The Kansas City Chiefs‘ season has kicked off as expected for the reigning back-to-back champions. After securing three nail-biting victories, including tough battles against AFC contenders like the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs added a controversial win last Sunday night in Atlanta. The game ended with a missed defensive pass interference call against Chiefs tight end Kyle Pitts, a stark contrast to a similar situation in their victory over the Bengals, where a minor contact on Rashee Rice was flagged. This inconsistency in officiating has left many Chiefs’ haters frustrated, claiming that referees have influenced the outcomes of these early-season games.

Travis Kelce is Key to Historic Three-Peat

Last season, Patrick Mahomes had his worst statistical year but still led the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl win in five years. Now, it seems like Travis Kelce is off to a slow start, which could make this season challenging. Kelce, who had surpassed 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons, until last season, is on pace for his worst year after being relatively quiet in the first three games. As you see in the video above, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith weighed in, saying that if the Chiefs hope to become the first team in NFL history to achieve a three-peat, Kelce’s involvement is essential: “There’s one person that he can rely upon … and that man is Travis Kelce.”

With Kelce underperforming and both Isaiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown dealing with injuries, Andy Reid’s offense is once again reliant on the magic of Mahomes. Smith’s point about Kelce being vital for the team’s success, particularly in the playoffs, is valid. But perhaps the league should be more worried that Kelce hasn’t hit his stride yet, and still, the Chiefs sit at 3-0. Aside from Rashee Rice, a breakout star from last season who has become Mahomes’ new favorite target, and some flashes from rookie Xavier Worthy, it’s been the defense led by Steve Spagnuolo that has kept the Chiefs afloat in these first few games.

Tough Schedule Ahead for the Chiefs

The Chiefs’ grueling schedule doesn’t let up after these hard-fought victories. In Week 4, they will face their first divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert possibly out. After that, Kansas City will host the New Orleans Saints, who have exceeded expectations so far this season. The Chiefs then head into their bye week, giving them time to recover before taking on the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara for a highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch. It remains to be seen if Christian McCaffrey,Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle will be ready for the Niners, but it’s undoubtedly the most awaited game of the season.