KANSAS CITY, MO — The Kansas City Chiefs have stumbled out of the gate in the 2025 NFL season, dropping their first two games to sit at 0-2. Injuries and absences have plagued the team, but recent developments signal a potential resurgence.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice currently serves a six-game suspension but will return in four weeks, promising to revitalize the offense. Rookie Xavier Worthy suffered an injury in the season opener, while Jalen Royals battled knee tendinitis from the preseason. Encouragingly, both players returned to practice on Wednesday, with Worthy showing no cast on his shoulder, suggesting his injury is less severe than initially feared.

The Chiefs’ defense shone brightly against the Philadelphia Eagles, correcting flaws from their earlier loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. They held Saquon Barkley, the league’s premier running back, to under 100 yards and limited quarterback Jalen Hurts to just 101 passing yards.

Looking ahead, the Chiefs face a favorable schedule, with challenging road games against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens as the main hurdles. Most other matchups appear winnable. In the AFC West, the Las Vegas Raiders continue to struggle and are unlikely to finish above .500, while the Denver Broncos, despite preseason hype, barely defeated the Tennessee Titans and fell to the Indianapolis Colts. These results suggest the division remains within Kansas City’s grasp.

Sunday night’s clash with the New York Giants looms as a must-win game. The Chiefs’ defense, powered by a dominant defensive line, must contain Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, who recently threw for 450 yards, and wide receiver Malik Nabers, who posted 167 receiving yards in a single game. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will need to craft pressure schemes to disrupt Wilson and neutralize Nabers.

On offense, Patrick Mahomes must ignite the unit by leveraging Royals and Worthy. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, while promising, needs more in-game reps with Mahomes to shine as a vertical threat on third downs.

The early losses may have sparked necessary adjustments. The defense already addressed nearly all issues from the Chargers game, and the offense hopes to follow suit after last week’s lackluster performance. With Rice’s return looming and a healthier roster, the Chiefs are poised to rebound and contend for the AFC West title.