This question will be asked a lot until the 2026 NFL season begins: Can the Kansas City Chiefs make a return to the playoffs?

The streak of 10 straight postseason trips came to an end when Kansas City finished 6-11 in 2025. The good news is that quarterback Patrick Mahomes could be ready for Week 1 despite tearing his ACL at the end of the regular season.

Advertisement

The only concern is how dangerous Mahomes will be after suffering the injury.

Eric Bieniemy is back calling the plays in Kansas City, tight end Travis Kelce decided to hold off on retirement and play at least one more season, and let’s not forget that the Chiefs signed Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency.

With all of that, the Chiefs are dangerous, and Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports had Kansas City as one of four teams in his Tier 4, titled, “Dangerous Teams.”

The other teams in this tier are the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, but Vacchiano explains why we should “take the Chiefs” among the others in this category.

Advertisement

“Take the Chiefs. Everyone’s down on them for the way they played last season, even before QB Patrick Mahomes got hurt. And no one is sure when he’ll be back. But if he’s back to form, do you really believe their dynasty is dead? The Chiefs also added RB Kenneth Walker III and they still have Andy Reid. If they can get into the playoffs, no one will want to play them,” Vacchiano wrote.

That last sentence is key. If the Chiefs get into the playoffs, then they will be a tough opponent to face for anybody.

Kelce, Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have been there before plenty of times. Walker is fresh off a Super Bowl title and a huge postseason, so he also has experience.

And, the Chiefs revamped the defense, even with some key losses of Trent McDuffie, Leo Chenal and Jaylen Watson.

Advertisement

Among all 32 teams in the NFL, the Chiefs enter this season as the most polarizing and toughest team to gauge.

Can Kansas City win the AFC West and make a Super Bowl run? Or will Mahomes’ injury bother him and not allow him to be the superstar we have seen in the past?

Does Kelce finish off his legendary NFL career with a Super Bowl ring? There are a lot of questions swirling around Arrowhead Stadium.