Chiefs Are Finally Winners But Look Even Less Like Contenders

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A team that’s been to five Super Bowls in the past six years and won three of them doesn’t feel relief over early-season victories. They don’t exhale after beating a bad team like the New York Giants.

But it was clear that the Kansas City Chiefs felt something on Sunday night, because the alternative was unfathomable. They knew falling to 0-3 would’ve been a death sentence for their season and maybe their dynasty, too. They knew they had to win, no matter how it happened or how ugly it looked.

"Good win to get, particularly when you haven't had one," a very reserved Andy Reid said. "That was important to take a step forward."

Important, yes. And it’s OK if the Chiefs, and maybe all of Kansas City, took a big deep breath after their 22-9 win over the winless Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night. But don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is OK now, that this win will suddenly jump-start their season.

Because the truth is, these Chiefs still don’t look very good.

The Chiefs have yet to score more than 22 points in their three games this season. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

They know it, too, even if they're temporarily content with their 1-2 record. They knew that their offense still looked messy, especially in the first half. They knew that, with a few exceptions, the great Patrick Mahomes looked pedestrian. The signs of trouble were obvious on their tense sideline — most notably when Reid and tight end Travis Kelce had a heated exchange and even a chest bump.

For most of the game, they looked more like an 0-2 team and less like a modern dynasty. And they could feel it in how they just couldn’t put the lowly Giants (0-3) away.

"Obviously we didn’t have the start we wanted," Chiefs