-0 start, you’d think things are running smoothly, right? Well, not so fast. There’s a little wrinkle in the fabric, and it’s showing up in the stats. Despite Patrick Mahomes doing his thing, Kansas City’s red-zone efficiency is becoming a concern. Sounds strange? But it’s true.

Sure, they’re rolling as one of only two teams with a perfect record after 5 games (the other being the Vikings). But against the Saints, those red-zone struggles nearly cost them. The Chiefs dominated both sides of the ball, yet they only managed one touchdown in their first five red-zone trips. Hmm, not what you expect from the two-time defending champions, right?

They had to rely on field goals and a late game-sealing TD run by Xavier Worthy to ice the win. Not just that, even Travis Kelce had to take a wildcat snap just to punch it in. Creative? Yes. Ideal? Not so much.

See, the problem lies not in getting to the red zone. NOPE! I mean, that’s something Andy Reid’s Chiefs are still top-tier at when it comes to driving into the red zone (ranking #6 in the league). But here’s where the problem lies—the efficiency.

They’re sitting at 30th in red zone efficiency. Yikes. Well, there’s always a ‘this and that’ argument. Here it’s the injuries. And while the absence of guys like Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice does sting. Defenses are locking in on Mahomes’ limited options, making things even trickier.

Guess that’s where Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora’s analysis really comes through when he said that since Jerick McKinnon left the Chiefs, their ‘red-zone problems have been more profound’. And it’s true.

The Chiefs haven’t quite replaced what he brought in those red-zone situations. Hold on, because we have the numbers to back it up. They used to be the red-zone kings with him, scoring touchdowns on 64.4% of their trips. Now? Not so much.

Then there’s the Travis Kelce talk. Some are saying he’s not as sharp as he used to be. And that, maybe, just maybe, it’s time for Patrick Mahomes to start building a stronger connection with a new target.

Is the Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce era nearing the twilight?

“In five years from now, he’s not gonna have Travis Kelce. So, he’ll continue to have to develop chemistry and relationships with other guys.” That’s what Drew Brees said when asked how Patrick Mahomes can keep being the greatest. Fast forward to today, and the Chiefs just promoted Jody Fortson from the practice squad.

I mean, sooner than later, we were bound to hear it. Trav’s 35 now, and while he’s still a force, the question is, how long can Mahomes lean on him? Especially when we consider that this season hasn’t exactly been kind to Kelce so far.

Let’s be real—Kelce struggled for targets and yardage in the first three games. Mahomes leaned more on Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice, but both are injured now. Frustration started showing, too. Remember that outburst against the Falcons? It was rough to watch. But then Kelce bounced back with solid performances against the Chargers and Saints, even if he’s still waiting on his first touchdown of the season.

Now, with Fortson on the active roster, it’s got fans wondering—are we nearing the end of the Kelce era? The guy has been a cornerstone of KC’s offense, but there’s no ignoring that he’s not getting any younger. Kelce’s numbers picked up recently, sure. Sixteen receptions, and 159 yards in two games—that’s more like the Kelce we know. But like they say, “Leave the football before football leaves you.” It’s better to know when you’re done than to keep pushing.

So, if this is the last dance for Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (together), wouldn’t it be something if they capped it off with an unprecedented 3-peat? That’d be one heck of a way to go out.