Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are 3-0 again putting Kansas City on a familiar path with Super Bowl implications
This is the fifth time in Mahomes’ nine seasons as starting quarterback that the Chiefs have started the season 3-0
Pending the Monday Night Football clash between the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) and the Caleb Williams-less Chicago Bears (1-1), the 2026 NFL season features five squads boasting unblemished 3-0 records.
Over in the NFC, the surging Minnesota Vikings , who recently traded their 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants , join the San Francisco 49ers , who look arguably like the most complete team across the league thus far.
Across the AFC , while powerhouse presences like the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs starting strong comes as no surprise, the Las Vegas Raiders have emerged as the surprise story of the conference.
Powered by surprisive elite defense and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins , who has tossed three touchdown passes in every single game, the Raiders have delayed the debut of top overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza indefinitely.
Next up, Las Vegas faces its toughest test yet by welcoming Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to town for a historic showdown marking the first time both teams have ever met with matching 3-0 records .
Kansas City Chiefs Cruise to Fifth 3-0 Start of the Patrick Mahomes Era
Leaving last year's frustrations firmly in the rearview mirror, the Chiefs have established themselves as a juggernaut by ranking among the top five teams in total yards per game on offense while simultaneously sitting in the top five in fewest yards allowed per game on defense , making them the only franchise in football currently anchoring top-five status on both sides of the ball.
This blistering 3-0 start represents the fifth time Kansas City has opened a campaign with three straight victories since Patrick Mahomes assumed the starting role in 2018 .
Historical precedent favors a deep postseason run when the Chiefs hit this mark, as three of their previous 3-0 starts ( 2019, 2020, and 2024 ) culminated in Super Bowl appearances , resulting in a Lombardi Trophy during the 2019 campaign, the first of three titles secured in the Mahomes era.
With a balanced roster featuring superstar running back Kenneth Walker III, granting Mahomes the elite ground presence he has lacked for much of his Hall of Fame career, Kansas City firmly looks like the team to beat in the AFC .
Following their upcoming Week 4 divisional battle against the Raiders, the Chiefs will enjoy a well-timed early bye week to rest and recharge.
Even so, their remaining schedule stays tough, with away games against Denver, Seattle, Buffalo, Cincinnati, and the Los Angeles Rams.
